Black Power Media

A Look into the life of restaurant owner, Gregory Brown

Finding a vegetarian restaurant is not easy, but finding a vegan one is just a step away from impossible, especially in Baltimore. In a place where seafood and chicken boxes are the norm, one man had a vision for something a little different to add to your lunch or dinner plate.
Listening to health advice from Krs-One and studying the lessons taught in Alex Haley’s “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” led business owner and health advocate, Gregory Brown, on his path to wellness. “I stopped eating pork, stopped eating beef and it was a slow change over a couple of years and I stopped eating other foods.”
The son of an architect and school teacher, Gregory Brown is the co-owner and chief visionary of the Land of Kush, a soul food, vegan restaurant located in the Mount Vernon community, just north of downtown Baltimore.
Brown picked up a book one day that had 500 recipes that he could use as a guide to stop killing animals and start healing his body nutritionally. “
It just took me a little bit of research and some time to put it together.” Time and definitely some capital led to the creation of one of only three vegetarian/vegan restaurants in the Baltimore community.
A history buff and advocate for eating “green,” Brown created the name “The Land of Kush” after studying the ancient African kingdom of Kush(Nubia), which was renowned for its wealth of natural resources like iron, gold and other exotic goods. Combining historical studies with a feel of comfort and productivity led to the “Land” part of the business name.
Beyond the history and embracing vibes of the place, the Land of Kush has something unique that most vegetarian restaurants truly lack: taste!
“I grew up in a traditional African American household. My mother cooked barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf…” This traditional soul food that Brown grew up on was a precursor to what he’s serving up at his restaurant today. Now on the menu at the Land of Kush, that is open 7 days a week, you will see “Kush BBQ Ribs” and “Baked Macaroni and Cheese,” both prepared without any animal products.  Though it is not listed on the menu, he also took his mom’s meatloaf idea and turned it into a savory lentil loaf.
Though his nine month old business is doing pretty well, Greg and his fiancée Naijha Wright have something else on the way that takes nine month’s to produce. “I have a vegan baby girl on the way and it’s a blessing.”
Both parents are keeping the name undisclosed until they’re both ready to let the world know. While working at his last job, Verizon Wireless, Brown met his soul mate and fellow investor into his dream of creating a restaurant. She leads the way in the marketing part of the business, insuring that the Land of Kush is properly represented at local health centered events.
“They’re a great couple and team,” says Jasmin Alford, one of three cashiers at the Land of Kush. She’s been employed at the restaurant for a few months now and she really likes the fact that not only is it family owned, it is black owned as well.  “You have to make money, but at the same time it’s a purpose and vision behind it.” With the closing of the Yabba Pot, the only other Black owned vegan restaurant in the City, the Land of Kush now sits at the number one spot for a vegetarian appetite. The restaurant has been featured in the City Paper, the Baltimore Sun, and also has great reviews in many online survey sites including Yelp and Happy Cow.
Though the Land of Kush is a brand new business, Gregory plans to explore other national areas to open up future franchises. “I want to carry this company nationwide, even globally if possible. I want it to be at least in a couple of different states in the next five years.  I’d like to do something in [Washington] D.C and then hit Philly (Philadelphia) in the next couple of years. I’ve talked to people who want to invest so we can open up in Hawaii, New Mexico and a few other places as well.”

It is very rare to hear Afrikan children speak about aspirations of becoming a doctor. However, they are more than able to become one because  it was Afrikan people that were educators of the world. Afrikans practiced the first forms of medicine; mostly using resources found in nature. These kinds of medical or healing practices still stand in contemporary Afrika. Anything from healing a wound to using the liquid from a certain tree as eye drops all have been used, imitated and/or exploited by western and european powers.
There are Black physicians today that know all too well the health and medical issues concerning Afrikan people around the world. Sista C.N. Howard is one of them. It is not only important to be able to establish oneself as a physician, but it is necessary as a person of color to understand the conditional health of the people. During this interview from our sista she explains her early dreams of becoming a doctor and continues on through her journey of not only achieving her goal, but her purpose for becoming a healer for the people.

Interview:

What made you decide to go into medicine and what is your focus?
Becoming a physician has been a childhood dream of mine. I received a Fischer Price Doctor’s Bag from my mother when I was approximately 3 and I’ve been giving examinations and/or inquisitive about health issues ever since. I’m currently a first year Osteopathic Medical Student, but I desire to practice primary care in the underserved community.

