For my bonus material, I want to talk about an experience I had a couple of weekends ago. Along with my family, I went to a “Black Folks Dinner” in Seattle. Black Folks Dinner, or BFD, is a monthly potluck with the intent of serving as a space for fellowship for people of the African American population within and around the city. This idea originated in Oakland and Barbara Jefferson, having attended BFD there, decided to replicate it upon returning to Washington.
I want to talk about the most recent BFD because of it’s freshness and relevance. The concept of healing really took a communal route in this gathering. Angela, like Coates does in Between the World and Me, talked explicitly about the threats and stress imposed upon herself and the marginalized communities she identifies with by society. This intertwined with notions of healing for the body, mind, soul and so on. There were numerous opportunities to engage in both communal and individual after the meal, such as an altar, a live African spiritual musical performance and someone who, upon request, used this instrument - I forgot what it’s called - but he shook it around participants as a cleansing ritual.
Later in the night, there was someone who shared his “group wish/prayer” for us which was that we, as Black people, find these spaces to heal with each other and are empowered through this, rather than being pushed to the outskirts of society or silenced. I felt like this rhetoric related to some of our discussions about the state of the Black community on campus which may be struggling to find a space to support one another and engage in activism for our concerns and rights through that. Hopefully, in both communities, an increased sense of unity and strength will come into fruition.
A part of each dinner is a unique location and theme/message which is presented by a speaker and these can be mutually exclusive. For example, the first one I went to was put on by Tarik Abdullah at his restaurant in Seattle, Morning Star, and it revolved around food & spirituality. The theme of this last one was “Reclamation: A Healing Ritual” - hosted by Angela, one of my mom’s friends, at a loft community space which was rented out.
Both experiences were unique for me because they’ve been of the few times I’ve found myself completely surrounded by an extensive crowd of Black and Brown faces in a dining setting since moving to Washington. Since most of our family is on the East coast, I don’t experience this through family reunions or holiday celebrations like I once did.
I want to talk about the most recent BFD because of it’s freshness and relevance. The concept of healing really took a communal route in this gathering. Angela, like Coates does in Between the World and Me, talked explicitly about the threats and stress imposed upon herself and the marginalized communities she identifies with by society. This intertwined with notions of healing for the body, mind, soul and so on. There were numerous opportunities to engage in both communal and individual after the meal, such as an altar, a live African spiritual musical performance and someone who, upon request, used this instrument - I forgot what it’s called - but he shook it around participants as a cleansing ritual.
Later in the night, there was someone who shared his “group wish/prayer” for us which was that we, as Black people, find these spaces to heal with each other and are empowered through this, rather than being pushed to the outskirts of society or silenced. I felt like this rhetoric related to some of our discussions about the state of the Black community on campus which may be struggling to find a space to support one another and engage in activism for our concerns and rights through that. Hopefully, in both communities, an increased sense of unity and strength will come into fruition.
All in all, it was once again a great experience and I’d definitely encourage everyone to attend one at least once. The Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/groups/1661869300697916/ so that you can find out about upcoming dinners and other things posted by the group members. Also, I just found these pictures of me and my family at the dinner on their Facebook page.
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