Sat in front of Sattdown Jamaican Grill in Studio City is owner Howard Anthony “Tony” Hyde, welcoming customers into his restaurant to enjoy curry goat, freshly-made patties, and more Jamaican dishes. He warmly greets the customers from one of his silver chairs, positioned right in front of the restaurant’s mural that painted faint clouds and a dark, long horizon fill his window alongside tall palm trees and the golden grains of Caribbean sand—a homage to his birthplace.
The painting’s peaceful paradise represents the restaurant’s history of grit and struggle that built Chef Tony’s legacy today. In his upcoming memoir, “The Day Racism Walked in My Door”, Chef Tony shares his remarkable story of wrongful incarceration, immigration challenges, and resilience amidst adversity.
Before becoming an admired chef at Studio City, recognized by the LA Times and the LA Weekly, Hyde emigrated with a green card from Jamaica to the Bronx with his mother and seven siblings. While in New York City, Hyde moved from high schools often. He was able to meet people across the city, sharing his Jamaican roots while embracing New York’s cultural diversity.
Eventually, Hyde moved to Florida where he established his own restaurant in West Palm Beach called Tony’s Jamaican Restaurant. Hyde quickly gained a loyal following through his charisma and savory dishes.
“[The customers] always felt comfortable speaking to me,” Hyde explains. “I had to be the face of the brand.”
However, a fateful interaction abruptly changed his life. While in Florida, Hyde cut off an immigration officer on the highway. Out of spite, the immigration officer and his task force began harassing Hyde. The immigration officers subtly followed Hyde down to his restaurant where they illegally detained him and brought him to his home. Handcuffed in the backseat of their car, Hyde saw as immigration officers ransacked his home without a warrant.
Hyde was then put in a detention center, waiting to be put in front of the judge. After days of waiting, the court assigned Hyde a court date. With the support of his family, friends, and even regular customers who worked in the Police Department, Hyde arrived at the court believing he would end his wrongful incarceration. Regardless, the judge ruled that he be deported back to Jamaica.
In “The Day Racism Walked in My Door”, Hyde’s memoir follows these events in detail along with his time in jail. He felt it was necessary to tell his story for others and fully detail these experiences.
“This book was how I basically lost everything because of racism,” said Hyde. “Because when I was snatched from my restaurant and allowed my restaurant to just close down…losing what I worked so many years to get.”
Hyde uses his memoir to showcase the systemic injustices faced by the immigrant community. He focuses on how these issues often overshadow the achievements of immigrants worldwide.
“A lot of times, people look down on immigrants,” said Hyde. “But immigrants have contributed so much throughout the world wherever they go.”
With President Trump’s new executive mandates, spanning from higher ICE raids to mandatory flights to Latin American countries, Hyde notes the despair that will come from these decisions.
“When I was in immigration jail, I saw so many children crying, mothers and wives,” Hyde said. “They would be crying because their husbands would be inside there—basically their lives were gonna be ruined from that point.”
“It’s not just one person,” Hyde stated. “It’s a whole entire family. It’s kids that may end up in foster care, or jail without a parent to guide them.”
Hyde’s memoir not only sheds light on systemic injustice and persecution, but offers glimpses of hope in dark and turbulent times like these.
“I’m hoping that at least my book will show somebody that you can’t give up,” Hyde said. “You can lose everything and still be able to fight back to achieve something in life.”
Hyde hopes his story can offer hope to at least one person in exhibiting that there will always be a possibility of growth, harmony, and resilience amidst struggle.
“The Day Racism Walked in My Door” offers an in-depth look into the success and struggles of Tony Hyde. Today, Chef Tony continues to inspire others through cooking, warm hospitality, and unwavering determination. He hopes that his memoir will be able to engage a wider audience, spreading hope and motivation beyond the walls of Sattdown Jamaican Grill.
Tony Hyde’s “The Day Racism Walked in My Door” is expected to be released Feb. 17 and will be available for purchase on Amazon.
