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The pandemic has provided us many benefits, including how we examine and eliminate the continuous oppression of groups of people in the US. In addition, Black Theatre United opened my eyes to oppression that was happening in black theater (unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised).  I have pledged my patron support by being more proactive with productions I choose to see.  I have been more selective on voting with my dollars for more diverse actors and leadership on Broadway (and in Houston). My trip to New York on Dr. MLK, Jr. Weekend 2023 made sure to continue that theme of support for black artists.

With a limited amount of time, I had to optimize my schedule because the city that never sleeps also has a way of making you feel like time is warped and moving at the speed of light. Prior to leaving Houston, I had plans to attend “The Piano Lesson” and dine at Tatiana, a new restaurant by Kwame Onwuachi.  To book at the restaurant, I constantly searched Resy for 6 weeks to finally learn that reservations are released 28 days prior. It was very difficult to score weekend reservations as I found it easier to get mid-week ones. Since, I was not arriving until the weekend I had to keep trying. I finally was able to get two nights of reservations for about 15 minutes before close. I am glad that I was able to do that as there was way more food that I wanted to eat than what I could consume in one seating.

On the first night, we quickly realized that the shareable plates are called that because they are quite large. However, my dietary restrictions came with limitations for the table. Nevertheless, we started with scallop pinchos, egusi dumplings and ended with braised oxtails with rice& peas. The peppa sauce was amazing which is why we had to order a few more sides of rice as that became my main entrée topped with the sauce.

I am pretty sure Kwame was not in the kitchen himself (I can taste when his hands have touched a dish), yet it was still great. The second night we ordered the okra (omg!) and more scallops with a shared dish of red snapper. My mouth is watering as I type this, and I am happy that I had the opportunity to enjoy the artistic talents of Chef Kwame’s creations once again. I topped off the meal with the bodega special dessert. I was SO full as I pre-gamed food at Le Jardinier after our quick visit to MOMA.

Speaking of MOMA, I was pleasantly surprised during my visit there (which my membership is included by being a member of Studio Museum Harlem). While we were discussing a painting by Mark Rothko, one of the security staff overheard us and asked more questions. She stopped as she was inspired by overhearing two “young” black women discussing art. We created a safe space for her to ask more questions. She ended up blessing us because she suggested the JAM (Just Above Midtown: Changing Spaces) exhibit which we would have missed without her suggestion.

JAM was an art gallery space created by my Spelman sister, Linda Goode Bryant, in 1974 to help create a space for black art by diverse artists. It was beautiful to see expressions of art during this time period as Goode Bryant was one of the first New York gallerists that paved the way of black art in galleries. Yet, she wanted us to focus beyond the commercialization of art which is a great reminder for us to remain centered about why we produce art. Eventually, she shifted her focus to become a non-profit organization in order not to be distracted by only selling art. I was happy that we were able to experience the exhibit.

When Houston-native, Brandon J. Dirden, urged his IG followers to see “Between Riverside and Crazy” I was intrigued.  I felt drawn to support Stephen McKinley Henderson as it is rare that we get to see a 73-year-old legend live on stage. Yet, I learned later that this show was also Common’s Broadway debut.  Unfortunately, I had to leave at intermission in order to make my reservation for Tatiana but I am hoping I can catch a simulcast to finish the show. From what I saw, all of the actors were wonderful.

My second show was “The Piano Lesson” which was directed by Spelman alumna, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and the led by Morehouse alumnus, John David Washington. Unfortunately, Samuel Jackson was not in the performance I attended. The energy of the show was still very high, and I am not sure how much higher it would have gone with Jackson present. Again, every cast member was phenomenal, and I must highlight how well John David Washington performed.

