Even after segregation, many restaurants didn’t welcome us. So when it came to enjoying meals in public, it wasn’t just the food that kept us coming back to these spots; they were our safe havens.
#1: Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles - Roscoe’s goes with Los Angeles just like chicken goes with waffles. When he lived in New York City, Herb Hudson saw the popularity of the late-night supper dish during the Harlem Renaissance, and in 1975 he brought it to LA. The restaurant attracted some of the world’s best-known Black entertainers and local residents alike.
#2: Dooky Chase Restaurant - Dooky Chase founder Leah Chase once said “Food builds big bridges.” When she took over Dooky Chase in the 1940s, the upstairs floor of the New Orleans sport was reserved for civil rights activists, so they could strategize secretly and safely at a moment’s notice.
#3: Paschal's - Paschal’s, founded in 1959 by brothers James and Robert Pascall didn’t just serve food they served justice. They were known for bailing out arrested civil rights supporters, and made their Atlanta restaurant a popular meeting place for families.
These restaurants served our communities, ensuring unity and giving people a place to recharge or strategize. The race to liberation isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, but we can move together. And as Nipsey would say, the marathon continues.