Zanmi is a Creole word to mean 'friend'.

This Thursday, I will play some jazz at Zanmi restaurant, the Haitian neighborhood hub. I knew having an Eastern Asian saxophonist was not a good promotion of a new restaurant in the United States now, and I acted humbly saying ' I could do this gig once a month.' And the management kindly gave me the 4th gig there after the long lock down.

It seems they even have political events there and are trying to enrich their community. And I appreciate that I am welcomed as a part of the diversity even in the storm of anti- Asian violence.

I have ever heard negative comments about West Indians by African American as if West Indian people were lower than other black people. For example, 'Haitian people don't understand jazz.'

What I witness at Zanmi is that some of the older customers concentrate on our performance as if it's something very important for them. And they remind me of my mentor, Earl Keller, former board of Harlem, who often came to see my gigs at a legendary supper club, Londel's, in Harlem. Mr. Keller was from Harlem and lived through the tough times including the era of Malcolm X. And I recall Mr. Keller talking with his respect for all the people with or without various beliefs.

Yesterday, I was invited to a family BBQ by a friend of mine and I joined it at a patio of a project in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. About the time I grabbed a jerk chicken, we heard 6 or 7 gunshots and we evacuated to the street. I kept eating my chicken there for a while and we got back to the patio. I was introduced to a lady who is the mother of my friend. She has 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and some great-grandchildren. Enjoying the flavor of marinated chicken, I was pretty sure that they had West Indian tradition. And when they were enjoying a sort of Caribbean music, I asked her, 'is it your kind of music?' And she showed a gentle smile and said 'I like all kinds of music.' I immediately understood her wisdom which implied we were one people to share something beautiful at the moment.

Her wisdom will stay in the family and spread to people to take care of the United States. I have been a legal alien and will stay here for some more while to play jazz, the form of music created by African American. How they will refine this society is simply up to them. It's not my duty.

After the fun conversation with her, we heard 4 more gunshots from our side of the street and it was time for me to leave the BBQ party.

I turned a year older. I hope I will have another good time at Zanmi, with my soul friends.