What Difference A Year Makes!

You have to be the change you want to see in the world.

I was first introduced to Darren Carter through Ms. Sylvie an amazing Pitmaster I highly respect and admire. So when she said I need to speak with him, he is trying to reach me, it wasn’t as much as a suggestion as it was direction. I don’t know about you but I am not one to argue or challenge her. Mr. Carter was and still is running a Livestream and Podcast where he interviews and highlights black pitmasters from all over the country and globe. This is what caught my eye because he was doing something that had not truly been done to this scope before. Yes some of his guests were household names, your Bryan Forman’s, Zilla Pits, etc. However these weren’t short 2-3 minute clips or conversations, these were in depth conversations on a level I had not seen in the community before.

Last year I made one request of The Darren W Carter, and he’s fulfilled that request 10-fold. He’s the founder of @theunknownsblackpitmasters and has recently started his community initiative @barbquegiveback As the late @anthonybourdain said, “Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start”. Mr. Carter is using his love and passion for the craft of Barbecue to make a difference in not only his but communities all over.

Honestly it wasn’t until meeting him in person that I confirmed what was happening, as it was something Mr. Carter himself was not aware of. He was and still is currently sitting on the largest archive of living modern day black pitmasters. Not only was he building the archive, he was building different pillars to support his community. Selflessly giving up his birthday in exchange for toy donations for a local orphanage in his town. He and his wife are also active foster parents. How could I not want to meet someone like this and do what I could to aid them.

Thus began the friendship and brotherhood between Mr. Carter and myself.