Food with Family
By 826 Valencia
Students from 826 Valencia, a literacy organization in San Francisco, share their stories.
Illustration by Lucy Gosline-Ratliff
In this collection, you will hear how food reminds 826 Valencia’s Black Literary Achievement Club (BLAC) of who they are and where they come from. Whether we’re gathering in celebration over a meal or mourning the passing of loved ones, food holds memories that ground us in our community and sense of self.
BLAC strives to cultivate an intentional space for Black students to tell their own stories in their most truthful forms. With the support of a Black professional mentors, students embrace a positive outlook on their Black identity through writing, the exploration of Black literary icons and leaders, Black history, community and leadership building.
Davion Marshall, Age 16
Live Oak High School
The Beginning of a Chef
Anytime my auntie cooks and everyone’s eating, me and my cousin go outside. We usually walk to the park until everyone is done, when it’s a huge meal and 10-20 people are at the house it’s just too much family. I love them to death, but y’all don’t have to be 20 people deep. We get to watch our favorite shows together, talk about our problems, play football or basketball and it makes me feel blessed. Even though I want more in life, it all goes back to my family. As a good man once said, live dangerously.
November 23, 2019, everyone was sitting down eating gumbo talking about how delicious my auntie’s cooking was, 1 hour later everyone was done eating and talking about Power, which is a normal thing around the house. I stood in front of everyone and said “Attention, I’d like to admit that woowoo did not make the food, in fact I DID.”
Then my auntie said, “He actually did make the food!” Everyone was shocked that I could cook that well. I used to think cooking was tiresome and not worth the time, but then my Uncle Keith changed my mind. He forced me into the kitchen and said, “This is my art and I would not change it for the world.” Keith would make everything like enchilada pies, bbq, and his speciality: red beans and rice. It would make your mouth water when you smelled it down the street.
He was cooking at the church on MacArthur next to the flower shop for the homeless. When he interviewed for the job he asked me, “Nephew, what should I cook?” I told him to make his specialty, red beans and rice with fried chicken because everyone loved it. Then he went ahead and cooked it and they loved it so much, he got hired on the spot. Three days later, he started cooking and at first there were 5 people who would come to get meals but then it grew to 30 people and more people kept coming.
Uncle Keith inspired me because of his smile, it was always his smile and Black and gray beard. He taught me that just because the time isn’t right doesn't mean that people won’t love it. I always smile and remember the moments I had with other people and try to put that into my cooking. It’s important to keep this in mind because you can teach your kids how to cook and they can remember the memories y’all had. One day I hope I can cook as good as him.
LoyaltyKouture Turner, Age 14
Alice Fong Yu Alternative School
Mom’s Cooking
When people’s food is nasty it makes me mad. I was at my friend’s house and somebody made lasagna and I ate it and I threw it away. It didn’t taste like anything even though it had sauce and ground beef. Wasn’t seasoned. I ate it because I was spending the night at a friend's house. This person is still my friend and I make sure I eat before I come over to their place.
I don’t know how to cook, but my favorite cook is my mom because I’ve been eating her food for so long. My mom can cook tho. She makes fried chicken, yams, and macaroni. She tells me to come into the kitchen with her, but I don’t go because I’m scared I’m gonna burn her food. Nobody taught her how to cook, she just taught herself. I always tell her that her food is good.
She seasons her food with seasoning that is a little spicy, when I eat her cooking it makes me feel good cause I don’t like fast food. Eating a home cooked meal is different because sometimes fast food still tastes frozen. My mom just always cooks for the two of us. The reason we spend dinner together is because we get to talk about our day and what we did all day. This makes me feel good to sit down and talk to my mom about all the drama and other things that go down at school. My mom's food after a long day at school makes me feel relieved.
Clayton Hill, Age 13
Bessie Carmichael Middle School
Mm Mmm Mmm That Chicken
“Mmmm, it tastes good,” my mom said. It was Thanksgiving night. My mom whipped up some golden brown fried chicken, some nice turkey, some mashed potatoes with gravy, mac n cheese, and a sweet pink lemonade drink to wash all that down. The chicken stood out the most because it was as crunchy as dry skin on some crusty, dusty lips… in a good way though.
