November 25, 2025 • 21 mins
Derreck B. Johnson & Carolyn Johnson Break Down Community Power, The Black Cultural Zone + More
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up its way up with Angela.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, I'm so excited because this is like a great
collaboration and I love working with people who truly like, respect, admire, appreciate.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Derek B.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Johnson is here owner of Home and Home of Chicken
and Waffles, and Carolyn Johnson is also here to CEO
of Black Cultural Zone.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Thank you both for joining me today.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
A pleasure to be here, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And I do want to point out when you go
to the Home and Chicken and Waffles website, the first
thing you see food is family, the heart and soul
of togetherness. Food brings folks together, no matter who they
are or where they're from. It's a way of showing
you care, a love language passed down from generation to generation.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
When you cook for someone.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
You're not just feeding them, You're creating memories that will
stick with them forever. That's the magic of food. The
reason is the heart and soul of any family gathering. Yes,
what a great message.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thank you and that's what we mean it mm hm
we do.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, So when.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
You come to our place, what we want you to
do is feel like you're having Thanksgiving dinner every day.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
That's my favorite holiday.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And do you like turkey?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Though I'm not really a turkey.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
First I go to Turkey this year I decided.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I'm not really, but I like a mistake. I'm more steak.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Okay, so I will have primary on Thanksgiving, but I
do just like that just all the family getting together.
It's not about a gift. It's more about just fellowshipping
and being with people that.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You really truly love.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Right, and we call it Indigenous People's Day as well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You know when we think about what we're celebrating.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yes, And so just for people to have information because
I think you know, Derek B. Johnson is like a
legend in his own right for people that know him
and know what you represent, just give a little background
history on.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Who you are, well a little history.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Is definitely from Oakland, represent Oakland very well, love home
and really passionate about at this particular part. Well I've
always been, but this time in life representing everything like
I'm from everything Black. I want to make sure and others,
but I want to make sure that we take care
of ourselves and really circulate the dollar in our community.
(02:13):
I mean, we have had a lot of movements, We've
had a lot of I should say, you know, activists,
we have political leaders. But until we start circulating the
dollar and collaborating like we're doing and do business with
one another and put our money back into our community,
that I don't feel that nothing is going to change.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We have to take care of.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Our own and it's time to build our own communities.
And so I'm representing my school at HBCU alone.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes yes. Just got
back from homecoming. Had an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You still on a high, still on a.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
High from homecoming? Yes, Nashville and Fiske University. Oh man,
it was great.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But yes.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
So that's my main mission is to really make sure
that we circulate the dollar in our community.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
And to that end, coffee uplifts people. Yes, is on
the menu.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yes, coffee Uplift And let me tell you, they love it.
Oh good, they love it. I have people coming back
just buying drip coffee. Okay, all right, Yeah, we've always
sold We always sold coffee. But it wasn't like no,
we want we were just I say, well we want
to say no, we just want to drip this vine.
I'm like, and we use coffee uplifts people for Drip Coffee.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I was so excited for this collab because I
can't I also wait to come there and eat. But
that's a whole nother story. And we're going to do
a brunch, yah know, some fun things together.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Yes, we're gonna make it up.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Carolyn Jahnson talk to us about Black Cultural Zone and
how that was born for you.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
So I'm from Oakland as well, born and raised in
the Stokland, and the Black Cultural Zone was born with
artists who were trying to figure out how do they
stop the gentrification and displacement of black people in Oakland.
There was a big transportation thing coming and they knew
it would be negative, and they said, we want a
Black Cultural Zone. You know, Oakland was fifty one percent black.
Now we're projected to be ten percent after right by
(03:53):
twenty forty.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
We're we're disrupting that.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
She is started disrupting that.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
So the Black Culture Zone is a place, it's a collaboration,
it's a CDC. And so we are acquiring properties actively
because if we don't own the properties, we'll be.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Like tumbleweed forever being moved.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
So our goal is to control the land and a
land trust and make.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Sure we take care of our people.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
What an important movement because I'm thinking about you know,
I live in Brooklyn, I'm from Brooklyn, and seeing how
much Brooklyn has been changing. Yes, literally having these like
block association meetings because there's these you know, some of
kids calling the cops on things that people have been
doing just being outside, right, you know, and people want
to change the neighborhood when they move into it instead
(04:36):
of understanding, this is the culture, the culture that you
moved into, so adapt to it, say hello to people,
you know, just be part of that. But that's an
issue when you feel like, well now I can't be
outside and play my music anymore because somebody's gonna call
the cops. Then they're going to come. It's turned into
a whole thing and just eat. And I can't even
imagine full neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, And.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
When you move into a neighborhood and you're disruptive, right,
because that's the plan from others, is to come in
by low rebuild and then price it to a point
where the people that are indigenous to that land speaking
of indigenous people can't afford it. Then you're just really
displacing people. So we want to change that. We want
(05:18):
to make sure Oakland has a rich black history. We
want to make sure through black businesses. I'm not proud
to say I'm the second oldest black restaurant in Oakland
behind Everton Jones Barbecue Wow, and growing up there were
so many restaurants that I hate that to say that.
