The Black Book is a collaborative creation by Lynn Wesley Coleman and Jalence Isles—a living blueprint of Black-owned and community-rooted businesses across New Orleans. Born from deep love for the city, this guide celebrates everything that makes New Orleans magical—because everything you love about New Orleans lives in us.

This isn’t just politics—it’s personal. It’s sacred, not performative. It’s the quiet, steady labor of organizers. The wisdom of elders who remind us what’s been fought for—and what must be protected. It’s resistance expressed through joy. We don’t just live the culture. We are the culture. History is not just about the past, it’s also about the future. Thank you Black Feminist Future for reminding me of this at the recent reunion in New Orleans.

Black women are watching systems bend under the weight of truth. We’re naming names, flipping seats, and drawing bold boundaries. We are both the storm and the sanctuary. Protect Black women. This is “we all we got” energy—no filters, no fluff.

As AI reshapes everything, the era of surface-level content is fading. The new wave? Influencers rooted in culture, care, and community. My love for food started early—it’s a lifelong relationship. So pull up. This is fresh, intentional content, crafted with love. Believe it or not, women like me built the influencer scene in New Orleans—before it had a name, before there were brand deals or algorithms. We were curating vibes, setting trends, telling the city’s stories in our own voices. We didn’t wait for permission—we were the culture. I evolve with time and live in my truth, unapologetically. Back in 2013, before I married my husband, I teamed up with a friend to launch a Single Urban Professionals group. It was open to both women and men—an intentional space for face-to-face connection and community. Once I got married and started a family, I shifted gears and founded the local chapter of Housewives in the City. That move was a game changer—for me and for the city. I began hosting pop-ups that gave women a space to shine and local vendors a platform to sell and connect.

Revisiting my feed helped me remember what really matters. I’ve spent years gathering snapshots of Black-owned restaurants—because honoring us just makes sense. I challenge creators: be more mindful of who you uplift and what you share. Don’t post just to be seen. Post to stand for something. Authenticity is always in season.

Perimenopause changed me. My mind shifted. My focus sharpened. I’ve been paid by the big brands, but my loyalty? It’s to us—to minority-owned businesses. I didn’t fall off—I evolved. Like in Sinners, sometimes we learn the hard way what invitations to decline. Shoutout to my cousin Jamal Dennis for being in this movie.

Enjoy this visual archive—my gallery of love, legacy, and nourishment. Swipe through the beauty. Every image tells a story.

To my Wesley family—our roots run deep in New Orleans soil. We are not new to this, we’re rooted in it. Katrina can’t separate us, even miles away from one another. In the spirit of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter:

"You’ll never lose, we are winners.
I’ll be the roots, you be the tree.
Pass on the fruit that was given to me—
Legacy. We’re part of something way bigger."

This isn’t just family—it’s lineage. It’s legacy. It’s love passed down like recipes from my grandmother, resistance, and rhythm. We are the prayers of our ancestors and the blueprint for what's next.

And no matter what, we show up. In community. In power. In rhythm, listening to bounce music (of course). Because survival has always been political and thriving, that’s our revolution. Forward thinking, my vision for New Orleans is a Black Wine & Food festival with wine education. It’s a space where locals are celebrated and treated better than anyone else on the planet.

Affirmative Action request: Like, Share and Follow to support my pages and to amplify the messages. Should we publish The Black Book in print?

The New Orleans community of Black-owned businesses is still vibrant & lit 🔥—with Restaurants, Chefs, Food Trucks, Caterers and pop‑ups which add rich flavor and culture to the city.