Meet Erica Alcox of Okra Soup Truth in Chamblee Tucker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Alcox.

Erica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began my online brand Geechie Gurl in May 2010 while being a fulltime teacher and it took off with so many people applauding the platform of being proud of our Gullah Geechee heritage from our accent and dialect to our signature foods and our Lowcountry way of life. I used the profit from my T-shirts, accessories and calendars to create the Betty Brown Memorial Scholarship in honor of my late grandmother who graduated high school at the age of 53. I noticed how fulfilling it was to build a business that made it possible to assist so I continued to do it. Growing pains included hiring and firing over 13 printers, fighting bootleggers over my designs, debates about the amount of pride a person should or should not have about the word Geechee, and losing everything after resigning from my teaching job to protect my sanity and my character. I went from Teacher of the Year at what was considered the most difficult school in Charlotte, NC to now being a target because I uncovered questionable operation by administration and staff that impacted my students’ learning and access to opportunities. The unfair treatment and toxic work environment led to me leaving on my terms with dignity. No one writes my story for me. I prioritize my integrity over direct deposits. I was now a full time entrepreneur but it wasn’t enough to sustain my household as a solo parent and I lost everything except my work ethic. I had to move my son and myself back home with my parents and make sense of everything. That took 4 years of odd jobs and a lot of trial and error with what worked. I now see being home in “Da Chuck” was my cocoon to begin my metamorphosis. I wasn’t always happy that I had to go back home the way I did because I felt like I had failed but I am definitely grateful for the love that I received from friends, family and followers while I figured my life out at Rock Bottom. I needed that.

I paid attention to the fact my voice was my greatest asset along with my cooking skills and for some reason, people from the ages of 15-50 loved both! I would make meals to make ends meet while teaching life skills as I did in the classroom. I would give that guidance, compassion, empathy and accountability from coaching that people yearned for. Uncomfortable to do yet so necessary to grow. That was the beginning of Okra Soup Truth. The mucilage from okra is unappealing to many yet so effective in adding flavor to recipes when prepared right. That was synonymous with the type of conversations I was having so after a peculiar chat one sunny summer day in 2016, I packed up what I could in our minivan and came back to Atlanta to finish what I started.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not and I am not afraid of obstacles. I eat them for snacks and wash them down with Tasty Sips. Yes that is my shameless plug for my beverage collection that’s available launches on my birthday, March 7th in Charleston at Knotty Saturday small business expo. I create products that reflect true life experiences. Not exactly the easiest thing to do when there’s an epidemic of content being copied or people trying monetize at the most inappropriate times such as the Mother Emmanuel tragedy. I refused to use that as an opportunity to line my pockets. I saw so many doing it and I will always be disgusted by it. My friends and my city were hurting. That showed me to never be so eager to make a buck that you sell your soul to do so. The biggest challenge too date besides funding was effective marketing and a short bout with homelessness. Marketing myself on a zero budget left a lot to be desired yet with graphics and execution but hindsight says it was a test I passed to show myself I was serious about being impactful while being true to myself. My failures have value. My personality is comical, avant-garde, insightful, authentic and determined. That mixture often translates into writing statements that most people won’t think about saying but can relate to. As a result, some things become popular without my brand being attached to it. One example is a meme I created while hiding in the garage from my teen son who had just eaten a late lunch but was inquiring about the next meal.

It was the beginning of summer 2018 and I wrote a Facebook status that expressed every parent’s declaration that a child has perfect control over their appetite during the school year, therefore, there was no need to treat the refrigerator at home like it was a 24 hr. playground. They would need to activate their “In School Stomach.” I made the post and the next thing I know it goes viral mostly from shares but then a strange trend happened. My logo was cropped out and people began to copy and paste. When friends alerted me that Rickey Smiley and DL Hughley shared the cropped version, that opened my eyes to two things: 1. I have a way with words that people pay attention to whether they are trying to convince me they wrote it or they are defending my honor giving me credit in the comments of logo-less posts 2. I have to market myself better so that my content is undeniably mine.