I don't even I don't feel proud to say that statement,
Like why am I the second? Like I'm fortunate then
(05:38):
I have been in business for twenty two years. I'm
fortunate to partner with cup and carry the coffee. But
at the end of the day, you know, we want
longevity in our community.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
We want to be able to pass down from generation
to generation.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
So when we're gone, you know they have a neighborhood
to go to, they can go to a bank, they
don't have to drive, they don't have to drive to
go get fresh produce.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I want to ask you, being in business for twenty
two years in the restaurant business, people will tell you
that is one of the hardest businesses it is to succeed.
And what do you think you've done.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
That has been your secret sauce to success?
Speaker 4 (06:15):
The people it's definitely not me. It's definitely the people
of the community. We moved locations to a new location
last year and we were closed for like five or
six months somewhere near people reached out via email.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I got literally over five thousand emails. Wow, like you closed.
I can't believe it. I met my husband in there
late night. You know.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I just the stories, and so it really motivated motivating
me to get reopened. But also the people that I've
given opportunity to is employed. I've been able to employ
individuals that look like me, people that have been.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Out of jail.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I know, that's always a big mission for.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
You have never given an opportunity. And I get stopped
on the street, Hey boss, and they call me boss
at work, Hey boss, And you know, I went back.
I got a law school student. I'm you know, I've
done this. A young lady Chanel, Oh my god. She
was one of the headaches too, but love her. I
saw her coming out of my building. And I live
(07:09):
in a you know, a high rise downtown and I
saw her coming out.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And she says, oh my god, we live in the
same building.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I said, how are you doing? She has a what
is a doula doula doula doula company.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Oh wow, it was so important right now.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So she has a doula company and she employs people.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So to watch people transform their lives has been I
think the difference. And the community really feels ownership of
the business, like they really full a part of it,
and I feel that's extremely important.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I do think that is one of the secrets of
success when people come there. Of course you got to
love the food too, right, that's always like the food.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
But I think the ambiance has to be good.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
But I also feel like we really are like trying
to support businesses that we understand who represents that particular
business to write the soul exactly. But business is so
important to us. It's kind of like the home a
chicken and waffles is kind of like the cheers for people.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yes, yes, you know where you know you're going to.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
They feel home, they feel comfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
We don't bring your side peace because you are going
to see.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
People speaking of which you know people.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So we used to stay them to four am. We
should say them to four am. And so we were
the only thing open in the city at that lake.
Baby to come and whenever people be like, whenever there
was a fight or a break on our disruption, I'd
always go to whoever and be like, no, why would
you come in here with either the family is in here,
they're coming in here now. You did cause so yeah,
(08:43):
please don't bring you side keep with you And you talked.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
About being open till four am. Do you think times
have changed? And because people aren't out that late anymore?
Even anymore?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
What is something?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
What are some trends that you've noticed in this business
now that you're like, okay, we got to make these
adjusts and how do you know when to make those adjustments?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, sales and traffic should be an indicator of when
to make adjustments. Definitely, COVID. We all had to pivot,
so it's a lot of online ordering.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And then people are not out late.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, we used to be partying. I know you did.
And yes you did save my life because it was.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Like go home and sit down, she's over here with me.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
So I think that times have changed. This generation excuse
my cough, little asthmatic. Today this generation doesn't party, I
think like we.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Do, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Like we be at the club and then you be
at the after hour class, the.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Sun coming up.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore, Yes, FaceTime.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
So I think that that that definitely has shifted and
how we do business. But I would say the secret
to longevity is actually concentrate on providing and being the
best at whatever it is that you do.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Don't think about the money.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And I think a lot of people go in the
business saying I want to make money, and you're so
focused on the money that you skip the details of
providing a good product, to service whatever it is that
you do. Your coffee is amazing, Well love it. I
don't even really drink coffee, and I've been drinking since
this process. I've been drinking coffee. Like I told them
last week, I said, I need a break, so I'll
be on that coffee like I need a coup I
need to come to that.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You know, when we first were talking, you were like,
I already have so much natural energy.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
But I want to say coffee, and I always stress
it to people, it does have a lot of health
benefits and so when you just do I was just
looking at an article the other day where they were
talking about your heart health and relation to coffee and
the studies that they've done when it comes to type
two diabetes, when it comes to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and I
always tell people it's what you put in your coffee
(10:54):
that can make it have other types of issues. If
you're putting a lot of heavy cream, sugars, things like that.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
But if you can.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Drink coffee and understand that this is something that I
think we always have this preconception of coffee or misconception
of coffee is not good for you.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
But the truth is that it does have a lot
of health benefits.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
And I also want to reiterate coffee does come from
all black and brown places, yes, And so when you
go to other countries, when you go to Ethiopia, when
you go to Jamaica, when you go to any of
these places, when you go to Peru, like they drink
coffee like it's a standard.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
There is indigenous to them.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
And I think the beautiful thing about this is all
of the wines in our business are black owned female
brands and.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Now our hey, that's wine, yeah, straight out of Oakland baby, Yes. Yes, Now, Carolyn,
I want to talk about the vision for a black
cultural zone and how that was even born.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
So the vision is really that we anchor Black culture
in Oakland and remind people that we have a right
to remain and that we have a right for our
culture to be an essential element of Oakland. We were
red lined into East Oakland, we had to live there.
