My Ancestors Are Black Futurists
Part of Sacred Grounds: From Soil to Soul—a weeklong experience by Sip & Sonder celebrating coffee, culture, and connection in Mexico City.
This conversation, led by Sip & Sonder co-founder Shanita Nicholas, explores Black futurism as both remembrance and reimagining — a space where ancestry and possibility converge. Through dialogue on time, lineage, and creativity, we’ll reflect on how the past, present, and future coexist in Black thought and expression. Participants are invited to consider how ancestral memory can shape visions of liberation, technology, and community yet to come.
about shanita nicholas
Shanita Nicholas is an accomplished attorney, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Sip & Sonder and Sonder Impact. With a background in chemical engineering, law, and business, she brings a unique blend of technical, legal, and creative expertise to her work.
Shanita began her career as a consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, designing enterprise IT systems for government agencies, before becoming a corporate attorney at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and later Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Her legal practice has spanned derivatives, private equity, mergers & acquisitions, and venture capital, with a strong focus on supporting founders of color from startup to exit.
At Sip & Sonder, a global Black-women-owned coffee brand, Shanita builds community through coffeehouses, a roastery, and curated coffee goods. Sip & Sonder creates spaces for creativity, connection, and cultural representation while advancing sustainable, direct-trade sourcing. Its motto, “Come for the coffee, stay for the culture,” reflects its mission to celebrate diasporic stories from crop to cup.
Through Sonder Impact, Shanita advances entrepreneurship initiatives that expand access to resources, mentors, and capital for Black communities. She also serves on the Board of MEKKA and the Advisory Board of Women Founders Network. Shanita holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a JD/MBA, all from Columbia University.
about Sacred Grounds: From Soil to Soul
Sacred Grounds: From Soil to Soul is a weeklong pop-up in Mexico City celebrating connection across cultures, ancestry, and the journey of coffee from origin to cup. The activation brings together creative, cultural, and culinary experiences that invite participants to explore ancestral rituals, diasporic storytelling, sensory engagement, and communal gathering—all anchored in our shared humanity and the rituals surrounding coffee. The experience honors the interconnectedness of people, land, and culture, tracing coffee’s path from the soils of Ethiopia and Mexico to the cups we share today.
Visit the link below to learn more and see the full lineup of the week’s experiences.
