Culture and Caffeine

Much of what I have written over the years, both here and on multiple other platforms has come from a deep desire to see cultural walls broken down and allow everyone a seat at the same table. As I mentioned in my last post Border Crisis, cultural differences can’t be seen as “us vs. them”. It’s just us. All of us. We’re in this together and everyone, regardless of language, customs, birth place, etc. not only deserves a seat at the table, but it is actually critical to the survival and freedom of all of us to have each other. “No one is free until we are all free.” This quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. points to the interconnectedness that we all share as humans. We are in this together and we need each other. We need to hear each others voice, to respect our differences, and to fight against anything that worms it’s way into our hearts and minds to bring hatred and division.

One place I love, where this spirit of community is playing out practically is a new little coffee shop in Medford called Cafe Mestiza. If you haven’t been there yet, I highly recommend it! The coffee is great with a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere offering service in English and Spanish. When I’m there, I get a small snippet of what I think the world could be like if we looked beyond our cultural differences to see the humans behind them. While I sit there enjoying a delicious, locally roasted coffee, young Latinx teenagers, families, or old white guys like me all feel equally welcomed and valued. It’s what I envision a better future looking like for all of us.

Who are the people you find yourself speaking poorly about? You may have disparate ideologies, socio-political perspectives, language, beliefs, skin color, or customs that cause you to think and speak in terms of “us vs. them”. Consider where the hidden biases are in your own heart and mind and be honest about your preconceived labels and ideas. What would happen if you actually sat down with that person who is different than you, perhaps at Cafe Mestiza, and get to know them over a cup of coffee? How would your perspective shift if you choose to see that person as a human-being rather than just a nationality, religion, political party, etc.? At the very least, you will get a great cup of coffee, but you’ll likely walk away with a new friend and a better understanding of the beautiful and diverse world we live in. I’d say that’s a win-win-win. Paz y amor.