A thought on Edna Lewis

I was looking at the picture of her that I use as this project's muse and it struck me how beautiful she was, how soulful and all knowing she seems to have been. So often as women in this industry we feel the need to deny our femininity to be taken seriously, don the whites and play like the boys, but it occurs to me that we miss something. I'm not saying women should sex up the uniform or start piling on makeup in the kitchen (femininity is much more than aesthetic anyway), I'm just saying that when I see her picture I'm immediately reminded of womanhood in this work and how it doesn't have to be lost or considered a liability, but more how it can strengthen of our points of reference.

Here is a link to a very cool video that will give you a little tast of how brilliant she was and why she is so important to modern cooking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6JVMoMN44

Brilliant words by Mrs. Ruby Dee!

I was watching Iconoclast and this episode featured Ruby Dee and Alicia Keys. While I had always loved Ruby Dee and her body of work seeing her in this candid, open, soulful way blew my mind. One of the scenes has her and Alicia having a talk with a group of young people and its just Ms. Ruby giving wisdom and sharing her story and toward the end of the session she breaks into her poem Somebody and I was so in love I had to share it. I hope you love it as much as I do!!!



Somebody

"I. I. I say I am. I say I am somebody.
Somebody because--because you--you make me--somebody,
Because--because you are part of
Because you--you share the--the Somebodiness of me.

"When you laugh, you make my lips a part of laughter.
When you cry, tension pulls me from inside.
When you are hungry, my food turns to poison, makes me burst
Bony fingers clutch my tongue when I--when I know your thirst
Because you are part of--because you--you share the
The Somebodiness of me.

"When I see your precious blood out of place, your bones exposed in death--
My blood chills and stops as I try to--try to--give you breath.
I must keep you from all--all fear and danger--
I must woo your peace of mind--
Help you--help you find joy--
Help you--help you find release
Because you are part of--because you--you share the
the Somebodiness of me.

"I cannot own that which you cannot also possess.
Your crime is mine, and from now on I'll confess
Because you are part of--because you share the
the Somebodiness of me.

"You--you--you are at the other end of the steel spring of hate,
So I cannot hate.
When you know my love--my love will warm you--
Cleansing, deep
So, let me--let me take your hand. Let me touch your fingers,
Feel your face. Know your heartbeat and all--all your doubts erase
Because you are part of--because you--you share the
the Somebodiness of me."

--Ruby Dee