Smoky Conversations: Flavorful Thoughts to Ponder
- Sheldon Jackson
- Oct 5, 2025
- 2 min read
“Back to the Roots: The Smoke, The Sound, The Soul”
Every now and then, life calls us back—to our beginnings, our roots, the places and people that shaped who we are.
For me, that place is Walnut Park—a predominantly African American community in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. It wasn’t always easy, but it was rich. Rich in lessons, in love, in community. The foundation built by my parents still keeps me grounded to this day.
I can still see those Sunday mornings clearly: watching my parents host their radio show, their voices steady and full of purpose. Then it was off to Sunday service, followed by the classic debate—Church’s Chicken or McDonald’s? Either way, that post-church meal hit differently.
And as the day wound down, the evening belonged to gospel. The sounds of The Tones of Harmony, The Gates of Heaven, The Gospel Prayers, The Jackson Southernaires, and The Canton Spirituals filled the air. Those harmonies weren’t just music—they were messages. Stories of endurance, faith, and gratitude wrapped in rhythm and soul.
Life, of course, got more complicated as time went on. But on Sundays like today, my mind drifts back. The gym, the music, the rhythm of the day—it all brings me back to those roots. It reminds me to be thankful.
So as we kick back to enjoy our favorite football teams today, let’s put some thankful smoke in the air—for the neighborhoods that raised us, the people who shaped us, and the moments that molded our character.
Raise a glass for those who poured into you—those still here and those watching from above. Because when life gets loud, those roots, those memories, and those lessons are what help us recenter.
They remind us not just of where we came from, but of how far we’ve come.
Until next smoke… stay grounded, stay lit, stay smoky, and stay fit!
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