40 Acres Project

The culinary world lost a giant with the passing of Joe Randall . He was a chef, teacher, historian, and cultural steward whose life’s work ensured that Southern and African American foodways were preserved, honored, and taught with dignity and depth.

Chef Randall was more than a celebrated cook. He was a keeper of stories, a translator of tradition, and a patient, generous educator who understood that recipes are archives and kitchens are classrooms. Through his decades of teaching and mentoring, he shaped generations of chefs and home cooks alike, grounding them in the roots, techniques, and cultural meaning behind the food.

His commitment to legacy work was profound. He was a founding force behind the Edna Lewis Foundation, helping establish an institution dedicated to preserving and advancing the contributions of Edna Lewis and the broader canon of African American culinary heritage. That act alone reflects his vision: he knew that culinary excellence is not only about innovation, but also about protection, attribution, and continuity.

We honor his life not only by remembering him, but by continuing the work teaching truth, cooking with care, naming our sources, and protecting the heritage he helped safeguard.

Rest well, Chef Randall. 🕊️

MLK Day reminds me that Dr. King’s strength wasn’t just in his words. It was in his ability to keep choosing love while carrying the weight of a nation on his back.
To stay committed when it would’ve been easier to disappear and lead with courage, even when the cost was high.

But his power was never meant to be a solo story.
It was always about community, people locked arm in arm, neighbors becoming protectors, and organizers becoming family.
A movement built on everyday folks deciding that we’re not doing this alone.

And I love seeing the photos where he’s smiling because it reminds us of something important:
Joy was part of the resistance, the strategy and that they still believed in what was possible.

Today, we honor Dr. King by remembering the full picture of him in the strength, the faith, the people, and the joy that kept the dream alive.

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Rest in peace Claudette Colvin.

Washington, DC-It is with profound sadness that the Claudette Colvin Foundation and family announce the passing of Claudette Colvin, a beloved mother, grandmother, and civil rights pioneer. She leaves behind a legacy of courage that helped change the course of American history.

At age 15, Ms. Colvin was arrested on March 2, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, for violating bus segregation ordinances, nine months before Rosa Parks. Ms. Colvin was made a ward of the State and placed on indefinite probation.

Ms. Colvin is one of the two survivors of the Browder v. Gayle United States Supreme Court Case. She is known for her significant role in desegregating buses in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1956. She is one of the four black female plaintiffs, along with Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith, who filed a lawsuit challenging segregated bus seating in Montgomery, Alabama. Their attorney was Fred D. Gray. The case was successful, thus impacting public transportation throughout the United States, including trains, airplanes, and taxis.

To us, she was more than a historical figure. She was the heart of our family, wise, resilient, and grounded in faith. We will remember her laughter, her sharp wit, and her unwavering belief in justice and human dignity.

We are grateful for the love and respect shown to her throughout her life. Details for memorial arrangements will be shared at a later time by the Claudette Colvin Foundation and Roseboro Holdings.