I am sure it is difficult making your own name when your father is “The Denzel Washington”, however, (don’t come for me) he might be an even more talented actor than his dad. I really felt him embody Boy Willie (and I really still can’t get over his skills in Black Kkklansman). Despite him sounding and sometimes at angles looking like Denzel, I really felt Boy Willie was embodied on the stage. It was a special moment to see all of that talent at one time.  Danielle Brooks (Berniece) was the glue that held everything together (just like her character). I have a personal connection to The Piano Lesson as it was the first and only scene that I directed in high school (and won State honors) yet, there were still parts where I couldn’t remember what would happen next. I stopped trying to remember and became engulfed in the moment that was captured by this special production.

The last show I was privileged to see was the early closing of “Ohio State Murders” starring Audra McDonald at the beautifully renovated and renamed James Earl Jones Theater. Initially, I was not interested in the show as the titled made me think it might have violence which is hard for me to watch. Yet, it kept surfacing and after strong recommendation, I decided to see it. I learned that the playwright, Adrienne Kennedy, is a 91-year-old black woman who has been writing plays for over 60 years but was often overlooked. The production directed by Kenny Leon (who I remember from living in Atlanta) was a Broadway debut for the play.

The play explores the racism of our country during the 1950s but that is still pervasive today. I enjoyed Ms. Kennedy depicting black middle-class people during that time period which is rarely shown in plays. I can relate to having relatives in college and graduate school during the 50s era. Audra spent 75 minutes (no intermission) playing an older and younger version of the main character Suzanne Alexander. Once the show was over, one is perplexed if the events occurred in real life. Director Kenny Leon said after communicating with Ms. Kennedy over the preparation of the show, he believes about 50% may be based on her own life. Regardless of whether the murders happened or not, it left everyone with that drop in the stomach feeling. We all know that tragedies similar to what happened in the play happen often in this country and are usually publicized a specific way depending on the suspect or victim.

My trip to NYC was a beautiful experience and I’m grateful that I was able to support black artists (culinary, performing and visual). I encourage us to continue to search for art experiences that are not only diverse in production and performers but also less publicized. The shows were all very different and helped to showcase different periods of experience for black people in America. We want to continue to see shows and art that reflect the diversity of our country.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

I can not remember where I first was introduced to the work of Amoako Boafo which is the blessing and the curse of social media (it could also be art magazines or emails too). Nevertheless, the minute that I saw he had an exhibit at CAMH, I immediately knew in my spirit that it was a very big deal. Yet, it was not until Larry Ossei-Mensah confirmed in the artist talk that tonight was a historic moment that my intuition was validated.

Amoako Boafo is a Ghanian painter and visual artist that started his professional career around 2018 but as it was stated in his talk back, he has been perfecting his practice over two decades. Amoako was primarily focus on tennis with art being a hobby. He took a break in tennis to study at the Ghanatta College of Art and Design in Accra in 2007. Later, he went on to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, Austria. Amoako has been able to transform a natural passion into a flourishing career.

Amoako’s career feels like an overnight success. It is not often that an artist has a collaboration with Dior, is on first name basis with Kehinde Wiley and sells at $3M at auction in such a short amount of time. However, we learned during his talk back that he experienced rejection in Vienna before he was accepted as a global art rising star. What I loved most about Amoako’s story is the fact that he continued to persevere despite obstacles. He actually took the rejection of not selling pieces in Vienna to confirm that he was on the right track. What an amazing perspective to provide hope to never give up.

The standing room only artist talk back was only a small indication of how much his art is admired and appreciated. There were visitors from Houston and beyond who wanted to be the first to grab a sneak peak of his latest works before opening on Thursday, May 26th. There were many people in the room that ranged from artists, collectors, curators and friends all with one unified goal: support.

When I observed the paintings, I was not aware that Amoako made most of his paintings with his finger instead of a brush. It took a second look for me to distinguish the strokes and recognize that it was not created with a brush. Every painting captured your attention and accomplished Amoako’s goal of him experiencing the piece with you (taking a bit of him with you in your head).

The interview was led by Larry Ossei-Mensah who also curated the show. I was so happy to finally meet him and excited that their connection brought this work to Houston. We are honored to witness and support another unexpected star. Houston is the land of opportunity and we specialize in the success of the “underdog.” We have so many stories of people who were not expected to succeed and beat all odds to reach their dreams. It would be very fitting that the exhibit opened here for many reasons.

