The Luxe Noir Collaborative, or simply "The Collaborative," was founded by Dr. Letisha Malcolm, a proud Jamaican American, a Fulbright Scholar, an international affairs professional, and a political and policy advisor. Dr. Malcolm holds two doctoral concentrations, Education Administration and Administration and Social Policy, from Morgan State University's Department of Advanced Studies, Leadership, and Policy, and a U.S. Public Policy in Social, Economic, and Foreign Policies certificate from Harvard University's Extension School. Her dissertation explored the historical exclusion of African Americans from education, economic mobility, and political leadership, drawing on the works of Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, James W. Loewen, Dr. LaGarrett King, Ibram X. Kendi, and Dr. Deborah G. White to address ongoing struggles for Black agency and empowerment. Conducting a Critical Discourse Analysis and infusing frameworks of Intersectionality and Triangulation, Dr. Malcolm examined how eugenic constructs, hidden ideologies, and racist power dynamics and language shaped U.S. history textbooks and public memory. Her research revealed the long-standing erasure and distortion of Black achievement, highlighting pathways for reclaiming narrative power. This deep scholarly foundation laid the groundwork for The Collaborative's vision.

Through The Collaborative, Dr. Malcolm elevates the narrative of Black excellence, empowerment, and improvement beyond conventional success stories, highlighting global influence, policy engagement, economic power, and cultural innovation. We aim to advance leadership, policy, advocacy, and global exchange, driving transformative change through education, economic growth, and cross-cultural understanding within Black communities across Africa, the global Diaspora, and other underrepresented, marginalized, underserved, and historically oppressed populations worldwide.

Dr. Malcolm takes pride in being born on January 15, the same day as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and holds the last name Malcolm, which connects to Malcolm X. She is a proud graduate of the great Bethune-Cookman University, founded by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the first African American presidential advisor. Most proudly, she embraces her shared Jamaican heritage, drawing inspiration from the legacy of Marcus Garvey.