Meet Jessica Nichole | Researcher, Author, Culinary Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Nichole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Simply stated, taking risks is something that still induces anxiety. I consider myself very cerebral, and my Libra inclinations tend to caution me to weigh pros and cons before making decisions. Yet even when everything is meticulously laid out on paper, you come to realize that any decision you make is never 100% risk-free. Consequently, I find myself dancing back-and-forth between pushing forward with my ideas or holding back. More recently, I have come to understand that taking risks is more than analyzing what I see on paper. What often prevents me from taking risks is the fear of judgment. Whether it’s me judging my actions and decisions or fearing others’ potential judgment. “What are people going to think if I fail?” “What happens if this doesn’t turn out the way I hoped it would?” Then comes the most crucial question of all, “What does it matter?” If I can connect my ideas, actions, and values to a higher purpose, then I know I’m on the right path, and I cautiously venture into the unknown. I feel confident taking risks when I know my intentions are pure and aligned to a community outside of myself.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I think about what sets me apart, the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none” comes to mind. From as early as elementary school, I was convinced I could only focus on one talent, that I could only be good at one thing. So I spent most of my adolescence and early adulthood trying to search for that one thing. In 2020, I read the Healing Wisdom of Africa and embraced the concept that I am multi-talented. I am deeply passionate about ancient African customs, food cultivation, and writing. I will travel for food, and my doctoral degree has granted me access to remote farming communities for research and communal eating. Over the past several months, I combined my passions, knowledge, and talents to create Simplie Golden Spices, complete a travel memoir, and begin developing a YouTube series. Figuring out how I could integrate my passions and skills in ways that globally honor communities was the challenge. I never wanted any of my work to glorify me. Instead, I was focused on celebrating farming communities, ancient African wisdom, and redefining femininity. It took a little over a year to begin clearly articulating the various avenues I was ready to explore, and Simplie Golden Spices was the first venture to emerge.

Simplie Golden Spices emerged when I stopped thinking of African Americans as a small minority isolated here in the United States but as an integral part of a much larger community. Beyond highlighting vibrant, indigenous spices cultivated in Africa and the West Indies, Simplie Golden Spices is also about complicating what it means to be “African-American.” The relationships established in the making of Simplie Golden Spices champion my connection to the African diaspora. The circulation of spices across the border and the choice to repatriate deepen the conversations about how the African diaspora defines their social identities, share experiences, and spiritual wealth.

A few months later, my best friend had the idea of transforming my work into a documentary series, and I initially hesitated. At that time, there were a lot of documentaries beginning to appear that were deeply rooted in food culture. Though the concept for our documentary series was like nothing we had seen before, I did not think there would be space for our series to materialize. My best friend responded by noting my fear was something very specific to the Black community. We are often told there is no room for all of us at the table, and we become fearful, anxious, and desperate to launch our ideas before they are fully fleshed out. After spending several unnecessary dollars, one of the greatest lessons I have learned throughout this process is recognizing that no one can replicate my work because they are not me. I bring a unique perspective. I have unique experiences. I have a specialized skill set which makes all of my work distinctively unique.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In all honesty, if I am the one creating the itinerary it is going to be designed almost entirely around food. We would certainly roam the streets of North Park and check out this dope shop called, Artlexia for Mexican decor, food, books, and art. Visiting Chicano Park is a must because the park is home to the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world. Then again, San Diego has plenty to offer. You could spend at least a week hiking sandstone cliff, walking along sandy beaches, exploring all 1,200 acres of Balboa Park, and bar hopping in the Victorian style buildings of the Gaslamp Quarter’s. For those looking for something a little posher, Hotel del Coronado is a beachfront property in the city of Coronado. The hotel itself is a California historical landmark that is often praised for its wooden architecture.

Looking for something more down to earth with a titillating selection of restaurant options? Then I suggest you make your way to North Park to dine at Louisiana Purchase, Encontro North Park, or City Tacos. Speaking of tacos, you would be remiss if you traveled to San Diego and did not sit down for a plate of rolled tacos, a California burrito, or al pastor. I personally enjoy venturing into the small, family run taco shops in the city of San Ysidro near the California Mexico border. For example, Las Cuatro Milpas has the best tortillas I have tasted in my 30+ years of existence. It is no surprise the food is truly authentic because the establishment has been owned and operated by the women in the family for generations.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely. My closest friends and family members are the first people who come to mind when giving gratitude. Then there are the mentors that I never had the pleasure of meeting in person. Still, their literary works were exceptionally transformative in perceiving my gifts, talents, and purpose. The list is pretty lengthy, but I would most certainly name bell hooks, Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, and Malidoma Patrice Somé if I can only highlight a few.

Website: www.simplie-golden.com

Instagram: simpliegolden

Twitter: simpliegolden

Youtube: www.youtube.com/simpliegolden

Image Credits
Jessica Nichole