07/11/2026
Behind the smoke, the flavor, and the pit at Barbecue Bully, I am first and foremost a father. I am a man of color speaking straight from the heart, raising two young boys in a world where the realities we face hit incredibly close to home. When I look at the recent news involving the Nolan Wells case, I don’t just see a story—I see my own children’s resemblance, and it brings a frustration that is immediate and real.As parents of color, we work tirelessly to build a secure household and provide our children with opportunities, stability, and a safe community through nothing but honest, hard work. We move into neighborhoods across the world based on what we earn and can afford. Yet, seeing how easily society can normalize or gloss over these heavy events in daily chatter, office gatherings, or casual social settings is exhausting. It happens far too often.Out of deep love for my sons, I have to hold intense conversations with them about how to move safely in this world. I have to teach them that they must work twice as hard, remain entirely compliant in any critical situations, and carry themselves with dignity even when facing judgment, distrust, or entitlement in everyday spaces. These are the daily realities we live with. Barbecue Bully was built on the foundation of feeding people, bringing community together, and lifting up the household I carry. But to take care of the community, we have to care about what happens to our youth. For the sake of our peace and the bigger picture, we choose to lead with composure, but the underlying call for change remains. Systems must evolve, and true accountability is required to ensure a safer, fairer future for all our children