Now that people we discovered it, it was like okay.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Time to go.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
But you know, we always say we're not going anywhere.
But to say that, you have to be able to
control the real estate, control the quality of life, and
really infuse Oakland with real culture. We do over one
hundred events a year just reminding people of who we are. Wow,
yes we stayed concerts everything.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
She went to Columbia doctor Carroll.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yes, yes, I will further.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
My mother appreciates that she's.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Very humble, and that's what I love about her. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
So we have a goal of raising five billion dollars
over the next ten years so that we can actively
control thirty percent of all the commercial real estate properties
and transactions in Oakland for our literally buying the block.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Ye, buying the block.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
What are some of the key projects that you have
just to let people know and understand.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
We have a Liberation Park, Market Hall, which is affordable
housing thirty thousand square feet of market hall space, food hall,
event hall.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Those are the big projects.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
So we have three of those in twelve different districts,
and then we buy the properties around there to create
the ecosystem.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
So we bought a.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Church it's now performance venue. We bought a lot it's
going to be a food truck park. So the twelve
districts in East Oakland, each one has a big project
and we buy little projects. So in the last six
months we about eleven properties and we're converting them from
a church to a performance centers to all of those things.
Because what we do when we buy properties that we
actually can hasten gentrification if we don't buy their properties
(13:36):
around there. We're also buying apartments to house folks. About
ten percent of our one hundred and fifty ambassadors that
we hired in the last year or so, ten percent
are living in their cars currently, and so we need
to buy lots to actually put eighty us on there
so they have a place to live. All these things
have to happen at the same time long term, short term,
so it's a lot of work.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
So five billion dollars is our goal.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I give the next change I see is there a
plan to replicate this in other places, because it feels
like something you really laid down the groundwork with everything
you've been doing.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
We've been touring. I mean, this is happening in Brooklyn,
this happened in New Orleans.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
It's happened in all of the cities that are port
cities or places where there was redlining, same metaphor, it
has been happening.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
There's a book.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
I shouldn't promote it, but there's a book about how
cities are built and how this gentrification is happening. It's
a plan. So Oakland can't be alone. We have to
connect across the country. And I think people look to
Oaklan around the world because the home of the Black
Panther Party, which we are descended. So we have to
lead and we have to share. So that's what we're
trying to do, is make sure we connect across the country.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Derek, I already know there's some plans. Okay, can we
talk about, like what's the plans.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
We gotta have Cup.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Okay, we're gonna have Cup in that market Hall at Detroit.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You got booked. We're gonna have Cup. It's gonna be
at that market.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
And I know that you are looking to see for
other businesses in that market hall. Because literally you were
talking about, Okay, we got to get some of our
other yes, great brands to come and be part of
that market hall.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
We want system.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
We want that market hall when you walk in there
for the whole culinary scene of African descent to be represented.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
So we want chefs from New York. He talked about
Kwame Chef JJ.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
We just did the cookout. The cookout was such an
amazing experience. It's an event, an annual event that he
does where he brings together different chefs from all over
and different types of cuisines.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
And it's just a pop up.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
But I couldn't imagine what that would be like to
have that be something more permanent, right, And.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So we want that market hall. When you walk in there,
you get to experience all of that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I got to link you with Chef.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
JJ on a daily basis, And I love.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
This that we can connect and say, okay, how can
we because I feel like we just all have so
much that we can offer when it comes to even
if financially everybody listening can't do something, think about relationships
that you have, support that you can give you just
referrals even posting about it, spreading the word like we
(16:03):
are really like we do something.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
CJ's gotten me. We call it CJ. CJ's gotten me.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
ONJ, Doctor CJ, Doctor CJ, thank you for the question,
doctor CJ.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Doctor CJ has me on. How black are you today?
