The black kitchen was more than just the place where our forebears ate; it was where the family met to talk about and solve problems. It was not a space for guests; their place was in the living room where the good furniture was covered in plastic, and the decor presented the family’s style and values, which often included a large family Bible, pictures, beloved trinkets, and reminders of the honored dead beside showcases of the hopeful seed.

As a people, we have failed to respect and protect our family by saving family business for the kitchen while presenting our best examples of black excellence to the mainstream. In fact, it seems that we often do the opposite, airing the dirtiest and most embarrassing aspects of ourselves in public while failing to highlight and celebrate the best representatives of our culture.

It is time to reclaim control of the us that we present, being sure not to feed the negative and exaggerated stereotypes of the people who hate and oppress us. However, controlling our people’s narrative does not equate to ignoring our disorganized and sometimes filthy closets; instead, we owe it to our culture to address our problems, seeking solutions to the issues that beset us by applying our creativity, spirituality, gifts, genius, and strength to protecting and advancing ourselves.

—M. Eric Johnson, Founder-Creator