Interview with Ranada D. Riley, June 6, 2019

Interview Summary

Ranada Riley discusses her identity as a female, lesbian chef and restaurateur. She talks about her childhood and early life, her career path from nursing to restaurateur, appearing on several Food Network television shows, and she discusses the bias against her as a restaurateur without a culinary degree. Riley talks about the discrimination and dangers she has faced as someone from a minority community. She talks about being outed as a lesbian by the local newspaper when her first restaurant opened. This led to hate mail, threats, and other dangers for herself and her staff. talks about aspects of diversity that she has learned more about over the years, and aspects that she would like to learn more about in the future.

Interview Keyword

Lexington (Ky.) Families. Childhood Mentors Diversity Female business owners Women business owners Women chefs Sexual orientation. Sexual minorities.

Interview LC Subject

Food Food service Restaurants--Kentucky Restaurants--Decoration Restaurants--Personnel management Food industry and trade. Restaurant management. Restaurants Restaurants--Employees Restaurateurs. Lesbians Cooking Women--Employment. Professions. Work. Occupations Culture Discrimination

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Interview Usage

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