Speaker 6 (16:18):
No?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Seriously, So for example, my paty comes from my frive
brother k Side for turning incorporated.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Shout out to the noops, this is black brand that
bought it.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
At the bookstore. My pants are a black designer. Now
my jewelry and stuff's not. So we're gonna work on that.
But how black are you today? And if you can
say you're thirty percent black with what you're wearing, then
that can transcend over to yes.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
So it makes you, It makes you makes you think.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
But yeah, here's collabs and there you go.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
So okay, So if we just start thinking that way,
then what that's doing is for my purpose and my
goal is to if you think that way, then you're
starting to sechlate that dollar, right, and if it's not
a dollar, you can circulate your network if you need
a connection to something like those of us that have
a network and you know, know people stop gatekeeping, right,
(17:14):
you know, if you can expose and I don't need
to monetize. If you need to meet somebody if I
know them, you know, we have to. That's how we build,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I also speaking of building, we are having an event
at coffee uplifts people, Yes and shout out to Maya Harris. Yes,
and Shonda Scott is going to be in conversation with
Maya Harris.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
And so the book is called give Me a Year. Yes, Yes,
Now tell me about give Me a Year, because.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
I know so no, give me a year like Shanda.
And it's funny, I've been knowing Maya and Shonda since
high school. And so Shanda just went on this quest.
She wanted to just do something different, like there's things
that she thought of and dreamed of doing and just
always let fear held her back. And so she did
(18:01):
it with the swimming challenge as well. She had a
bowl win though she swam from Alcatraz to to San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Now that's I can't even swim in the first minute,
freezing water, shark infested waters.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Let's start there. But she did it, and so from
there she went on to dough twelve New Things a
year and so each month she did. And so that's
what her book kind of puts the journey and it
tells you her journey.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So we're going to hear all about that at CUP. Yes,
So I'm really excited to me and Tony, my partner,
and CUP. We're going to have that conversation there. But
that's also part of like what you're doing and what
we're doing is building community and making sure that we
have a space for people to see what's going on,
things that we love, yes, and appreciate and like you said,
no gatekeeping, we want to make sure we're spreading that.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
And the fact that you are opening up your facility
for a space for Arthur to come, that's major, right,
So you're you're doing exactly what I hope most well
all businesses, especially black businesses do, because it's very difficult.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
And it's very expensive to promote a book.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's very expensive and and people will tell you it's
really hard for authors like to and I read all
the time. That's why I have a soft spot in
my heart for any type of author who is promoting
their book. If there's a way that I can up,
you know, just uplift that, like coffee up list people.
But if there's any way that I can do that,
that's something especially, you know, something that's quality and amazing
(19:32):
that I would refer that I would read on my own.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I would love to do that.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yes, well, you know you you you are participating in
the change.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
So you know, what do you say all the time?
Speaker 5 (19:43):
We are who we've been waiting before.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yes, we are, we are who we've been waiting for.
Nobody's gonna come save us. We have to save ourselves.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
That sounds like a shirt, what color?
Speaker 2 (19:55):
What color?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Copyright?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
A man?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And AI is helping a lot though with businesses, right,
are we all implementing absolutely?
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Yeah, okay, absolutely tech forward At the Black Coaches on
you cannot as a nonprofit with how they fund you.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
It doesn't break even. And so we have to embed.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
Tech and AI in every level in order for us
to actually generate enough to be able to survive. It's
interesting the nonprofit industrial complex. I'm from my backgun as
a real estate developer. When I really got into nonprofits,
I was like, oh, this is you give us five
thousand dollars. I want us to have fifty thousand interactions.
That's impossible. So AI is critical. And you know we
always say in Oakland AI and you combine that with
(20:40):
our African intelligence AI square.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
We got this and so I just have to use both.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Okay, I'm in all right, Well, thank you so much
for joining us today. You guys, make sure you check
it all out. The Black Cultural Zone, the Homer, Chicken
and Waffles, coffee uplifts people you see s all here,
and the Trifecta.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
We can't wait to have you out.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I am. Is it like? Is it an All Star
or Super.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Super super Bowl? Super Bowl is in the bay, It's
in the All Star was in the bay that thought.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
I was there for that, Yes.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
And then super Bowl is this year?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
We're gon we're gonna set it out. What are we doing?
We're gonna have a coffee uplifts people a week. We
don't have a Super Cup Super Cup.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I gotta make sure everybody who's going out there for
Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Oh yes, they got to come through and you a while.
