Despite what you might get from my IG, I’m a pretty introverted and private person. But when the killing of George Floyd sparked the latest protests in the U.S. and globally, it was a reminder of the systemic racism many of us face and the importance of movements such as BLM. But what could a “food blogger” do to help?
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My initial thoughts were to stop posting and remove myself from the noise. Let others speak. But Black culture is and continues to be a huge inspiration to myself and the world of F&B. Guess who inspired the name “That Food Cray?” How many restaurants play music created by talented Black artists? We need to acknowledge and support these continual sources of inspiration in a culture we love. ⠀
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I recently read a book written by @chefkwameonwuachi called Notes From A Young Black Chef. Chef Kwame writes about his culinary journey and the racism he’s endured. I met Kwame briefly last year in Hong Kong at his pop-up dinner where he had prepared lily bud and piri piri, moi moi chawanmushi, lamb ribs with isu ewu sauce and more. ⠀
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This passage hit home: “I’ve worked in, from the closet-sized belly of a cleanup ship to the gleaming stainless-steel show kitchens of three-Michelin star restaurants. Sometimes racism takes the form of ugly words and actions. Other times it remains unspoken, communicated by hostile looks and secret snickers. But the most corrosive form, and often the hardest to address, is not being seen at all.” ⠀
I can’t agree with Kwame more when he says, “I want to see a world in which not only the food from the African diaspora but food from Africa is given the respect it deserves. When I push open the kitchen doors, I want to see a dining room full of diners, but especially brown and black diners, who, looking at their plates, feel seen, celebrated, and recognized.”
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The last few weeks might not have pushed me to have a very clear and definitive course of action. But it’s much clearer now for all people of color. The process won’t be easy and linear, and that’s ok. But the great equalizer that is food, is as powerful a platform as any to help us all understand and to do better.
