M.O.B.B. HERSTORY

Mothers of Black/Brown Babies, LLC. was founded by taj anwar in 2006.

In 2002, anwar, while still a graduate student at Georgia State University, working full time and a mother of two went to apply for financial assistance from a governmental agency. When asked of she was in school, anwar proudly told her caseworker that she was in school and what she was studying. After a 2-hour waiting period and 2 ½ hour interview process, anwar was denied assistance and told that in order for her to qualify for assistance; she would need to quit school. Angered, anwar left the office and vowed to make a change upon graduating from college. She defended her Master’s degree thesis on Mother’s of Black/Brown Babies, and non- profit she hoped to start shortly after graduating.

M.O.B.B. is named after one of anwar’s favorite songs, “Steady Mobbin’” by Da Lench Mob. In the hip-hop community, that phrase means to keep it moving, no matter the circumstance. The acronym became functional term she used while working in the community and encouraging others.

In 2004, anwar put M.O.B.B. into practice. She began going to various public housing projects giving out food and hygiene care packages to families in need. She assembled these packages at home and hand delivered them in her truck. When talking with the people, she recognized that the same conditions that she worked hard to pull herself out of are still existent. Recalling her experience with dealing with governmental benefits, she could identify with their stories as well. She used her experience and learning to write People within the local hip- hop community became aware of the work she was doing and offered resources.

In 2006, M.O.B.B. became a movement in which anwar wrote and developed various programs to strengthen parenting amongst mothers. People could identify with her story and wanted to join M.O.B.B. in its efforts, thus propelling M.O.B.B. to national and international recognition. Now with a team, anwar continues to M.O.B.B. through the city with the hopes of expanding on a national and international level in the future.