Love our place.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I already could see, like I haven't been to
the new spot yet, but I'm definitely we're planning our trip.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Now, come on, we'll make it happen.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
All right, It's way up for real
What's up its way up with Angela.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, I'm so excited because this is like a great
collaboration and I love working with people who truly like, respect, admire, appreciate.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Derek B.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Johnson is here owner of Home and Home of Chicken
and Waffles, and Carolyn Johnson is also here to CEO
of Black Cultural Zone.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Thank you both for joining me today.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
A pleasure to be here, Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And I do want to point out when you go
to the Home and Chicken and Waffles website, the first
thing you see food is family, the heart and soul
of togetherness. Food brings folks together, no matter who they
are or where they're from. It's a way of showing
you care, a love language passed down from generation to generation.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
When you cook for someone.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
You're not just feeding them, You're creating memories that will
stick with them forever. That's the magic of food. The
reason is the heart and soul of any family gathering. Yes,
what a great message.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thank you and that's what we mean it mm hm
we do.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, So when.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
You come to our place, what we want you to
do is feel like you're having Thanksgiving dinner every day.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
That's my favorite holiday.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
And do you like turkey?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Though I'm not really a turkey.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
First I go to Turkey this year I decided.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I'm not really, but I like a mistake. I'm more steak.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
Okay, so I will have primary on Thanksgiving, but I
do just like that just all the family getting together.
It's not about a gift. It's more about just fellowshipping
and being with people that.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
You really truly love.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Right, and we call it Indigenous People's Day as well.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
You know when we think about what we're celebrating.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yes, And so just for people to have information because
I think you know, Derek B. Johnson is like a
legend in his own right for people that know him
and know what you represent, just give a little background
history on.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Who you are, well a little history.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Is definitely from Oakland, represent Oakland very well, love home
and really passionate about at this particular part. Well I've
always been, but this time in life representing everything like
I'm from everything Black. I want to make sure and others,
but I want to make sure that we take care
of ourselves and really circulate the dollar in our community.
(02:13):
I mean, we have had a lot of movements, We've
had a lot of I should say, you know, activists,
we have political leaders. But until we start circulating the
dollar and collaborating like we're doing and do business with
one another and put our money back into our community,
that I don't feel that nothing is going to change.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
We have to take care of.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Our own and it's time to build our own communities.
And so I'm representing my school at HBCU alone.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes yes. Just got
back from homecoming. Had an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
You still on a high, still on a.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
High from homecoming? Yes, Nashville and Fiske University. Oh man,
it was great.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But yes.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
So that's my main mission is to really make sure
that we circulate the dollar in our community.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
And to that end, coffee uplifts people. Yes, is on
the menu.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yes, coffee Uplift And let me tell you, they love it.
Oh good, they love it. I have people coming back
just buying drip coffee. Okay, all right, Yeah, we've always
sold We always sold coffee. But it wasn't like no,
we want we were just I say, well we want
to say no, we just want to drip this vine.
I'm like, and we use coffee uplifts people for Drip Coffee.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
And I was so excited for this collab because I
can't I also wait to come there and eat. But
that's a whole nother story. And we're going to do
a brunch, yah know, some fun things together.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Yes, we're gonna make it up.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Carolyn Jahnson talk to us about Black Cultural Zone and
how that was born for you.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (03:32):
So I'm from Oakland as well, born and raised in
the Stokland, and the Black Cultural Zone was born with
artists who were trying to figure out how do they
stop the gentrification and displacement of black people in Oakland.
There was a big transportation thing coming and they knew
it would be negative, and they said, we want a
Black Cultural Zone. You know, Oakland was fifty one percent black.
Now we're projected to be ten percent after right by
(03:53):
twenty forty.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
We're we're disrupting that.
Speaker 5 (03:57):
She is started disrupting that.
Speaker 6 (03:59):
So the Black Culture Zone is a place, it's a collaboration,
it's a CDC. And so we are acquiring properties actively
because if we don't own the properties, we'll be.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Like tumbleweed forever being moved.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
So our goal is to control the land and a
land trust and make.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Sure we take care of our people.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
What an important movement because I'm thinking about you know,
I live in Brooklyn, I'm from Brooklyn, and seeing how
much Brooklyn has been changing. Yes, literally having these like
block association meetings because there's these you know, some of
kids calling the cops on things that people have been
doing just being outside, right, you know, and people want
to change the neighborhood when they move into it instead
(04:36):
of understanding, this is the culture, the culture that you
moved into, so adapt to it, say hello to people,
you know, just be part of that. But that's an
issue when you feel like, well now I can't be
outside and play my music anymore because somebody's gonna call
the cops. Then they're going to come. It's turned into
a whole thing and just eat. And I can't even
imagine full neighborhoods.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah, And.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
When you move into a neighborhood and you're disruptive, right,
because that's the plan from others, is to come in
by low rebuild and then price it to a point
where the people that are indigenous to that land speaking
of indigenous people can't afford it. Then you're just really
displacing people. So we want to change that. We want
(05:18):
to make sure Oakland has a rich black history. We
want to make sure through black businesses. I'm not proud
to say I'm the second oldest black restaurant in Oakland
behind Everton Jones Barbecue Wow, and growing up there were
so many restaurants that I hate that to say that.
