Harold's Chicken Shack #1

i was born by a lake, chicken shack,
& a church
— Common, “The Morning”

1st defense against food deserts.

when the whitefolk wouldn't sling

us burgers you gave no fuck.

stuck your golden-ringed hand

into the flour & fixed the bird.

you 1st example of black flight.

original innovation of deep fry.

you beef tallow, city slick

& down home migration taste.

of course your sauce sweet

& burn at the same time.

of course you call it mild

so whitefolk won't know

to fear until it's too late.

you no corporate structure,

just black business

model. they earn the recipe

& go make it their own.

every cut of crow you

throw in the grease is dark

meat. the whole shack:

shaking, drenched in mild

sauce, sweet spirit, baptized.

Source: Wild Hundreds (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2015)