What is your take on the health of Black people across the Afrikan Diaspora?
There are several contradictions when considering the health & health care of Africans around the globe. Limited access to adequate and holistic health care being a primary concern, this includes those of a higher socio-economic status in our community. We need to focus more on prevention and wellness within our community (i.e. regimented exercise, healthy & balanced diet, drinking at least 8 glasses of water, cleansing our gastrointestinal system, taking vitamins, etc.).

Given the history of unethical experimental science throughout the world on people of color (i.e. the infamous Tuskegee experiment, vagina mutilation of slaves to advance gynecology, and the current practice – throughout various countries on the continent – of spreading HIV for the sake of finding vaccines and or measures to decrease transmission), Africans are very skeptical of participating in research experiments (and understandably so) that may help advance various conditions that plague our community. The solution I propose is funding our own experiments, lead by Black scientists & researchers, and formulating partnerships with Black physicians and scientists to maintain checks and balances.

Out of all the diseases and medical problems that we are facing, which would you say is the most dominant and why?
HIV/AIDS is definitely a grave concern. Sisters are being infected at alarming numbers in the States and abroad, according to statistics. As we know, there is no available cure for this virus, so we should all be concerned. Prostate Cancer is very detrimental in the older Black male population and should be aggressively screened. Diabetes Mellitus – Type 2 (a.k.a. sugar) and Hypertension (a.k.a. high blood pressure) are very prevalent in the African community. I can postulate that a conglomeration of factors are at the root of these concerns (i.e. diet, life style, genetics, distrust in the healthcare system, lack of access to healthcare, etc.), but I really would like to encourage my people to become pro-active to prevent the aforementioned through gaining proper knowledge about the diseases and focusing on wellness.

What are some ways to prevent some of the medical conditions of our people and how much does health tie into that?
Again, I have to stress the importance of wellness (physical, mental, and spiritual). A healthy, well-balanced diet, in addition to exercise, vitamins & herbs. The body has the ability to heal itself, when given optimal conditions to do so.
 

Are there any healers of the past that you admire? Are there and Black doctors/ physicians?

As the Yoruba Proverb states, “If I stand tall it is because I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors”; I have to acknowledge all of my predecessors who created a path for me (inclusive of the nameless and renowned natural healers, firsts to receive a Medical Degree or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, or invent medical techniques or instruments). I give much thanks for Imhotep (the father of medicine), who influence science around the world.

As you know Imhotep is the father of medicine. Is there anything from his practices that you feel could be applied today?
A lot of the teachings of Imhotep were passed to Hippocrates who the western world credits being the father of medicine, thus many practices of Imhotep and other ancient African physicians are in use today, in some shape, form, or fashion. If one studies the Metu Neter (a.k.a. hieroglyphics) they can see that many of the instruments used today in medicine, were used thousands of years ago in Africa. One thing that I would like to return to practice is birthing stools (a woman standing during delivery works with gravity, as oppose to lying down).

We hear talks about building our own businesses and schools but we rarely hear anything about starting our own medical centers/ hospitals etc.

Do you have any interest in creating an outlet for that?
While I can agree that we don’t hear much discussion about starting a hospital by Black physicians, there are some who open their own practices. Hospitals have become focused heavily on dollars and cents, business, and politics. Unless, one is seeking to create a hospital that actually serves the interest of the people, there isn’t a need for one to be started to merely capitalize off of the illnesses of the people. I plan to link up with like-minded physicians to establish a community health center that serves the needs of the underserved, specifically -but not limited to- the Black community.

 Lastly what is your message to the people?
We are at a pivotal point and can no longer sit idle & complacent as we continue to get attacked politically, socially, and economically. There is no better time than now to become pro-active, gain political education, and organize so that we may be an empowered, self-determining people. “Rise up mighty soldiers, you can accomplish what you will”.

Currently Sista Howard is still working towards her medical career and continues to dedicate liberated efforts towards the people through medicine and knowledge of self.

This has been a liberated Black Power Media interview. Hotep

Health is the true wealth!

More info for the vegans/vegetarians in the hood.

We came across this gem of a show and had to share it!  Good, practical information for the urban vegan/vegetarian.  And gotta love the NY swag.  Bong Bong!

We’ll be sure to get more episodes on the site.  You can check more of what they’re doing here

Ingredients: Continue Reading

Quick, Easy and most of all Yummy! Continue Reading