I don't even I don't feel proud to say that statement,
Like why am I the second? Like I'm fortunate then
(05:38):
I have been in business for twenty two years. I'm
fortunate to partner with cup and carry the coffee. But
at the end of the day, you know, we want
longevity in our community.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
We want to be able to pass down from generation
to generation.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
So when we're gone, you know they have a neighborhood
to go to, they can go to a bank, they
don't have to drive, they don't have to drive to
go get fresh produce.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I want to ask you, being in business for twenty
two years in the restaurant business, people will tell you
that is one of the hardest businesses it is to succeed.
And what do you think you've done.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
That has been your secret sauce to success?
Speaker 4 (06:15):
The people it's definitely not me. It's definitely the people
of the community. We moved locations to a new location
last year and we were closed for like five or
six months somewhere near people reached out via email.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I got literally over five thousand emails. Wow, like you closed.
I can't believe it. I met my husband in there
late night. You know.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I just the stories, and so it really motivated motivating
me to get reopened. But also the people that I've
given opportunity to is employed. I've been able to employ
individuals that look like me, people that have been.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Out of jail.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I know, that's always a big mission for.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
You have never given an opportunity. And I get stopped
on the street, Hey boss, and they call me boss
at work, Hey boss, And you know, I went back.
I got a law school student. I'm you know, I've
done this. A young lady Chanel, Oh my god. She
was one of the headaches too, but love her. I
saw her coming out of my building. And I live
(07:09):
in a you know, a high rise downtown and I
saw her coming out.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
And she says, oh my god, we live in the
same building.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
I said, how are you doing? She has a what
is a doula doula doula doula company.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Oh wow, it was so important right now.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So she has a doula company and she employs people.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
So to watch people transform their lives has been I
think the difference. And the community really feels ownership of
the business, like they really full a part of it,
and I feel that's extremely important.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I do think that is one of the secrets of
success when people come there. Of course you got to
love the food too, right, that's always like the food.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
But I think the ambiance has to be good.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
But I also feel like we really are like trying
to support businesses that we understand who represents that particular
business to write the soul exactly. But business is so
important to us. It's kind of like the home a
chicken and waffles is kind of like the cheers for people.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yes, yes, you know where you know you're going to.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
They feel home, they feel comfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
We don't bring your side peace because you are going
to see.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
People speaking of which you know people.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So we used to stay them to four am. We
should say them to four am. And so we were
the only thing open in the city at that lake.
Baby to come and whenever people be like, whenever there
was a fight or a break on our disruption, I'd
always go to whoever and be like, no, why would
you come in here with either the family is in here,
they're coming in here now. You did cause so yeah,
(08:43):
please don't bring you side keep with you And you talked.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
About being open till four am. Do you think times
have changed? And because people aren't out that late anymore?
Even anymore?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
What is something?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
What are some trends that you've noticed in this business
now that you're like, okay, we got to make these
adjusts and how do you know when to make those adjustments?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, sales and traffic should be an indicator of when
to make adjustments. Definitely, COVID. We all had to pivot,
so it's a lot of online ordering.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And then people are not out late.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Yeah, we used to be partying. I know you did.
And yes you did save my life because it was.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
Like go home and sit down, she's over here with me.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (09:34):
So I think that times have changed. This generation excuse
my cough, little asthmatic. Today this generation doesn't party, I
think like we.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Do, no, not at all.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Like we be at the club and then you be
at the after hour class, the.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Sun coming up.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore, Yes, FaceTime.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
So I think that that that definitely has shifted and
how we do business. But I would say the secret
to longevity is actually concentrate on providing and being the
best at whatever it is that you do.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Don't think about the money.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
And I think a lot of people go in the
business saying I want to make money, and you're so
focused on the money that you skip the details of
providing a good product, to service whatever it is that
you do. Your coffee is amazing, Well love it. I
don't even really drink coffee, and I've been drinking since
this process. I've been drinking coffee. Like I told them
last week, I said, I need a break, so I'll
be on that coffee like I need a coup I
need to come to that.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You know, when we first were talking, you were like,
I already have so much natural energy.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
But I want to say coffee, and I always stress
it to people, it does have a lot of health
benefits and so when you just do I was just
looking at an article the other day where they were
talking about your heart health and relation to coffee and
the studies that they've done when it comes to type
two diabetes, when it comes to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and I
always tell people it's what you put in your coffee
(10:54):
that can make it have other types of issues. If
you're putting a lot of heavy cream, sugars, things like that.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
But if you can.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Drink coffee and understand that this is something that I
think we always have this preconception of coffee or misconception
of coffee is not good for you.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
But the truth is that it does have a lot
of health benefits.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
And I also want to reiterate coffee does come from
all black and brown places, yes, And so when you
go to other countries, when you go to Ethiopia, when
you go to Jamaica, when you go to any of
these places, when you go to Peru, like they drink
coffee like it's a standard.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
There is indigenous to them.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
And I think the beautiful thing about this is all
of the wines in our business are black owned female
brands and.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Now our hey, that's wine, yeah, straight out of Oakland baby, Yes. Yes, Now, Carolyn,
I want to talk about the vision for a black
cultural zone and how that was even born.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
So the vision is really that we anchor Black culture
in Oakland and remind people that we have a right
to remain and that we have a right for our
culture to be an essential element of Oakland. We were
red lined into East Oakland, we had to live there.