Homelessness was a very bizarre challenge because it taught me more about other people then it did about myself. I already knew I have the heart to champion through rough times, but I was still ignoring the fact that all extended hands are not trying to help pull you up. I had to face the Okra Soup Truth that it was time to love some people from a distance and operate in a different capacity. Being at rock bottom forces you to see things as they truly are and make hard choices without being so emotionally invested. The mental self care had to take priority so that basic needs could be secured. That fork in the road changed me. I altered the amount of access to my attention and spirit I gave to people and that’s when everything changed.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Okra Soup Truth is the collection of fun, sassy, delicious and motivational goods and services I provide through various platforms such as my podcast, clothing line, live culinary events, public speaking, private life coaching workshops, and my favorite part is my educational nonprofit for students of color, KnotStar which features the safe food handling training program named after my viral content In School Stomach. Had to turn lemons into lemon pound cake!

I’m known for feeding people’s stomachs and souls as Geechie Gurl on social media. I infuse my Charleston roots in everything I do. It’s my foundation. I am currently hosting Lowcountry Tables around the Southeast where the candid conversation at the table is being filmed for a bigger project that started out as a simple interview. I launched in Charleston in December and just completed Charlotte. Both sold out in minutes and I’ve been getting requests to return to Charlotte as well as add new cities. I’m scheduled to film the Atlanta edition February 15 and the guest list is amazing! Having everyone at the dinner table once a week to communicate was how I was raised so it has always been my way to nurture with and around food. We break bread and build bridges. I have to share that a few business deals were made at my Charlotte Lowcountry Table. I’ve always known that I’m an incubator for greatness. I just had to learn how to be ok with having that gift.

I’m proudest of being authentically me regardless of who it intimidates. In the past, I dumbed myself down so I wouldn’t cause any waves. Now I’m a walking disruption to the status quo. Discomfort comes with that territory. Complacency never welcomes evolution. However, ambition craves it. I had to choose which one I would serve. Ever since I chose to shine unapologetically, amazing doors have been opening.

What sets me apart from others is my transparency. It takes a lot of courage and self awareness to fail publicly. Being able to finally see the value of those failures has brought me closer to my audience, affectionately known as Cuzns. In this day and age where you can create a version of yourself with a strategic camera angle and a few taps of a screen, the biggest power move you can make is to be your imperfect self. I’ve done that when so many people advised me not to but doing just that has created such a wonderful bond. A bond that when I announced on social media video from my classroom that my son and I was living in hotels, they flooded me with support until I could find us safe and affordable housing. I look forward to celebrating this bond with my Cuzns during the 10 year anniversary of Geechie Gurl this May!

What were you like growing up?
I was a shy and yet curious child who didn’t like to see people sad. All of my siblings were older than me and our house wasn’t in a neighborhood so I grew up learning to entertain myself. My father introduced me to my love for puzzles and figuring things out with patience when I would help him assemble the 500+ puzzle sets at the dining room table.

My mother and grandmother always created delicious meals from scratch in the kitchen and since I stayed inside the house a lot, I watched and learned. The first meal I made for my family was roasted cornish hen, some sort of vegetable I believe was brussel sprouts and fruit cocktail for dessert. I was seven. I was a natural leader but not quite confident in those abilities as people would accuse me of “acting white” or not being “Geechee enough” so I just tried to keep the peace by being quiet about my goals until I left for college at SC State University. College is where I found my voice and 30 years later, I realize I actually sketched out the plan for what would become Okra Soup Truth’s Lowcountry Table in my notebook. Dream BIG…then wake up and DO it.

Pricing:

• $5-75 Online Gift shop and Bookstore
• $25-$500 Private & Group cooking classes
• $500+ Small & Large Group Coaching Workshops

Contact Info:

• Address: 3300 Flowers Rd S
  Atlanta Ga
• Website: Okrasouptruth.com
• Phone: 843-631-OKRA
• Email: hey@okrasouptruth.com

Image Credit:
Same as Me Photography
Geechie Gurl Media

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