Who are we
Everything you want to know
As African American, Jamaican and South Carolina Geechee Native American, Brother Gary was raised with traditional family values and a southern spoon by his mother Frances Witherspoon Dantzler, who cooked exquisite, yet traditional southern meals for the family just like her mother (Brother Gary’s Beloved Grandmother) Corirrine Witherspoon, and ancestors before her, through some of the hardest centuries for African Americans.
Brother gary dantzler, from brooklyn, new york to pawtucket, new england
Our Story
southern hospitality
AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY
Brother Gary has contributed throughout his years of success to the various community issues, such as opening the doors of a homeless warming shelter at an extreme time when there were freezing winter storms outside and deadly fentanyl on the streets. Also, at the Black American Innovation Center was housed one of the largest covid testing grounds for the community in New England. In the center he held one of the largest local programs to aid those who owe legal fines.
Brother Gary is proud to be leading the effort and be the driving force of the first and only Black American Library in RI that runs various education and training programs for all ages, provides a variety of services, and hosts events for everyone in the community. We work directly with local business owners, officials, industry experts, state and city departments. Our mission is to push for better policies, build the community up, provide an outlet for our inner city youth and have a safe space for promoting and nourishing black excellence. We empower all who visit or join to attain their desires and goals.
Brother Gary was born in Queens, NY and raised in Brooklyn, NY before relocating to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A loving father, devoted husband, mentor, artist, human and civil rights activist, he is proud to be leading the effort and be the driving force of the only Black American Innovation Center in RI. Its mission is to build the community up, provide an outlet for our inner-city youth and have a safe space for promoting and nourishing black excellence. All of which, he says would not bepossible without the love and support of his wife Heather Dantzler.
History of Success
• 1967-Present • Founder and Executive Director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island (BLM RI)
• Loving father, devoted husband, mentor, artist, human and civil rights activist
• 1984 US Olympic Boxing Team qualifier and member
• Governor named him an american street fighter
• 1990 Youth athletics mentor and self defense trainer for City of Pawtucket law enforcement
• 2006 First of 10 siblings to become independent business owner
• 2007 First Black American to work on Barack Obama’s RI campaign committee
• 2021 First to open Black American American Innovation Center in RI
• 2023 First to establish BLM warming center in RI for the less fortunate and homeless
Specialists
We offer a carefully crafted menu that combines classic soul food dishes with innovative twists. From crispy fried chicken to creamy mac and cheese, our dishes celebrate the soul of Southern cooking.
Traditional Southern comfort food dishes like fried chicken,
collard greens, cornbread, macaroni and cheese,
gumbo, and sweet potato pie.