This issue of dezinSOURCE is dedicated to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Never before has such a disaster impacted every part of our lives. The human tragedy is immeasurable; the pain and suffering this hurricane has brought forth will never be fully known. We have watched as our fellow Americans have emerged from a horrifying event and in their triumphs and perseverance we honor and support them all.
THANK YOU MR. EOTIS Like many of you, we have been working as much as possible to bring relief and comfort to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Sometimes the greatest success we have received was the simplest smile and hug.
I would like to share a personal story of one such experience that took place on a warm, Louisiana Saturday afternoon when I learned to fry chicken and ended up learning a whole lot more.
I had packed the car with chicken, catfish, ingredients for potato salad, seasonings, two propane tanks, burners (if you are from Louisiana then you’ve got one or two of those yourself) and a extra large cup of Community Coffee and set out for a small shelter in the town of Donaldsonville called St. Mathews Full Gospel Baptist Church Shelter.
There I would meet Mr. Eotis Lucy, Jr. from Mobile, Alabama. He and I had only met prior to this by phone when we had registered him for FEMA assistance. Mr. Eotis came here from Mobile because of the storm.
The original plans for the day were that a few of the survivors staying at the shelter were going to teach me how to fry battered chicken.
For those of you who know me, you know that I am a good cook but fried chicken is never something I tried to make. I’ve always had it cooked for me by my mother, grandmother and father and so never had the need to do it myself.
When I arrived at the shelter, my cooking instructors were not there as they were out trying to get their disaster aid forms filed in order to begin getting their lives together again.
There was one man there who offered to help, Mr. Eotis Lucy, Jr. and I gladly accepted his invitation.
We set everything up outside the church shelter underneath a large oak tree… table, supplies, burners and all. And the cooking lesson began.
At my request, I wanted to fry battered chicken. Mr. Eotis began by mixing egg and milk in a pan and then added flour. I have never seen anyone so delicately and precisely mix ingredients like he did. Mr. Eotis would add the minutest amount of flour and stir. A bit more flour… more stirring. Mr. Eotis stirred for no less than forty-five minutes. I smoked at least two cigarettes while watching.
I learned that in addition to being a war veteran, Mr. Eotis had been a fry cook at three different restaurants in Mobile.
Every now and then Mr. Eotis would point out that although the goal was to evenly and completely mix the flour so as the batter would not be lumpy, certain sized flour pieces were acceptable because that would create various textures on the chicken.
So the batter was ready and the grease was hot.
The grease has to boil, then you know it’s ready,” I was told.
I never saw grease boil so I was a bit confused. Mr. Eotis showed me what boiling grease looked like. The grease was boiling. Not in your water boiling sort of way but in the way that only grease boils...golden, swirling and rolling.
So Mr. Eotis took a piece of the seasoned chicken and placed it in the batter. Then he placed it into a pan of flour, side to side, covering it completely.
You want the flour to cover the entire chicken. If you get some cracks in the chicken then fill them with flower and make sure and not shake too much flour off when you are done.”
He then placed the chicken into the boiling grease and it exploded into a bubbling carnival of sight, sound and smell.
Then the next piece of chicken was placed in the grease.
When it was time for the third piece to go in, Mr. Eotis stated, “Now I’m going to show you the way I like to fry chicken,” and he placed a seasoned piece of chicken in the grease… no flour, no batter.
When I’m done with this piece of chicken, it’s going to be prettier and better tasting than that chicken with the batter on it. The batter just gets in the way.”
Now here’s another way you can fry your chicken,” stated Mr. Eotis as he took a third piece of chicken and floured it and put it in the grease… no batter, just flour.
So there we had it, three different styles of chicken frying when I only thought there was one.
Then Mr. Eotis stepped back, lit a filterless Camel cigarette and really began to cook. He turned each piece of chicken and then went back to the table to prepare more pieces to add to the grease. He moved so gently and calmly. He never rushed.
So then it was my turn and I did my best to imitate the master. I did a pretty good job and when needed, Mr. Eotis would gently improve upon my technique.
Remember that when you’re cooking chicken, you can’t cook in the kitchen and flap your gums in the living room. You’ve got to constantly love the chicken while it is frying. Otherwise go on into the living room and do what you need to do and come back to the kitchen when you are ready to cook.”
For those who know me, this was a very funny and appropriate statement.
So ensued a perfect harmony of cooks preparing a lunch on a warm afternoon in Louisiana.
Suddenly all events of the prior weeks had vanished. There was no Katrina. There was no flood. There was no suffering in the world and death was not a familiar thought. He was not a survivor removed from his home and I wasn’t a volunteer looking to help. We were two men teaching, learning and sharing. Sharing in the simple act of frying chicken.
We talked of our pasts, our presents and our futures. And sometimes the best talking was when no words were spoken at all. Only the sounds of the chicken frying, a lone bird singing, children from down the street laughing. The shared silence went on for a while.
Then Mr. Eotis said, as he lit his second cigarette, “This has got to be one of the best days I’ve had in a really long time.”
I was floored. This man who had lost all material items found something special in this moment with me. Speechless, I just smiled.
The chicken was finished, the potato salad was made and the fish had been fried. By this time the people living in the shelter returned… all smiling and all commenting that it looked as if Mr. Eotis and I were “doing some serious cooking.”
Lunch was served and it was delicious. And yes, Mr. Eotis was right, the best tasting and best looking chicken was the one with no flour and no 
batter.
