Table Telling

Most people actually think of history in the form of grand events and people, but that is nothing more than the surface depth of its reality. The true essence of history finds that particular thread in the lives of ordinary people, in the stories passed down through time, enriched with struggle and triumph, and seasoned with persistence as the harbinger of black history facts  itself. Most of these narratives, told around the dining table, bridge that past to the present, bringing families and communities together in very beautiful ways. The Strength of Oral Tradition in Black History One of the major characteristics that define black history is simply, the narration by word of mouth. Before reading and writing became so common to everyone, all stories were told orally; they were preserved such that cultures, values, and wisdom passed from generation to generation. Back in the day, our African ancestors had griots or seasoned storytellers who kept living history. These endeavors ...

Food serves a dual purpose because it does more than supply nutrition. It also embraces cultural heritage and presents informative tales about individual traditions. Traditional African American food demonstrates the ability of people to triumph along with their inventive spirit and historic culinary practices. Food recipes from Southern farming areas have evolved into current kitchen traditions to establish core traditions of Black American food culture , which unite community members through culinary heritage. A Culinary Journey Rooted in History Traditional African American food started in West African cooking by combining local native ingredients with Native American and European recipes. Slavery forced Black Americans to develop resourceful cooking skills, eventually producing rich-tasting dishes made from minimal ingredients. This ingenuity birthed iconic meals such as: Collard greens slow-cooked with smoked turkey or ham hocks. Cornbread is a staple accompaniment to stews and g...