“Words without deeds have no meaning.” ~ Big Mama
Big Mama, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen, was born in 1906 and lived through times when promises were often made to our communities, but not always kept. She understood struggle, sacrifice, family, faith and the power of a person’s word. Big Mama taught us that a handshake, a commitment and your actions had to line up because your name and your legacy were attached to everything you did.
Today, as we listen to political races, community conversations and leadership promises, her wisdom feels louder than ever. We hear speeches filled with claims of accomplishments, visions of change and more of what will happen next.
But Big Mama would ask a simple question: “Where is the work?”
Leadership cannot live in words alone. Real leadership leaves footprints. It shows up in communities, in service, in results and in the lives changed along the way.
This past Father’s Day, I witnessed what happens when words become deeds. For 25 years, City Men Cook has been more than about food — it has been about fathers, mentors, families and community. Local men did more than prepare dishes; they delivered recipes, shared family stories, honored traditions, and created community impact alongside the women who showed up to celebrate, support and strengthen the village.
We are living in a time where too often the noise of personal attacks becomes louder than conversations about real solutions. Words can divide, distract and discourage — but deeds build. Big Mama reminded us that you cannot just “talk the talk,” you must “walk the walk.”
The responsibility does not belong only to those seeking office. It belongs to us. Our votes represent our voices, our values and our vision for the future.
Voting is not just an individual act; it is a collective responsibility. We must take more than ourselves to the polls — we must take our families, our neighbors, our young people and our communities.
Big Mama’s generation fought for access to the ballot. Our generation must protect its purpose.
Because at the end of the day, history will not remember the loudest words. It will remember the work.
Terry Allen is a business owner and a consultant for small businesses. He is a co-author of the best-selling Simon and Schuster book, “Real Men Cook: Rites, Rituals, and Recipes for Living.” He is also the founder of City Men Cook.