My brothers were overwhelmed with delight at the sight, the smell, and the immaculate taste of it all. My baby nephew was sucking his thumb and I was thinking about how long it would take for my plate to be made. The food was great. It made me think about the first time I tried to cook fried chicken. I burned myself definitely, but no good cook has never hurt themselves or messed up in any way because no one is perfect. All you can do is try your best.
RaeLynn Smith, Age 14
Alice Fong Yu Alternative School
Christmas Cooking and Happy Spinning
“RaeLynn, do you want to help me cook Christmas dinner?” I ran down the stairs so fast when I heard my grandpa ask me that, I almost fell. I heard that there was going to be chicken, turkey, greens, yams, potato salad, and cranberry sauce but no macaroni and cheese. So when I heard my grandpa say, “Get me all three cheeses out of the refrigerator and the milk” I was so happy.
When we were done putting everything together, I must’ve sat there and watched the cheese melt in the oven for thirty minutes. The only thing that got me away from that oven was the fact that the turkey was ready and my grandma said I can try a piece.
While the food was cooking, my grandma asked me to come help her set up the table for everyone. When I saw the table decorations, I didn’t understand how it would look when it was all together but I just trusted my grandma's vision. When it was all put together it was so pretty and I couldn’t wait for everyone to be together and eat the really good food my grandpa made for us.
When the food was done, my grandma gathered everyone together and we sat down. The first thing I went to was the macaroni and cheese, really the only thing I did eat was the macaroni and turkey. It made me feel really happy when I saw my family together, even the family that didn’t live near us came out for Christmas dinner.
In the end it was all good and we all laughed, brought up old memories, and just had a great night. It was important that this specific Christmas was good because it was the first time in a long time that all of my family was together at one big beautiful table.
A’nyo Bell, Age 16
Homeschooled
Eat Right or Die Trying
I eat more—at school, didn’t bring lunch.
Just fruit and water, refreshing for the warrior spirit
school lunch is bad for you, the food there is not cooked
with love and care.
Nutrient deficient, higher temper, and lack of focus.
Apples and other fruits, water and tea,
fasting now. Doesn’t eat much usually.
Meditation for the gut, second brain digest for mental clarity.
Intermittent fasting. Like emptying the mind.
The gut is a mind of its own. Food is a physical thing.
It can change our mentality. Must be careful just like in fighting
if not you might get your head knocked out.
We are what we eat. In Black neighborhoods, we got the flavor,
but lack of resources and lack of healthy food cause
a psychological impact of the chemicals that we’re taking in.
Impact of processed food and meat.
Where are people getting their produce and deli in the hood?
They're going to liquor stores to get their meat.
Cows and pigs that experience stress and fear like a newborn
baby when it first comes out the womb.
And the impact of grass-fed and organic foods.
How discipline applies to all aspects of life. Preparation
for the fight. First fight and bringing out the animal within,
becoming the stripes of a tiger, becoming the claws
and teeth, becoming the tiger.
Leah King, Age 16
Abraham Lincoln High School
JOY
When I’m having a rough day, food always brightens me up. No matter what it is, food always makes me happy because I'm always looking forward to a great meal. Hearing the chimes of the bell, the loud crowd roars over my rumbling stomach, it's telling me that I'm hungry. The signals go throughout my brain to my stomach.
Walking home from a long day of school, all I think about is food. A steamy hot meal after a long day of school. When the warm food hits my tastebuds it brings me joy. As I run up the stairs I feel the soreness in my legs, I wash my hands as the cold water hits my hands. I walked into the kitchen to get the leftover ribs from last night.
As I prepare the food, I grab the ribs and rice, put it in the microwave. I hear the energy shoot through the food and the 3, 2, 1. BEEP BEEP BEEP (microwave noises). My facial expression says it all. As I walk to the dining room, all I can think about is that I'm ready to eat.
I sit down and glance at the food. As I take a bite, all I can think about is the mouthwatering, flaversome, falling off the bone, sweet and savory flavor. I was so excited because it made my day.
