A few years ago, I made the switch from over the counter lotions to whipped and raw shea butter—best decision ever! Being a scientist has made me more aware of what I eat and the products I use on my body. Am I the only scientist that spends more time in the grocery store reading the labels? I've noticed a surge of forensic scientists on "the gram" and came across a profile for Xanthines All Natural Products, a company owned and created by award-winning forensic toxicologist, Tamykah Anthony.
Anthony has an intriguing upbringing, one of determination, humility, and resilience—she is a mom who homeschools her children, award-winning forensic toxicologist, an author, and owner/creator of Xanithines All Natural Products based in Brooklyn, New York. Anthony hails from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; she attended a magnet elementary school and college preparatory private high-school school while growing up in Brooklyn. It was at the Dalton School, a college preparatory school where she took college-level science courses that are usually not a part of public school curriculums. Although Anthony didn't have a mentor to show her the ropes, she still excelled in the sciences and went on to study forensic science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she developed a passion for forensic toxicology.
Similar to my experiences as one of the few black women studying chemistry as an undergraduate, as well as feeling like an outcast at my job in forensics, Anthony didn't see anyone that looked like her. Over the years, I have come across many college students who have a difficult time finding internships and employment at a forensics lab because of the lack of support and access to resources.
Despite the challenges, Anthony managed to figure it out and was able to excel in her career. Organic Chemistry, also referred to as "orgo", isn't typically a favorite course of many students; however, Anthony loved it. Also among her favorite courses were Instrumental Analysis and Biochemistry, which eventually helped her create a toxic-free natural product line.
While at John Jay, Anthony won an award for her research presented at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). She also published research in scientific journals at Columbia University. Her internship at the medical examiner’s office was for three years shadowing a death investigator, which would have been a dream job for some, but Anthony decided that was not the right discipline for her. After graduation, she landed a job in clinical research. Anthony received support and resources for finding internships and research but not for employment in forensics.
While she completed her coursework, she was taking notice of the potentially harmful chemicals that people are exposed to on a daily basis. Anthony really started to pay attention to the ingredients in the products she was using and shared the information with her friends and family. What should we use instead?, they asked. The answer wasn't simple, as Anthony didn't think it existed yet. So, in the end, she made it herself.
Xanithines All Natural Products offers natural skincare, vaginal health, immunity boosters and household products. The science that Anthony learned over the years helped her develop non-toxic ingredients for over 20 products; everything from body butter, natural deodorants, custom yoni blends, elderberry gummies, soap nuts, lip balms, and others. And for the customer that wants a little bit of everything, monthly subscription boxes are an option. Anthony makes all the products herself, and even teaches her kids to make their own products. I saw the cutest video of her son making his own gummies!
It was at the housing developments and playgrounds in Brooklyn, New York where Tamykah started doing pop up science workshops; the kids loved it. To add to Anthony's entrepreneurial endeavors, she founded Camp Wakanda—an entrepreneurship in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) program that teaches kids to embrace their innate science superpowers. Camp Wakanda also teaches kids yoga, meditation and veganism.
When teaching the next generation of forensic scientists, we must be sure to give them an option to think beyond the lab and become a "scientistpreneur" like Anthony.
"I think entrepreneurship is key in the classroom. It allows students to really make science (or any other class) their own because they can link the skills they are learning to their passions. Teaching high school STEM classes and also running Camp Wakanda, entrepreneurship is an integral part of the curriculum. Specifically for science, it shows students they can have fun with science and implement it into their lives. For example, a student is more likely to pay attention in chemistry class if she has aspirations of having her own makeup line and a teacher is able to link chemistry skills and concepts to being a successful business owner or having a successful product," Anthony told me.
Instagram @xanthinesallnaturalproducts
Purchase Xanthines All Natural Products
Watch Tamykah featured on the Dr Oz show
This is Forensic’s third installment of “Women in Forensics.” This column is authored by Antoinette T. Campbell, founder of the Association of Women in Forensic Science, Inc. (AWIFS) and Club Philly Forensics—a youth forensic science and violence/education outreach program. Determined to fulfill all her passions, she established AWIFS as a conduit for connecting like-minded individuals and organizations and provide STEM-based programming for youth and young adults. Antoinette has been profiled in the Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, 105.3 WDAS, 900 AM WURD, and myriad blogs. In 2017, she earned a nomination for the RAD Awards Scientist of the Year and continues to serve as a venerated member of several panels including the Philadelphia Science Festival-Partner Advisory Council and Parents United for Better Schools, Inc. Antoinette can be reached at: www.awifs.org, @womeninforensics, #womeninforensics