Over the past week, we have watched people across the country rise up and demand answers and change following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. What is happening is about that, deeply so, but it’s about so many others, and so much more. And, we know that this country, and all of us, must address years of systemic racism.
As a restaurant, a rectangular box off a street that serves food and drink, we didn’t really feel it was our place to comment. What are we to weigh in on something so serious? We are a business, an entity, not a person.
However, in our hearts and minds we realized we are more than that. We are a place made up of people, for people.
Our staff is our team and our family. Our customers are our guests.
Our restaurants serve as an escape from the craziness of the daily grind, but right now there is no escape from the happenings of the world. Further, we realized that we have a voice and we need to use it. We don’t pretend we know what is the right thing to say, to do. This is not about social media campaigns. This is about making a commitment to our black community.
Below is a list of what we are endeavoring to do. We hope you will consider joining us:
Get educated. Read. If you get your news from social media, buy a paper, too. If you read a national paper, read a local paper, too. If you watch one channel for your news try another one too, not instead. Pay attention. If there are issues you are concerned about, find groups working on them and see what they are reporting. There are many great sources in the fight against racism. One is the Southern Poverty Law Center follow them @splcenter
Get out, be counted and volunteer. In the best of times volunteer opportunities abound, and in harder times help is even more needed. Food and feeding people is our love language. Here are two local organizations Gabriel is working with that need more help Feed The Mass and Emergency Culinary Relief (wishbone@gmail.com)
Vote. Vote in every election and every race. Not just for president and for Congress, but for state judges, state representatives, attorney general, city commissioners, county commissioners, district attorneys, etc…If you don’t know the difference between candidates in a local race, find out. It matters.
Be open, be loving, be kind, be honest, and do what you can. And, believe as we do, that Black Lives Matter.