To add a special flair to the exhibit, one piece was painted on a wall and will be gone after the exhibit leaves Houston in October. We had an amazing opportunity to view a piece that had a definitive end date which was unique in itself. I kept thinking of all of the unique ways the wall could be salvaged. Could it just stay there and future exhibits blended it in forever? I made sure to take a picture with the piece just in case it is indeed taken away.

There was a question in the audience that really struck me where it was asked where can Amoako grow from here since he has reached the “top” so quickly. His response kept me thinking for a while as he said he really hopes he can keep growing, especially in Ghana. I thought about his vision of creating an art district and residency for future artists and realized he is really on to something. Ironically, today is Africa Day which symbolizes the beginning of something very historic, indeed. I am imagining where more African artists continue to build in Africa and establish more resources for those that don’t have access to help further solidify our place in the art world which has been deemed out of the ordinary for far too long. Indeed, our work is extraordinary and I am blessed to witness art from artists that will make sure we preserve the soul of black folks in a positive light.

Soul of Black Folks will be at the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston until October 2, 2022. Admission to the museum is free.

The very first time I learned about the James Beard Awards was through an event called Iconoclast . The Iconoclast Dinner Experience (IDE) was created by my classmate Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell as a scholarship fundraiser for Spelman College. IDE was one of the first events that I am aware of that showcased James Beard Chefs of Color. I have always wanted to attend the event and seemed to have a schedule conflict every time. Nevertheless, IDE introduced me to many black chefs that I had not heard of before.

On a trip to DC, I asked an Atlanta foodie for dinner recommendations. Years later, I am still impacted from the experience. I went to the restaurant called Kith and Kin led by executive chef Kwame Onwauachi. I had never been to a restaurant that had as much flavor, if not more, than my grandmother’s dinner table. On my second visit, I was afraid that it would not be as good as the first time. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant has closed but I stayed abreast on Kwame through social media. The day that I read Kwame was hosting an event called The Family Reunion, at a resort that I love dearly, Salamander Resort, I had to go.

I waited for what felt like forever for the tickets to come out. I even desperately looked at the Aspen Food and Wine event when I thought I may have missed the family reunion ticket sales. When I received the email to register for the family reunion, I was on the phone making reservations within 10 minutes. There were different options which included a full week pass, a single day pass or a full week with accommodations.

What drove me to this event was a combination of several things. I loved Kwame, his food, and his story of overcoming obstacles. Another reason was the five star Salamander Resort had been on my list of places to visit for 13+ years before I was able to finally stay in 2019. There were several chefs that were going to be at the Family Reunion event that I have been following for years or had eaten in their restaurants. Lastly, I was fresh off of watching High on the Hog, a Netflix documentary. High on the Hog was one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. What was super special about it as it helped me realize my passion for the combination of history of the African diaspora and our resilience through bringing our food with us as a form of resistance and survival.

The first day of the event, I made it in time for the cookout, hosted by Rodney Scott and Bryan Furman. After submitting medical documentation from my negative covid test, I went to experience the cookout. I was not able to partake in a lot of the options due to dietary restrictions, but it all looked amazing. I found a veggie burger with vegetarian chili & banana pudding by Ben’s Chili Bowl. Standing next to the table was the co-founder, Mrs. Virginia Ali. She was very welcoming and the food was great. I have had a Ben’s chili bowl t-shirt forever but never had the depth of understanding of all its historical impact until I met Mrs. Ali. The restaurant deserves its own documentary. She was amazingly kind and sharp while being 87 years old. She is one of the few people living today who has hosted Dr. King and President Obama. What a privilege it was to meet her (and to later realize she would receive a lifetime achievement award from the event).