By the time lunch was finished it was time for me to return home. Mr. Eotis had walked outside to have an after lunch cigarette. We just looked and smiled. I turned to him, smiling again and we exchanged a hug.
This part of my day was over.
As I was driving home, I realized that earlier that day I left home with the intention of helping others and it ended up that I was the one who benefited the most.
Mr. Eotis reminded me of the most important aspects of our human condition: mindfulness, gratitude, graciousness, observation and reflection. He taught me that no matter what has happened in the past, we all have today. It is what we decide to do with this day that makes it special.
The next night I made fried chicken for dinner. The exact way Mr.Eotis taught me. Yes the grease boiled. Yes the chicken exploded into its carnival of sight, sound and smell and yes my favorite tasting chicken was the one without any batter or any flour.
I will see Mr. Eotis again. And as long as I live I know that I will never forget him or that warm, Louisiana Saturday afternoon. I will never eat or cook chicken again without remembering to “keep it in the kitchen.” I thank Mr. Eotis for sharing so much with me and I can’t help but thank Katrina for providing such a simple blessing that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Louisiana Artist's Showcase You're invited to join us for a showcase of some of Louisiana's finest artists. Relax on the outdoor patio at the Grapevine Cafe and Gallery in historic Donaldsonville, La. and watch local musicians, authors and performing artists take to the stage. A display of visual art to be raffled or sold will also be on display, with all proceeds benefiting displaced artists and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. When: Saturday, October 1; 2 pm - 6pm; For more information call 225-473-8463. The Grapevine Cafe and Gallery is located at 211 Railroad Avenue in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. gravine@bellsouth.net
True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society Benevolent Societies played a vital role in the lives of African Americans during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Plagued by high rates of illness, mortality and unemployment, members of such groups were far better able to weather crises than non-members. By participation in such societies, African Americans were able to acquire skills in running organizations – writing constitutions, keeping minutes, and learning bookkeeping. Perhaps more importantly, benevolent societies were aimed at strengthening and unifying the black community.
Few of these associations or societies remain today. Most of the members are deceased or memberships have dwindled to a few faithful older members. In the spirit of the hundreds of benevolent associations which existed throughout the South, a group of friends and I have organized the True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society, also known as TFFBS or True Friends of the Flood. This non-profit corporation is formed for the purpose of assisting families in general and families affected by the Katrina hurricane devastation with housing, education, childcare, and general welfare. We hope that the formation of the True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society of Louisiana will be a catalyst for others who want to help friends and families displaced by Katrina.
There are few Red Cross shelters along the Mississippi River and the bayous of rural Louisiana, few faith-based shelters, and many families sheltering families. Many of the families helping families are in need of help. No Red Cross or FEMA assistance is reaching this segment of our community. True Friends of the Flood is helping one family at a time in small ways that count. Those who find themselves homeless throughout rural parishes of South Louisiana appreciate every little bit of compassion and help.
So far, True Friends of the Flood has:
- Distributed to local churches a load of new clothes and supplies sent from Manhattan, NY by eighteen wheeler
- Assisted a young mother with two sons in reuniting with her family in Brooklyn, NY via air from a shelter at Lamar Dixon
- Assisted a young couple with two sons with a donation of gas money. After driving from place to place with no money and living in a shed here in Donaldsonville, they sought to relocate as soon as possible to find opportunities.
- Registered families of three or more for a relocation program to Cincinnati, Ohio which includes job training, free rent, food, clothing and checking account.
At this time we are only able to accept donations by mail and by direct deposit so please help and become a member by sending your donations to:
True Friends of the Flood Benevolent Society
406 Charles Street
Donaldsonville, La. 70346
Tax ID# 59-3817197
ATTENTION BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA If your business was affected by Hurricane Katrina and you are interested in getting a website, please contact us to find out about various payment arrangements that can be made to accomodate your situation AND you can get your website going immediately. Remember we offer a free, no-obligation consultation to answer all of your questions. Already have a website? If your web developer / web server was located in the devastated Gulf Coast area, contact us and we can discuss options to regain control of your existing website.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE We are committed to continuing the relief efforts. The recovery is not complete and actually we are along way from completion. So please continue to support our efforts by checking our "We Can Make A Difference" and "We Are Making A Difference" web pages found at www.dezins.com.
UPCOMING RELIEF EFFORTS We've decided to focus our attention on the next phase of relief efforts. Some survivors of the storm are moving into temporary housing facilities. We are now collecting gift cards to be given to those in need so that they can purchase items for their new homes. Gift cards can come from a variety of sources. If you are not interested in purchasing a Wal-Mart Gift Card, for example, you can purchase an American Express Travelers Card and provide the pin number. WildPlaces Ecological Education and Restoration has offered to write tax donation letters which enable you to deduct your donations on your taxes. When mailing the gift card, simply include a letter (on company letterhead if a business) that has the date, mailing address, amount of your donation, a notation stating that the donation was made to WildPlaces for Hurricane Katrina Recovery and a signature and you will be mailed your notice of donation. Also, it might be best that gift cards are purchased in $25 increments and that way when it is time to distribute them, each person/family can receive the same amount. Please mail your gift cards and letter of donation to: Dezins; c/o Orhan Mc Millan; 12043 Mirkwood Avenue; Baton Rouge, La. 70810. And thanks again.
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