Black-Owned Restaurant #22: Neyow’s Creole Café

After 22 different Black-Owned Restaurants, my November’s Journey has finally come to an end. Walking into November I did not expect this journey to take the twist and turns it did, but when I think about it, I didn't have any expectations at all, I just put my complete trust in God and allowed Him to lead the way. I isolated myself from the world as much as possible, except those at school and work, no one else saw me. While I did have moments I invited loved ones on my journey (to the restaurants with me), God continued to remind me this was my personal journey, and I have to continue on alone. I isolated myself from the world because I wanted to hear my own thoughts; I did not want any external influences to dissuade or deter me from my personal journey. I went as far as switching my style up mid-journey; instead of wearing my fedoras, I wore baseball caps because I knew my fedoras were what made me stand out, but because I wanted to feel as invisible as possible, to the world,  I consciously switched to baseball caps. I went from wearing blazers and stylish outfits to wearing the same “In the Beginning” Africa sweater because I aimed to minimize the attention I received from people (I also loved that sweater of Africa, which I just gave to my dear friend, Miciah, as a gift). I also stopped taking pictures of myself and the owners of the restaurants, as I wanted the reader to focus on my journey and not on the picture itself. I did all of these things so that I may entirely live through my November’s Journey and learn all that God was trying to teach me, so that I may tell you all about my journey.

After you read my entire journey over again, you will realize the different directions my journey went on. For instance, I thought I was going to 100 black-owned restaurants but ended at my age, 22. After Cecil’s, I started intertwining my personal experiences in foster care and after unearthing them, I disclosed my deep-seated insecurities to the world. The following restaurant freed my heart from bondage, after disclosing the addiction nobody ever knew about. It was only through placing my complete trust in God; I could reveal these things to the world. Because I chose to trust Him over my fears, there has been a love awoken inside of Me, that forgives me for my past, a love that has removed my deep-seated insecurities, and a love that will remain unconditional and forever in my heart towards Tercheron/Demetrius. 

Through this journey God reminded me of my very humble beginnings, because He knew through all of my success, I was detaching from where I came from and I forgot who I was. So God broke my arrogance and confidence and humbled me so that I can humbly walk through life and become the Man He created me to be. 

It was when I was six years old; I became aware that I was a little black boy, and I wished I was anything but black. That pain only continued to grow silently when all my black foster families placed me back into the system. It has only been through this journey I can finally look in the mirror and see the beauty in being a young black man. Through this journey, I have looked at my flaws and imperfections and watched them become my biggest strengths and assets. Through this journey, the fears placed into my heart by foster care, have evaporated into the air, and Love has become the replacement. Through this journey, the anger I subconsciously had towards black women, has been replaced with a love that wants to shield them from the pain of the world. Through this journey, God reminded me He is with me every step of the way. 

Thank you, to all the Black-Owned Restaurants that I went to for the month of November. Thank you, for all the lessons I learned along the journey. Thank you, for encouraging me to continue on my journey, no matter what. But most of all, thank you, for the various forms of love you showed me. Through the music, food, conversations, new friendships, energy —through it all you have shown me a beautiful form of Love my extra tips couldn’t repay. 

You will never truly understand how this Journey changed me. Thank You. 

To my friends and family members, thank you, for respecting my wishes and leaving me in solitude so that I may go on my personal journey. I love you all. 

To my dear friend Miciah, the person this journey would not have been possible for, thank you. Thank you, for being the only person, I allowed to be there for me every step of the way. Thank you, for never judging me, even though I judged myself. If it weren't for you, I would not have revealed to my world the internal bleeding I realized I had in Cecil’s and Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe, and it was through these post, God liberated my heart that was stuck in bondage. I can never repay you for what you have done for me, but I hope you feel the love through my words. Thank You. 

To all my Brother’s and Sister’s in and out of foster care, I went on this journey so that I can become the best Me so that I can be a better leader for us. Whenever I thought about turning my back on my November’s Journey, I thought of you all, and I remembered I was not alone during this journey, and I continued walking with my head up. Thank YOU, for inspiring me to be a Leader. I love you, all. 

As I continue on my life’s journey, I do not know what’s next or what’s coming my way. But I know God is with me every step of the way. 

I will leave you with my favorite poem since I was a little boy:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

By: Robert Frost 

Thank you, to Neyow’s Creole Café, in New Orleans for being my last Black-Owned Restaurant. 

God Bless You, All.  









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