Soul, Black Women, and FoodSoul, Black Women, and Food

Marveline HughesMarveline Hughes

American women’s search for American women’s search for identity in the 1960s coincided identity in the 1960s coincided with the black quest through with the black quest through history for their originshistory for their origins

One of the most One of the most symbolic tools symbolic tools in the search for in the search for roots is soul foodroots is soul food

Soul FoodSoul Food

Roots like yams and potatoes Roots like yams and potatoes symbolize stabilitysymbolize stability

Slaves brought and used seeds to Slaves brought and used seeds to preserve African culturepreserve African culture

Many of these foods have been Many of these foods have been adopted by white American cultureadopted by white American culture

-watermelon, okra-watermelon, okra

Pride & PlumpnessPride & Plumpness Black women express themselves Black women express themselves

and gain self-confidence through and gain self-confidence through food preparation food preparation

Black women pride themselves on Black women pride themselves on how they can make something out how they can make something out of nothing of nothing

Black women take pride in the Black women take pride in the plumpness of those who eat their plumpness of those who eat their food food

In black culture big is associated In black culture big is associated with beautiful with beautiful

Family & FoodFamily & Food

Large families are intentionalLarge families are intentional Children praise mother about Children praise mother about

cooking cooking A way to experience the A way to experience the

feeling of plenty feeling of plenty Family stories shared Family stories shared

at meals at meals

CreativityCreativity Slaves were mostly illiterate so Slaves were mostly illiterate so

recipes were passed orallyrecipes were passed orally-room for creativity-room for creativity-snuck slave’s tastes into -snuck slave’s tastes into

master’s foodmaster’s food

Cultural knowledgeCultural knowledge-Reject scientific progress and use -Reject scientific progress and use fresh foods so no concerns about fresh foods so no concerns about harmful preservativesharmful preservatives

Why eat out?Why eat out? Blacks couldn’t eat at white Blacks couldn’t eat at white

restaurants until the 1960srestaurants until the 1960s

Eating at home doesn’t just Eating at home doesn’t just reflect economic statusreflect economic status- This shows cultural preference for - This shows cultural preference for

soulful home cooked mealsoulful home cooked meal-Black Americans in the suburbs drive to the -Black Americans in the suburbs drive to the ghetto to get soul foodghetto to get soul food-Potlucks in the suburbs have the same -Potlucks in the suburbs have the same foods as potlucks in the ghettofoods as potlucks in the ghetto

Also personal gardens represent African Also personal gardens represent African respect for land, living things and African respect for land, living things and African spiritualityspirituality

Soul Food is Soul Food is Soulful No Matter Who Soulful No Matter Who

Prepares It!Prepares It! Soul is what is revealed when you peel Soul is what is revealed when you peel

back the human layersback the human layers Human layers and differences Human layers and differences

represented with opposites in American represented with opposites in American cultureculture-Beauty v Ugliness, White v Black, Smart v Dumb-Beauty v Ugliness, White v Black, Smart v Dumb

This shows intolerance and attempt to This shows intolerance and attempt to Anglo-izeAnglo-ize-Black people recognize the power of -Black people recognize the power of labelinglabeling-Must not question the soulfulness of -Must not question the soulfulness of other black people or of any black foodother black people or of any black food

Black Women May Enjoy Black Women May Enjoy Cooking, but What is the Cooking, but What is the Reality of Cooking as a Reality of Cooking as a

Profession?Profession? The prevalence of black women The prevalence of black women

working as domestic cooks is a working as domestic cooks is a result of their role as cooks during result of their role as cooks during slavery slavery (historically acquired role definition)(historically acquired role definition)

Many jobs held by black women still focus Many jobs held by black women still focus

on nurturing on nurturing white people white people This is still a form of slaveryThis is still a form of slavery

Soul Food and ReligionSoul Food and Religion

Restrictions on food such as scheduling Restrictions on food such as scheduling or selection not common (i.e., vs lent)or selection not common (i.e., vs lent)

Eating during spiritual & religious Eating during spiritual & religious rituals is a special celebration and a rituals is a special celebration and a black community gatheringblack community gathering

Black preacher always gets Black preacher always gets first choice of food first choice of food

-Black Preacher is responsible for -Black Preacher is responsible for passing on the oral history of the black passing on the oral history of the black communitycommunity

SharingSharing

The core of African American Food The core of African American Food celebrations is the intent to share celebrations is the intent to shareex. Hog Killingex. Hog Killing

community gatheringcommunity gathering-men help with killing, skinning and making major -men help with killing, skinning and making major cutscuts-women help clean the meat, do the trimmings -women help clean the meat, do the trimmings prepare samples and give portions to neighborsprepare samples and give portions to neighbors

One of few activities with clear gender divisions in One of few activities with clear gender divisions in black cultureblack culture

Relates back to African traditionsRelates back to African traditions

Gender RolesGender Roles

Cooking is less gender specific Cooking is less gender specific because many black people are because many black people are cooks as an occupationcooks as an occupation

Economic circumstances lead Economic circumstances lead black women to be more black women to be more independent and autonomous and independent and autonomous and take on other rolestake on other roles

Motherhood and dominance in Motherhood and dominance in kitchen still importantkitchen still important

Typical Black KitchenTypical Black Kitchen Breakfast: Grits, homemade Breakfast: Grits, homemade

biscuits, ham or bacon, molasses or biscuits, ham or bacon, molasses or canned preserves, fresh milk & canned preserves, fresh milk & eggseggs

Dinner: “mess of greens” with pot Dinner: “mess of greens” with pot licker (collards, turnips, cabbage, licker (collards, turnips, cabbage, beet green or mustard seasoned beet green or mustard seasoned with pork skins, fatback or ham with pork skins, fatback or ham hocks), bread, potatoes, fresh hocks), bread, potatoes, fresh squeezed lemonade, maybe a meat squeezed lemonade, maybe a meat and a cobbler. Desserts might and a cobbler. Desserts might include bread pudding include bread pudding

Supper: Fruits cut up in creamy Supper: Fruits cut up in creamy milk, biscuits, milk, biscuits, ice cream, fried ice cream, fried chicken, creamed potatoes & chicken, creamed potatoes & buttermilk for farm buttermilk for farm familiesfamilies

NutritionNutrition

Inherited from Africa and emphasized Inherited from Africa and emphasized by slave masters & is still prevalentby slave masters & is still prevalent-sometimes viewed as a purely -sometimes viewed as a purely economic decisioneconomic decision

Some people connect soul food to Some people connect soul food to higher rates of hypertension in the higher rates of hypertension in the black population in Americablack population in America-Hughes suggests that hypertension -Hughes suggests that hypertension might be more directly related to might be more directly related to social and economic stress & realities social and economic stress & realities of oppressionof oppression