Black-Owned Restaurant #21: HOME

After going to 20 different black-owned restaurants, I have decided I will end my November's Journey with post #21 if I don't go to New Orleans for my speech on Tuesday. You will never understand how hard it was for me to leave my house every day this month knowing my (foster) mother was cooking. I’ve eaten some incredible food this entire month from all the black-owned restaurants I’ve been too; however, nothing came close to my mother’s food. I also know my (foster) father felt a way about me eating outside food every day, making it seem as if I am not being fed at home. It was in my first restaurant, Brooklyn Blend, that I made the decision only to eat at Black-owned restaurants for the entire month of November; I also made the decision I would spend Thanksgiving home and write a post about my family. I never got a chance to tell my father that although I was eating at restaurants every day, I had already set aside November 23rd, 24th, and the 25th, to stay home and bond with my family. I was talking to one of my younger brothers (I have five younger and three older brothers) on Thanksgiving, and we were joking about how for the first time in three years, I was actually home the entire day on Thanksgiving. He said, “I guess you're not having any more half-day thanksgivings.” I was so used to coming and going, that even on holidays and special occasions I would leave home and return either when people were gathering their belongings to leave or when everyone had already fallen asleep. After experiencing nearly 30 different foster homes my entire life, I have always been on the go, and it is because of this habit, I missed out on many opportunities to bond and build with my family. This Thanksgiving made three years since I started living with The Greens; despite all the fights, arguments, and the countless times I packed my bags ready to go, they continued to show me nothing but unconditional love. Besides my adoptive home, this is the longest I ever had stability, and since I wasn't used to staying in one home, I didn’t know how to appreciate the very same people I lived with. I was recently watching a segment of me on NBC Wednesday’s Child, back when I was 18 years old and in this video, (www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/202426521.html), I explained my ideal family. I thought back to this day and how I visualized how my family would be with many brothers and sisters; I imagined having both parents; I imagined a place where I wouldn't be judged; I imagined a place where "forever" was possible. I imaged a place like the Greens home. Now, four years later from that video, I have a mother AND a father, five younger brothers, three older brothers, three older sisters, eight nephews, one niece and about 20 aunts and uncles. Don’t let me get started on the cousins. In any case, my point is God has blessed me with my own family. I no longer have to feel as if I have to take on the world by myself; I no longer have to feel an emptiness in my heart during the holidays; I no longer have to feel alone. I finally understand what it means to be in a family. 

To my family back home, thank you. Thank you, to all my brothers, Ryan, Shareef, Suggs, Leel, Charles, Bruce, Allen, and Anthony for accepting me as your brother. Thank you, to my three sisters, Tanya, Kina, and Chanel, for accepting me as your brother. Thank you, Uncle D, Uncle Sha, and Uncle Jeff, for accepting me as your nephew. And to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Green, thank you, for accepting me as your son. 

While one of my brothers was taking this photo, all I could think to myself was "finally, I found my forever home."

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