Say his name! GEORGE FLOYD!
On the very day I celebrated 50 years of my life, yet another Black person’s life was taken. George Floyd was murdered, lynched in broad daylight by four ignorant, heartless, diseased police officers in Minneapolis over passing a counterfeit bill. Yes, we all know, feel, ache and protest now but I am still processing. In fact, typing the first sentence of this paragraph makes me want to hit the back button until it is all erased…
…tap, tap, tap…Breonna Taylor…tap, tap, tap…Ahmaud Arbery…tap, tap, tap…Eric Garner…tap, tap, tap…Trayvon Martin…tap, tap, tap…Tamir Rice…tap, tap, tap…Emmett Till…tap, tap, tap…systemic racism…tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…transatlantic slave trade. If it was only so easy. Just imagine.
We all have been carrying a lot on our shoulders these last few months. Burdens of loss from jobs to death, raising and taking care of family, lack of human connection, political apathy and divisiveness. I do see, however, a silver lining of sorts in this perfect storm of times.
If the world had not been quarantined for the last almost 100 days, staying still, readjusting their lives, alone with their thoughts, George Floyd’s murder would have just been another notch in the headboard of systemic racism in America. However, in our own solitudes, the world got to see themselves as “the neck” of or “the knee” on oppressed and marginalized people. Either way, through worldwide protests, we all say, “ENOUGH!” and it is time to turn that headboard into a burning bed.
I know you come to this page for all of the food musings and celebrations of all our culinary community. However, like us, they too are processing while adapting and pivoting in our new Covid world.
Thank you to the Amsterdam News for this platform and for giving me this moment of grace to step away from my work and express myself here.
Always, thank you to all essential workers, healthcare professionals, grocery store workers and more. We would not be here without you.
Thank you to all the people around the country and the world who are protesting and standing up for truth and equality for all.
Say his name! GEORGE FLOYD!
Stay safe, wear a mask, eat well and thanks for reading!
Kysha Harris is a food writer and editor, culinary producer, consultant and owner of SCHOP!, a personalized food service in NYC for over 15 years. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, @SCHOPgirl, on Facebook, /SCHOPnyc, and her blog, www.talkingSCHOP.wordpress.com. Questions? Comments? Requests? Feedback? Invitations! Email AmNewsFOOD at AmNewsFOOD@SCHOPnyc.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @and tag us with #SoAmNewsFOOD with your food finds!