Dimmed lights and the honey-like vocals of R&B singers greeted guests at Sost, a restaurant in Washington DC, in late December. Though they entered as strangers, the 11 Black women attendees hugged each other before taking their seats. The ambiance was intimate and soulful, with a sparse table setting in a private room that boasted deep red walls. Crystle Johnson, the founder of Kinory, a dining community for Black women, led the group in a moment of silent meditation.
As an icebreaker, everyone shared who they were without talking about their profession. They laughed at each other’s responses over bowls of jollof rice and chicken, a black eyed peas salad and sweet potato fritters. Johnson posed questions that she pulled from a deck of cards during the three courses. One of the cards read: “What’s something you’ve had to unlearn – a belief, habit, or fear – to live more freely?”
