When you deal with all the rest, there does come a time when there is simply a case of the best. The subject becomes colorless or faceless. To say Mr. Bryant was the best black BBQ man is like saying Michael Jordan is the best colored basketball player, or Muhammad Ali was the best colored boxer. Given these instances you simply say the best
Then go ahead and make your case.
I shall develop this case respective to Mr. Bryant by bringing into play a number of factors. First, Mr. Bryant did his thing so well that people indeed paved pathways to his door from many directions. Needless to say, there were many ages, races, social and economic backgrounds beating a path to his door. From a very humble beginning, he took nothing but heart, a desire to succeed, and the willingness to do a good job serving the public, then built one of the most remarkable and successful BBQ restaurant enterprises ever to stand on solid ground. This man’s BBQ restaurant is recognized world-wide as the best and most famous and legendary of any other, black, white, or otherwise. Bryant’s BBQ comes with a guest list that would be the envy of any world famous restaurant. The rich and famous, not to mention the most powerful, are among his visiting patrons (past and pr esent). That list consists of: Presidents Harry Truman and Jimmy Carter; film stars Robert Redford and Jack Nicholson; world famous chefs from France, Italy, Germany and Spain – the list goes on and on. It’s been said by notable food and restaurant critics that Mr. Bryant operated the best little restaurant in the world.
When in Kansas City, Missouri, do visit this legend which sits in the heart of one the oldest black urban neighborhoods in America. Come early because they are always busy, and you will observe that as many as 80% of his customers are white.
Mr. Arthur Bryant is no longer with us. He departed this life in 1982. However, the legend that he so proudly built will live on in the hearts and stomachs of thousands who knew, loved and admired him.