Few people possess the kind of megawatt star power that Tabitha Brown has. The award-winning author exudes a certain je ne sais quoi laced with the kindness and warmth of our beloved mothers and the authority of predecessors twice her age. In short, there’s likely nothing that she can do wrong. While there’s no natural way to quantify this magnetism, her signature Sunshine Seasoning selling out in less than an hour last year is proof enough. For those of us that haven’t been able to grab some for ourselves, fear no more because it’ll be available for purchase at retailers across the country starting June 1.
Brown stopped by Blavity News to discuss her Sunshine Seasoning, the importance of speaking life to the next generation and the lessons that she’s learned from motherhood.
On Sunshine Seasoning
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It’s common knowledge that the North Carolina native epitomizes the very essence of sunshine, so it makes sense that she titled her seasoning after it. It may have sold out online last year, but it’s back and better than ever. Just in time for the summer season, Brown‘s Sunshine Seasoning, in collaboration with McCormick, will be available in grocery stores starting next month. For Brown, she attributes its success to her fans, who she affectionately dubs her family.
“My fans, which I call my family, have been with me from the very beginning. And a lot of them found me through my cooking videos and my love for like seasoning and being salt-free and just cooking and having fun in the kitchen. I think that because I really created this with them in mind, they know that,” Brown said. “My fans are just so loyal, and they trust me because I had really built my brand on just being honest, especially about my food, honey. They really just support me and love me.”
Advice for those looking to transition to veganism
Prominent Black women like Brown, Lizzo and Pinky Cole have championed plant-based eating and its benefits for quite some time now. For Brown, she decided to transition into veganism because she was battling an illness, and her number one piece of advice for those looking to do the same? Find your ‘why.’
“I always tell people to start with your ‘why’ because it is so important. For me, my ‘why’ was life or death because I was very sick, so it saved my life. For somebody else, their ‘why’ maybe that they want to feel better. Maybe they want to lose weight or lower their blood pressure. Whatever your ‘why,’ is, that’s your personal business, but start with that, so it means something to you,” Brown said. “Think about all your favorite non-vegan meals and try to figure out how to make those vegan and have fun with it. That’s the way I did it. When I first started, I did a 30-day vegan challenge with my family.”
On speaking her truth
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Aside from being an actress, social media influencer and much more, Brown is also an award-winning author. Earlier this year, she was awarded the coveted NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Virtual for her book Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom. In the book, Brown unapologetically delves into her life’s journey, which she feels is her assignment from God.
“It still feels like a dream. I had no idea that I would ever write a book, and I honestly just wanted to tell my stories because it’s also therapy for me. It’s part of my healing, and it’s part of my journey,” Brown said. “I’m thankful to every person who has read it and told somebody, and I’m grateful that I wasn’t afraid to share my story and that I’m free now. I share without apologizing, without fear, and I feel like I’m on assignment and God has purposed me for this journey. I’m grateful to be doing his work and doing the work he created me to do.”
On inspiring the next generation
Brown is also reaching the masses — pre-schoolers to be exact— through her YouTube series, Tab Time. Tab Time sees the actor discussing many subjects. Brown’s performance has been so impressive that she was honored by the American Library Association for Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media at their 2022 Youth Media Awards.
“A couple of years ago, every morning in prayer, I would hear God say to me, ‘heal the world,’ and I didn’t understand what he meant. And I thought, how can I, one person, heal the world and in prayer another day he told me it starts with children,” Brown told Blavity News. “I kept thinking, man, if I can get a children’s show and I could teach children to see themselves, to love themselves, to see each other and love each other while learning together, while having fun together, while using their imaginations together, then those same children will grow up with their minds open to seeing themselves, to loving themselves, to seeing each other and loving each other. And then the world begins to heal because they’ll be willing to heal each other.”
On embracing the dark times
Since Brown’s debut into our homes and hearts, she’s had a winning streak, but she readily admits that she can enjoy this winning season because of the times when life wasn’t so grand.
“Every tough season that I had contributes to the good seasons. It’s the reason why I can know I’m in a good season. I embrace the tough times. Even though I’m currently in one of the best seasons of my life, I’m also in a really tough season of seeing things that I never thought I would see in people,” Brown said.
“I’m grateful that God has shown me and gives me the gift of sight so that I can see people for who they are. We must embrace when things don’t feel well because they’re still working out for our good. Embrace those tough seasons because then you will appreciate the beautiful season even more when it comes.”
Find more information on Brown’s Sunshine Seasoning here.
