A Message From our Founder

Dear Freedom Lover,

I'd like to tell you a short story about how Free Breakfast Apparel came to be. I was raised by a single parent (hey Dad! 👋🏽). We struggled at times, but my father went back to college in his 30's and became a school teacher. Shockingly (at least to me) he was the only Black male school teacher in his suburban-Chicago school district for 20 years. He is the biggest influence in my life and everything good about me I owe to his love and care.

When I was young, he'd force me and my brother to go to Sunday School at 2nd Baptist Church. I hated it. But I'm thankful he did. There I met a woman named Marion, our Sunday School instructor. She was also a teacher in the local district. Marion cared deeply about her students and the Black community at large. It was she who put "Roots" and "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in my hands when I was only 12. Those books opened my eyes and sent me down the path to what's known in many circles as "knowledge of self" but more plainly, cultural history and awareness.

As I grew, I dug deeper into my family history as well as the history of Black people in America and abroad. The things I learned about our people are embellished upon the threads of the clothing I design. But as to my immediate family, I learned that Marion was greatly influenced by a woman named Auntie Zelodius. "Aunt Z" was the first Black teacher in our town and she stressed the importance of education to her daughter Caroline and Caroline's friend Marion (my Sunday school teacher). Were it not for Aunt Z, I might not of met Marion. Might not have read those books. Might not have developed an intense love for the Black Power Movement. Might not have ever started Free Breakfast. They have all since passed and I say their names as is proper to honor their lives and contribution. I am standing firmly on their shoulders.

I grew this company over 12 long years. Worked it while substitute teaching and driving Lyft/Uber. Ran into significant adversity in 2020 and walked away from it. I lost my creative juice. I battled depression. But personally, my background is in education, mentoring and social activism, and my desire to give back never left. I never lost the desire to teach and reach through my art nor did I lose the desire to engage in the important work that MUST be done to improve the lives of marginalized people.

Even while we were unprofitable, we managed to make regular donations to organizations like the CHAMPS Male Mentoring program here in Chicago and the Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute in Atlanta. We endeavor to keep that going in 2026 and beyond.

I beseech you to tap in. Follow us on social media. Click like. Click share. Grab some conversation-starting, original-art-bearing merch. Or just send some good vibes. Our best work is ahead of us and I want you to be a part of it.

With love and solidarity,

Hannibal/Free Breakfast

Lead Servant