Black-Owned Restaurant #18: Milk River
When I walked inside Milk River, I stopped, took my cap off, and admired the beauty that stood before me. I admired the well-dressed and stylish, black people; I appreciated the fancy decoration/artwork; and I listened attentively to the soul music that played in the background. I walked up to coat check and dropped off my jacket. I smiled and told one of the Black employee's how I felt like I was on Wall Street, she chuckled and asked why? “The energy of this place feels completely different from all the other black-owned restaurants I’ve been to this month.” She asked if I was doing a project or something? I briefly explained my November’s Journey and showed her my Instagram account. She mentioned the owner(s) weren't there, but she was the manager and gladly welcomed me to Milk River. She walked me to my requested seats and told me to take photos of whatever I wanted. I smiled and said thank you. As I was looking over the menu, my waitress introduced herself, and when I looked up I saw a dark and gorgeous black woman (I wondered if the manager assigned Sheaniece to me, if so, thanks! :). In any case, I introduced myself, complimented my waitress on her beauty, and then asked about the salmon. I was extremely happy, and I could tell Sheaniece sensed my energy. She then smiled and told me I could substitute the mushrooms with Mac and Cheese and when I asked about the French fries she said: "no, stick with the Mac and Cheese" (let’s just say I am happy I listened to her). I then looked to my left and saw six gorgeous black women, laughing and smiling with one another. I briefly closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled, I felt so comfortable with all of my surroundings. Sheaniece came back and noticed I was reading and asked what the book was about? I explained I was learning about the Asian culture, China in particular, and needed to finish “Factory Girls” by next week. I continued: “Wanna know something interesting?” “Sure,” she said, “when I was registering for classes back in August with my guidance counselor, I had three options: Asian culture, South America culture, and African culture, and when I selected the Asian culture class, my guidance counselor was surprised.” She continued to listen: “I just realize sitting here, I did not select the African culture class because I subconsciously and consciously disregarded most things that had to do with the black culture because of my deep-seated insecurities.” I then explained my November’s Journey and why I was at Milk River: "I am teaching myself how to fall in love with my culture, my people, and then, myself as a black man." I then mentioned how while I am, in the words of the Alchemist, unearthing my personal legend, I am also a student and I have to maintain my obligation to school thus, I have to read on a Saturday night in a restaurant. “This journey has been very tiring; between work, school, and this ‘journey’ I am on, I often want to stop and just go back to being the old Demetrius.” I felt my spirits getting low and then Sheaniece said this: “you have a very beautiful spirit and energy, and I see you going very far in life. So no matter what, don’t YOU quit on your journey.” Instantly, my smile lit up like a nightlight, and I felt encouraged to continue tackling my journey. I finished my meal, thanked Sheaniece for blessing me with her service and gave her a hug. Before I walked out of Milk River, I saw the manager again, and she asked how was my experience, I told her it was so beautiful. She thanked me for coming and wished me well on my Journey of self-discovery.
When I walked inside Milk River, I stopped, took my cap off, and admired the beauty that stood before me. I admired the well-dressed and stylish, black people; I appreciated the fancy decoration/artwork; and I listened attentively to the soul music that played in the background. I walked up to coat check and dropped off my jacket. I smiled and told one of the Black employee's how I felt like I was on Wall Street, she chuckled and asked why? “The energy of this place feels completely different from all the other black-owned restaurants I’ve been to this month.” She asked if I was doing a project or something? I briefly explained my November’s Journey and showed her my Instagram account. She mentioned the owner(s) weren't there, but she was the manager and gladly welcomed me to Milk River. She walked me to my requested seats and told me to take photos of whatever I wanted. I smiled and said thank you. As I was looking over the menu, my waitress introduced herself, and when I looked up I saw a dark and gorgeous black woman (I wondered if the manager assigned Sheaniece to me, if so, thanks! :). In any case, I introduced myself, complimented my waitress on her beauty, and then asked about the salmon. I was extremely happy, and I could tell Sheaniece sensed my energy. She then smiled and told me I could substitute the mushrooms with Mac and Cheese and when I asked about the French fries she said: "no, stick with the Mac and Cheese" (let’s just say I am happy I listened to her). I then looked to my left and saw six gorgeous black women, laughing and smiling with one another. I briefly closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled, I felt so comfortable with all of my surroundings. Sheaniece came back and noticed I was reading and asked what the book was about? I explained I was learning about the Asian culture, China in particular, and needed to finish “Factory Girls” by next week. I continued: “Wanna know something interesting?” “Sure,” she said, “when I was registering for classes back in August with my guidance counselor, I had three options: Asian culture, South America culture, and African culture, and when I selected the Asian culture class, my guidance counselor was surprised.” She continued to listen: “I just realize sitting here, I did not select the African culture class because I subconsciously and consciously disregarded most things that had to do with the black culture because of my deep-seated insecurities.” I then explained my November’s Journey and why I was at Milk River: "I am teaching myself how to fall in love with my culture, my people, and then, myself as a black man." I then mentioned how while I am, in the words of the Alchemist, unearthing my personal legend, I am also a student and I have to maintain my obligation to school thus, I have to read on a Saturday night in a restaurant. “This journey has been very tiring; between work, school, and this ‘journey’ I am on, I often want to stop and just go back to being the old Demetrius.” I felt my spirits getting low and then Sheaniece said this: “you have a very beautiful spirit and energy, and I see you going very far in life. So no matter what, don’t YOU quit on your journey.” Instantly, my smile lit up like a nightlight, and I felt encouraged to continue tackling my journey. I finished my meal, thanked Sheaniece for blessing me with her service and gave her a hug. Before I walked out of Milk River, I saw the manager again, and she asked how was my experience, I told her it was so beautiful. She thanked me for coming and wished me well on my Journey of self-discovery.
As I was walking to the train, I thought back to when I was five and one of my black foster mothers called me a “piece of trash” and I remembered reiterating that to a teacher when she called me handsome. I then realized these were the seeds of anger towards black women, that were planted in my heart at an early age. But I looked up to the sky and smiled because I knew God is in the process of “de-rooting” those seeds and replacing them with seeds of love towards black women.
Thank you, Milk River, for being a part of that process tonight.
#whichblackownedrestaurantisnext
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