ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF....

Allow me to introduce myself...my name is Marc Johnson, and this is my blog..."The Marc-Up".  The blog will deal primarily with two of my favorite subjects/passions....(1) Politics and (2) Food.  However, I will also talk about any and everything that I am passionate about.

The question may arise..."What makes this guy qualified to speak about politics and/or food?".  With regards to politics, I will simply list the positions I have held in the political arena, and you can tell me whether I am qualified or not to comment on politics.

• Assistant Clerk, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (111th Congress-Democratic Majority)
• Library Clerk, House Library, Legislative Resource Center-Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Public Information Specialist, Public Information Section, Legislative Resource Center-Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Legislative Research Analyst-Statenet
• Staff Assistant/Systems Administrator-Former U.S. Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick
• Public Policy Associate-Center for Nonprofit Advancement
• Staff Assistant/Systems Administrator-U.S. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
• Legislative Assistant-Magazine Publishers of America
• Campaign Researcher-"Stevens for Congress" Campaign (10th Congressional District of Virginia)
• Congressional Intern-U.S. Rep. Steve Israel
• Intern-Loudoun County Family Services (Housing and Community Development)
• Assistant, Distinguished Professor and Former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder-L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Legislative Intern-Virginia State Senator Henry L. Marsh, III

I received my Bachelors of Arts Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, located in Richmond, Virginia.  I majored in Political Science, specializing in American Government and Politics, Virginia Government, and African American Political Theory.  I also received two minors, one in African American-African Studies, and the other in History.

Whether I am qualified to speak on issues of food, I don't have any official qualifications to speak about it.  I didn't attend culinary school, and I never cooked in a restaurant (I have taken on a few catering jobs).  However, I am passionate about food.  I am constantly studying the cooking techniques.  I have read many books on the subjects of food and cooking.  I have been to over 100 restaurants across the country, though primarily in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, enjoying and studying the cuisines of various cultures.  Here is a link to the map of all of the restaurants my wife and I have been to.  I commit myself to cooking "from scratch" meals for my family, because I feel that it is important to feed my family in the best way possible.  I have written about food on my Facebook page, I am an amateur food photographer (real amateur), and used to have a food blog called "Black Food Snob".  In another life, I would have received Michelin-star restaurant training, and then eventually apply it to what I would call "African Diasporatic Cuisine"...a cuisine where I would incorporate European technique to cuisines within the African Diaspora...whether it being African American Soul Food, the cuisine of the West Indies, to the origins of African Diasporatic Cuisine, in "Mother Africa".  Who knows...maybe I'll write a book on Diasporatic Cuisine.

I was raised and currently live in Loudoun County, Virginia, where my father's family has been since the late-1700's.  I am married to my beautiful wife, Alicia, and we have a wonderful and adorable two year old daughter, named Alaiyah (Uh-Lay-Uh).

My wife, Alicia and daughter, Alaiyah

For some, a blog can be self-indulgent.  For me...this blog is a way for me to educate and inform.  You may agree with my views...you may not.  But at the end of the day, I hope that you are able to respect what I am putting forth.  Take Care, God Bless, and now....THE MARC-UP!!!