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this post launches our investor spotlight series, celebrating the lives and visionary work of the people supporting ghost town. this series finally came to life because suni jade reid. she knew soul food genius would be the perfect launch for the investor spotlight concept we'd been sitting on since our early days working together.
disclosure: this post includes affiliate links. commissions are reinvested into and support ghost town's operations.
the hidden wisdom of soul food and ancestral nutrition
when most people think of soul food, they picture heavy, unhealthy dishes that contribute to diet-related health issues in Black communities. but this narrative misses crucial history and ignores the profound wisdom embedded in these ancestral foods.
during slavery, enslaved africans developed high-caloric, nutrient-dense cuisines out of necessity. their bodies demanded substantial fuel for grueling physical labor. these foods weren't just sustenance; they were also cultural preservation wrapped into every meal.
today, african americans have largely maintained these traditional foods, but our lifestyles have dramatically changed. without the same intense physical labor, the caloric density that once sustained our ancestors now contributes to health disparities. yet rather than abandoning these foods entirely, what if we could reclaim their original healing power?
meeting a food revolutionary: asia dorsey's journey to ancestral healing
enter our investor asia dorsey, an herbalist and visionary who's revolutionizing how we understand ancestral african american cuisine. asia first discovered ghost town oats through our mutual connection karina, who painted a picture of a "baddie michelle who's running her business."
"whatever karina tells me to do, I do it," asia laughs. "karina says jump, I say how high? she says run, I say how far, how fast, sister? and so of course, I followed michelle, got on the newsletter, saw there was an opportunity to invest. I was like, yes."
through her herbalism practice, bones bugs and botany, and her course soul food genius, asia helps people reconnect with ancestral food wisdom.
the science behind soul food: why oat milk matters for ancestral health
from an herbalist's perspective, asia explains why traditional foods and modern wellness intersect perfectly. take adding oat milk to coffee:
"oats, avena sativa, are used historically for their calming and soothing qualities. they grow the myelin sheath of our nerves over time and are rich in the nervous system supporting magnesium," she explains. "oats themselves are rich in soluble fibers like beta glucans that soothe the mucosal membranes of the stomach that can be damaged by the acidity of coffee."
but asia's insights go even deeper. she helps people understand themselves as "ecological beings with ancestors whose origins and choices matter to our everyday health." consider this illuminating fact: many enslaved africans came from interior west africa, where the tsetse fly prevented large ruminants from thriving. these communities evolved to get calcium from plants and often struggle with dairy consumption today—yet this knowledge has been largely forgotten.
"bodies, depending on their ancestral ecologies and cultures, have different responses to dairy," asia explains. "these people evolved to get their calcium from plants and respond poorly to cow dairy."
this is precisely why alternatives like ghost town oats matter. they're connections back to ancestral patterns that supported our people for generations.
soul food genius: ancestral reclamation through food education
asia's devotional, soul food genius, is a 5-week virtual course covering ethnobotany, culinary arts, food science, and herbalism.
"this event is happening in october on purpose," asia shares. "we revere our ancestors using foods. we want Black people to be eating west africa and central african cuisines. we want our food back. we have to travel through the plantation before we can get to the continent. this is ancestor work—we want our ancestors to smile on this work."
the course runs every monday in october at 7:30 pm est, featuring live sessions, interactive activities, and ancestral recipes. asia co-teaches with justin robinson, a botanist who healed his gut by eating the indigenous cuisine of his ọ̀yọ́ ancestors.
learning from sacred food rituals and plant ceremonies
asia's approach to food is deeply influenced by plant ceremonies. she describes her favorite coffee experience at whittier cafe in denver, a traditional east african coffee shop run by ethiopian woman, millete birhanemaskel:
"we used to have our afrofuturism book club there, and there was nothing more spectacular than experiencing the traditional coffee ceremony! I loved the sensory experience of the smoke, the smell of the roasting beans, the bitter flavor of the coffee, and the outfits!"
asia learned something crucial: "every culture that holds a plant that is stimulating, also holds a sacred ritual— a ceremony—that goes with that plant, food or beverage. matcha ceremony, korean tea ceremonies, yerba mate, cacao, hookah—they all have a ceremony that goes with it."
why ancestral food wisdom matters for modern health
when asked why someone should sign up for soul food genius, asia's response captures the universal relevance:
"soul food genius is the story of ancestral adaptation. the story of african ancestral adaptation has lessons not just for african bodies, but lessons for every single body. this course teaches us to discern how to eat to live."
"our ancestors are genius," asia emphasizes, "but also, we need to know these things so that we can live well."
supporting Black women food entrepreneurs and visionaries
asia represents one of the kinds of investors we're proud to have—someone who brings deep knowledge, authentic passion, and commitment to uplifting the diaspora through food.
"I'm in love with the brand and the story, but also just like, the baddies. we love a baddie," she says about ghost town oats. "shout out to michelle for holding down the frequency and showing us how to do this. leading and leading beautifully!"
her work with soul food genius perfectly complements our mission: creating alternatives that honor ancestral wisdom while meeting modern needs.
embrace your food heritage with soul food genius
soul food genius offers sliding scale pricing, reparative grants, and group discounts. the course approaches learning through: revere. respect. reflect. recreate.
if you're ready to transform your relationship with ancestral foods, register for soul food genius today.
as asia reminds us, "this is ancestor work, and our ancestors deserve to smile on what we create."