 I left the cookout to indulge in the spa (fully masked). It was my first time at Salamander’s Spa and it reminded me of the Canyon Ranch Spa in Vegas yet more intimate and access to nature. The experience allowed me to relax indoors or outside at the infinity pool which faced a beautiful collage of trees and flowers. The massage was great and included a steam treatment in a bowl with essential oils. I was able to leave all of my stress on the table and fully enjoy the rest of the week.

The next day, I started with a series of panels and learned about some chefs I didn’t know. I discovered the collaboration of Williams Sonoma and Ghetto Gastro and was intrigued. I shared links of their small kitchen appliances as well as waffle mix to friends. As Sheila Johnson greeted us between panels, she gave a call to action on supporting our black chefs. Many of the themes of the panels ranged from food history, the need for more black women leadership in the food industry, the impact of the pandemic, West African food influence, showing up unapologetically black and reclaiming everything that has been stolen from us.

I met a lot of people from DC and eventually found the Houston crew when I saw Erica from Black Girls Who Brunch. There can’t be a food event without representation from Houston, since we are the food capital. It was also great to re-meet Keisha Griggs from Bocage Catering (she has some great events coming up soon that I will be sure to share).  

In the afternoon of Day 2, I was able to participate in an outdoor event with Mashama Bailey of The Grey. We learned how to throw axes and archery. Thankfully, the rain stopped and we were able to learn how to throw axes like the pros. I had never done either and quickly got over the fact that I was too late to register for the equestrian ride with Kwame (there were only 3 spots) and was very happy with my choice. We had an amazing time and quickly bonded with all the participants. We had an hour to change before it was time for African Night Market (food by Pierre Thiam, Kwame Onwuachi, Michael Elégbèdé, J.R. Robinson and Peter Prime).

Before going to the African market, I had dinner at the Salamander restaurant Harriman’s . On Day 1, there were Chef takeovers all over Middleburg. Unfortunately, my event was cancelled but I learned that Chef Kwame’s takeover menu was available all week at Harriman’s. We were delighted to be able to try his food. Kwame was busy preparing for the African market so the executive chef of Harriman’s made his recipes. The coco bread and brussel sprouts were on point. I also enjoyed my octopus. The service was amazing and my server made sure we had a great visit.

I went to the African market quite full but with enough room to continue tasting. I had already started the night with a great Sauvignon Blanc by the McBride Sisters (who were also in attendance as a sponsor). I got to taste some amazing pepper soup with fish. I meant to get some puff puff but ended up running my mouth with new found “family.”

We were entertained by an African dance troupe and the audience was quick on the call for volunteers to dance. We had a surprise visit from Dave Chappelle who made sure we set the stage right for the party. Later, we went to a party near the culinary garden and our phones were locked. I appreciated the opportunity to be forced in the moment. The conference was also sponsored by Remy so the party was jumping into the wee hours of the night.

Day 3 were more panels and a beautiful lunch cooked by Mashama Bailey, Jonny Rhodes, Gregory Gourdet and Jason Reaves. After lunch, I took a pause and participated in the Lexus Driving Experience. The car I chose was a red convertible that retails about $110k. It was a nice ride and another opportunity to be in nature. I rested and was able to join for the last events which included book signings and  the block party. The block party had a surprise performance by Estelle. I spoke briefly with Jidenna who was there for the events and shared how beautiful his show was in Houston. In our conversation, he confirmed what Houstonians already know…our city rocks.

In summary, the inaugural Family Reunion was a success. The intimacy of about 350 people was unmatched while having the intention of unapologetically showing up to the table with our food and history. I was able to deepen my passion and understanding that as an advocate for the arts, that black culinary art has always had been in my subconscious. This event made me bring it to my conscious. It is my responsibility to continue to encourage everyone to support black chefs as they continue to tell our ancestors’ stories through food. We learned about our past, celebrated our present and did not forget our future.

Save the date for the 2022 Family Reunion which will be held August 18-21, 2022.

2% of the ticket proceeds and silent auction benefitted No Kid Hungry. If you would like to donate directly, you can here.