People across the world have cheered on a local New York woman makes strides against discriminatory food accessibility. Jatee Kearsley is the owner of Je t’aime Patisserie in New York. The “french patisserie in the hood”, as Kearsley coined it, is located in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
Kearsley is a Black woman and business owner (@jetaimepatisserie) with a passion for creating more accessibility in the culinary space. She makes delectable French pastries in her bakery in NYC, which the local community loves. She shared her goals with Righteous Eats (@righteouseats) in a promo video. Read on to learn more about the viral video that has created a new dialogue around food and economic status.
Food Accessibility
Kearsley is an advocate for all communities having access to foods that are typically gate kept by society due to social status. Jatee made it her mission to spread awareness to people of color through her bakery in NYC. This came from an interaction with neighborhood boys. Apparently, Kearsley realized that the boys did not know what quiche was and were in awe of the the complex flavors. This brought her to the realization that there is not enough knowledge about exciting foods from diverse cultures. Some POC may even perceive them as “white people food”, in Kearsley’s words.
Kearsley started making a point to share the pastries from her bakery in NYC with the community. She has even accepted EBT. This assistance (better known as food stamps) is given to underserved communities by the government. By taking alternative payments, Kearsley ensures that her pastries can be enjoyed by Brooklyn locals from every economic bracket.
Food Insecurity
The issues of food accessibility go beyond the surface level of what types of food POC even have access to. Food insecurity is a serious issue in many parts of the world. This issue is amplified in metropolitan areas with higher populations. Clearly, people that are worried about being able to afford food at all are likely eating the cheapest food available. Locals doing their best to make ends meet does not exactly inspire them to try foods from diverse cultures. Access to healthier and more exciting foods is more common the higher someone’s socioeconomic status is. The societal discrimination with food is an issue that should be resolved by leaders, structurally. Yet they can be remedied with loving community, like Kearsley’s bakery in NYC.
Kearsley goes on to talk about how disproportionate access to particular foods is harmful to the community. She hopes to give POC access to different foods with her bakery in NYC. Espeically those that may not be easily accessible in daily life. The gap in access inspired her to be a “cycle starter”. This is a clear distinction from the popular phrasing “breaking generational curses”. Kearsley is a first generation entrepreneur, graduate and property owner. She knows that her individual impact makes a real difference for her community.