Now that people we discovered it, it was like okay.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Time to go.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
But you know, we always say we're not going anywhere.
But to say that, you have to be able to
control the real estate, control the quality of life, and
really infuse Oakland with real culture. We do over one
hundred events a year just reminding people of who we are. Wow,
yes we stayed concerts everything.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
She went to Columbia doctor Carroll.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Yes, yes, I will further.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
My mother appreciates that she's.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Very humble, and that's what I love about her. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
So we have a goal of raising five billion dollars
over the next ten years so that we can actively
control thirty percent of all the commercial real estate properties
and transactions in Oakland for our literally buying the block.
Speaker 5 (12:54):
Ye, buying the block.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
What are some of the key projects that you have
just to let people know and understand.
Speaker 6 (13:00):
We have a Liberation Park, Market Hall, which is affordable
housing thirty thousand square feet of market hall space, food hall,
event hall.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
Those are the big projects.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
So we have three of those in twelve different districts,
and then we buy the properties around there to create
the ecosystem.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
So we bought a.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Church it's now performance venue. We bought a lot it's
going to be a food truck park. So the twelve
districts in East Oakland, each one has a big project
and we buy little projects. So in the last six
months we about eleven properties and we're converting them from
a church to a performance centers to all of those things.
Because what we do when we buy properties that we
actually can hasten gentrification if we don't buy their properties
(13:36):
around there. We're also buying apartments to house folks. About
ten percent of our one hundred and fifty ambassadors that
we hired in the last year or so, ten percent
are living in their cars currently, and so we need
to buy lots to actually put eighty us on there
so they have a place to live. All these things
have to happen at the same time long term, short term,
so it's a lot of work.
Speaker 5 (13:55):
So five billion dollars is our goal.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
I give the next change I see is there a
plan to replicate this in other places, because it feels
like something you really laid down the groundwork with everything
you've been doing.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
We've been touring. I mean, this is happening in Brooklyn,
this happened in New Orleans.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
It's happened in all of the cities that are port
cities or places where there was redlining, same metaphor, it
has been happening.
Speaker 5 (14:16):
There's a book.
Speaker 6 (14:16):
I shouldn't promote it, but there's a book about how
cities are built and how this gentrification is happening. It's
a plan. So Oakland can't be alone. We have to
connect across the country. And I think people look to
Oaklan around the world because the home of the Black
Panther Party, which we are descended. So we have to
lead and we have to share. So that's what we're
trying to do, is make sure we connect across the country.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Derek, I already know there's some plans. Okay, can we
talk about, like what's the plans.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
We gotta have Cup.
Speaker 4 (14:45):
Okay, we're gonna have Cup in that market Hall at Detroit.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You got booked. We're gonna have Cup. It's gonna be
at that market.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
And I know that you are looking to see for
other businesses in that market hall. Because literally you were
talking about, Okay, we got to get some of our
other yes, great brands to come and be part of
that market hall.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
We want system.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
We want that market hall when you walk in there
for the whole culinary scene of African descent to be represented.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
So we want chefs from New York. He talked about
Kwame Chef JJ.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
We just did the cookout. The cookout was such an
amazing experience. It's an event, an annual event that he
does where he brings together different chefs from all over
and different types of cuisines.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
And it's just a pop up.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
But I couldn't imagine what that would be like to
have that be something more permanent, right, And.
Speaker 4 (15:34):
So we want that market hall. When you walk in there,
you get to experience all of that.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I got to link you with Chef.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
JJ on a daily basis, And I love.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
This that we can connect and say, okay, how can
we because I feel like we just all have so
much that we can offer when it comes to even
if financially everybody listening can't do something, think about relationships
that you have, support that you can give you just
referrals even posting about it, spreading the word like we
(16:03):
are really like we do something.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
CJ's gotten me. We call it CJ. CJ's gotten me.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
ONJ, Doctor CJ, Doctor CJ, thank you for the question,
doctor CJ.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Doctor CJ has me on. How black are you today?
Speaker 6 (16:18):
No?
