MY LIFE

            My mother and father are both natives of Louisiana. In their migration from one side of the Texas border to the other, they brought along their spunky way of life. Their music, dance, food, religion and values combined with those of Texas to equate the unique lifestyle that has shaped me as a person.

Growing up, I was exposed to the best blues and soul music. My people like to call it that “spiritual music”. This music brings out every feeling imaginable. No raw emotion was protected when listening to this music. Artist like Sam Cooke, James Brown, ZZ Hill, Johnny Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Otis Redding, and Betty Wright are a select few that has shaped my understanding of what I call “real music”. When it comes to dance, Zydeco is our choice of execution. This style of song and dance comes from Louisiana. Its unique fashion and spiciness could be related to an upbeat 2-step.

The cuisine is phenomenal. Most of our dietary consumption is Louisiana recipes. Crawfish, shrimp etouffee, seafood gumbo with fresh crabs, and jambalaya are a few of the conventional foods in my family.  Bar-B-Que however, is a Texas custom. Everything is grilled from brisket to fish seasoned with a unique blend of Cajun spices. Potato salad, baked beans, and jalapeno collard greens with hot water cornbread are a few sides served with the “Q”.