In celebration of Black History Month, we’re honoring the unique stories + experiences of the people who make up the many layers of our community. KJ Kearney is the founder of the James Beard Award nominated social media account, Black Food Fridays, a call-to-action, encouraging all to be intentional with their support of Black owned food/beverage businesses by purchasing from them each and every Friday.
How has food influenced who you are as a person?
“Food is the reason people are reading this right now. I started Black Food Fridays at the beginning of the pandemic, with no real aim for what this could be, and I’m so fortunate that this concept has taken flight! But culturally speaking, as a Gullah Geechee person, food is at the foundation of who I am and connects with people across the African Diaspora and across timelines.”
What legacy do you want to leave?
“I’m not concerned with my legacy. I’ve learned, over time, that my legacy is not left up to me to decide. No matter what I do for the community, when I’m gone the people will decide how I am remembered and what I am remembered for. What I am concerned with is leaving a blueprint for others, who look like me, to follow as they try to reach their creative and community-minded goals. And by “blueprint” I don’t mean that my words or actions need to be followed as gospel. Rather, I want them to serve as a guide for how to think about their craft, how to imagine the world they want to live in, and more importantly, how to make those dreams come true.”