Like many, I awoke today to the MLK Doodle on my Google search page. I took a few moments to reflect on the slain civil rights torch bearer, his contributions, his leadership, his sacrifice. I thought about the relations we share as Southerners, about the camaraderie I share with my team in the kitchen, the …
Verta Mae Grosvenor: The Griot Who Played Goddess
I met a lady named Vertamae Smart- Grosvenor once at a nice restaurant in a Charleston alley. My wife and I were attending a Southern Foodways Alliance event- one of those gigs where they ply you with local goodies and screen a Joe York documentary. Vertamae grew up in rural Hampton County, SC. Her parents moved …
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The Face of Denmark Vessey
It's 193 years later, and forces are still conspiring to conceal the face of Denmark Vessey. Friday was the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Like many of us, I spent time reflecting on the state of the world and our place in it as Americans and South Carolinians. After my step son left for school, we …