Photo. Alabama News Center, 2019.
Black History Month began as a single week in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson to recognize and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of African Americans. Every year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) selects a national theme to bring attention to important developments in the Black narrative that merit emphasis. This year the ASALH has chosen to focus on African Americans and the Arts. Though the many gains made by African Americans are many, the culinary arts have been an important gateway to success and financial stability. From scratch to scrumptious: African American cuisine is both a culmination of traditional food assemblage and culinary ingenuity. Sometimes referred to as soul cooking, Afro-centric cuisine embodies a rich medley of flavors spanning many generations and geographical regions. As our nation celebrates Black History Month, our appreciation of soul cooking must not, however, overshadow social awareness. While we are sipping on our favorite cup of coffee or enjoying a hot bowl of gumbo, we must remember that the true flavor of soul cooking is freedom, and the aroma of that freedom is change.