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Seriously, So for example, my paty comes from my frive
brother k Side for turning incorporated.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Shout out to the noops, this is black brand that
bought it.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
At the bookstore. My pants are a black designer. Now
my jewelry and stuff's not. So we're gonna work on that.
But how black are you today? And if you can
say you're thirty percent black with what you're wearing, then
that can transcend over to yes.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
So it makes you, It makes you makes you think.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
But yeah, here's collabs and there you go.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
So okay, So if we just start thinking that way,
then what that's doing is for my purpose and my
goal is to if you think that way, then you're
starting to sechlate that dollar, right, and if it's not
a dollar, you can circulate your network if you need
a connection to something like those of us that have
a network and you know, know people stop gatekeeping, right,
(17:14):
you know, if you can expose and I don't need
to monetize. If you need to meet somebody if I
know them, you know, we have to. That's how we build,
you know.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I also speaking of building, we are having an event
at coffee uplifts people, Yes and shout out to Maya Harris. Yes,
and Shonda Scott is going to be in conversation with
Maya Harris.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
And so the book is called give Me a Year. Yes, Yes,
Now tell me about give Me a Year, because.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
I know so no, give me a year like Shanda.
And it's funny, I've been knowing Maya and Shonda since
high school. And so Shanda just went on this quest.
She wanted to just do something different, like there's things
that she thought of and dreamed of doing and just
always let fear held her back. And so she did
(18:01):
it with the swimming challenge as well. She had a
bowl win though she swam from Alcatraz to to San Francisco.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Now that's I can't even swim in the first minute,
freezing water, shark infested waters.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Let's start there. But she did it, and so from
there she went on to dough twelve New Things a
year and so each month she did. And so that's
what her book kind of puts the journey and it
tells you her journey.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
So we're going to hear all about that at CUP. Yes,
So I'm really excited to me and Tony, my partner,
and CUP. We're going to have that conversation there. But
that's also part of like what you're doing and what
we're doing is building community and making sure that we
have a space for people to see what's going on,
things that we love, yes, and appreciate and like you said,
no gatekeeping, we want to make sure we're spreading that.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
And the fact that you are opening up your facility
for a space for Arthur to come, that's major, right,
So you're you're doing exactly what I hope most well
all businesses, especially black businesses do, because it's very difficult.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
And it's very expensive to promote a book.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's very expensive and and people will tell you it's
really hard for authors like to and I read all
the time. That's why I have a soft spot in
my heart for any type of author who is promoting
their book. If there's a way that I can up,
you know, just uplift that, like coffee up list people.
But if there's any way that I can do that,
that's something especially, you know, something that's quality and amazing
(19:32):
that I would refer that I would read on my own.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
I would love to do that.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Yes, well, you know you you you are participating in
the change.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
So you know, what do you say all the time?
Speaker 5 (19:43):
We are who we've been waiting before.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Yes, we are, we are who we've been waiting for.
Nobody's gonna come save us. We have to save ourselves.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
That sounds like a shirt, what color?
Speaker 2 (19:55):
What color?
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Copyright?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
A man?
Speaker 2 (20:04):
And AI is helping a lot though with businesses, right,
are we all implementing absolutely?
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Yeah, okay, absolutely tech forward At the Black Coaches on
you cannot as a nonprofit with how they fund you.
Speaker 5 (20:15):
It doesn't break even. And so we have to embed.
Speaker 6 (20:17):
Tech and AI in every level in order for us
to actually generate enough to be able to survive. It's
interesting the nonprofit industrial complex. I'm from my backgun as
a real estate developer. When I really got into nonprofits,
I was like, oh, this is you give us five
thousand dollars. I want us to have fifty thousand interactions.
That's impossible. So AI is critical. And you know we
always say in Oakland AI and you combine that with
(20:40):
our African intelligence AI square.
Speaker 5 (20:42):
We got this and so I just have to use both.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Okay, I'm in all right, Well, thank you so much
for joining us today. You guys, make sure you check
it all out. The Black Cultural Zone, the Homer, Chicken
and Waffles, coffee uplifts people you see s all here,
and the Trifecta.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
We can't wait to have you out.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I am. Is it like? Is it an All Star
or Super.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Super super Bowl? Super Bowl is in the bay, It's
in the All Star was in the bay that thought.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
I was there for that, Yes.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
And then super Bowl is this year?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
What are we doing?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
We're gon we're gonna set it out. What are we doing?
We're gonna have a coffee uplifts people a week. We
don't have a Super Cup Super Cup.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
I gotta make sure everybody who's going out there for
Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Oh yes, they got to come through and you a while.
Love our place.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Yeah, I already could see, like I haven't been to
the new spot yet, but I'm definitely we're planning our trip.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Now, come on, we'll make it happen.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
All right, It's way up for real
Way Up With Angela Yee News
Host
Angela Yee
Show Links
Official WebsitePopular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.