The Women Of Our Lives
I, Chef JJ, am writing this today thinking of all the women out there. I want to say I see you, I hear you, and I love you. Women’s voices are too often silenced or misinterpreted - especially women of color.
I was raised by my father to always respect my mother and the women around me. He would say “she is the only mother you have and when I leave you will make sure you take care of her". Well, when my father almost left us after he had a stroke, the first thing that came to my mind was that the time of me filling in those shoes had come. Tears are running as I write this thinking about Breonna’s fate. It could have been my wife, my mother, my sister, cousins, or my very own daughter… Breonna Taylor was shot and killed in her own home next to a black man that was trying to protect his queen. He was probably taught to take care of his mother and that, in turn, helped him understand the responsibility of taking care of his queen. I’m sure he would’ve passed that on to his son too.
198 days have passed. We continue to chant “No Justice” or “Say Her Name!”. But is that enough? We witnessed Kentucky's Attorney General, a black man, stand on a stage with no emotion and zero empathy in regards that Breonna Taylor could have been a sister, a cousin or even a best friend. Watching that made me ask myself how often I have stopped to say thank you to all the black women and women that have my back every day? These women could have all been Breonna Taylor, which makes pains me even more. I am talking to you who have treated your girls to eat my food on their birthday or bought my cookbook to show support. You who made sure my first ever popup was extended, which led to me owning my first restaurant that you supported so we survived a pandemic. Yes, you are amazing, vibrant, loving, caring and I want to thank you for being there.
I want you all to know that FIELDTRIP is for you in every community we serve and that I love you, I care for you, and I hope you know I am there for you.
Don’t let anyone dim your light.
Senior Business Manager
4 年#Grace
Cook at The Maynard in Strasburg
4 年Truer words could not have been said.You brought the emotions to all of us(black,white,Asian,and Hispanic)about how black lives do matter and how all of us should fight against this injustice and change how African Americans are treated in this country.Dr King even spoke about it in his speech on the Lincoln memorial “And as we walk,we must make the pledge that we shall always March ahead.We can not turn back.There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights”when will you be satisfied?(never)We can never be satisfied as long as the black man is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.”(speech from 1963 March on Washington)I believe in Dr kings words today..and hope all Americans can learn from his words and change our country....thank you
Student at Boston University
4 年Love this !??
Associate's degree at City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College
4 年Thank u much appreciated
“a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
4 年Your father is a wise man! thank you for sharing.