Mokabe's

This place is not like any other place you’ll visit. I promise you. I’m not sure how I got my foot into the door. It might have been Megan [reference the Shaw’s post].

But before I start talking about Mokabe’s, I need to mention the political climate in St. Louis. Why? For most of us living here, there’s no surprise. There is a stark divide, especially within urban areas. Black communities and white communities have had ongoing tensions between them, resulting in hundreds of altercations over the years. But, this year the nation got to see some of the depth of this struggle. The name Michael Brown invokes varying emotions in different communities. Yet, it almost seems impossible to remain neutral. Who is at fault? Are white cops targeting black males? Is there racial profiling happening? Is there a blatant disregard for public authority? These are the questions that arose after the Michael Brown shooting. Chants like “Hands up, Don’t Shoot” and “I Can’t Breathe” galvanized communities in support or opposition.

But what does coffee have to do with racial divides? Enter Mokabe’s. Let me go rhetorical. I think the owners understand the desire to have conversation over a cup of coffee. I believe this is a natural phenomena correlated with coffee. It is almost displeasing to be around others drinking coffee and not talk about the complexities of the surrounding world. What comes to mind is my family. I have an enormous families, thus, annual family reunions are a necessity. After all the outdoor fun, grilling, and sweating, we retreat as a family into the house in the late afternoon. As we hit that mid-afternoon lull, coffee becomes a much-needed remedy. Different pockets of relatives gather together and chat, catch up, and debate anything and everything. In between sips of coffee, school, religion, and politics are topics that frequent the conversation. Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but coffee is a stimulant for conversation. Mokabe’s understands and creates a place for discussion.

All the walls are plastered with artwork, photos, and slogans of controversial issues. Especially now, paraphernalia about the Ferguson protests and similar issues around the nation are the many subjects. Issues of race, religion, politics, gender, and orientation are quickly visible. It’s visible to all patrons of the stance that Mokabe’s makes.

The beauty of this coffee shop is the utilization of this space. Many times, the only that speaks to customers is the coffee. Yet, at Mokabe’s the walls, the decorations, the bumpers stickers, and the coffee make a statement. It makes the individual stop, think, and react. For some, the atmosphere at Mokabe’s is uncomfortable. Yet, maybe that’s the point? Maybe the issues in this nation are uncomfortable? Is this what Mokabe’s saying? Not sure, but it is something we can talk about. How about over a cup of coffee?