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| Figure 1: Sample of Soul Food delights, including cornbread, collard greens, fried chicken, and yams/sweet potatoes |
There are various ways one can show their cultural identity, and one of those ways is through food. What, when, and how we eat is very much culturally dictated and driven, and we can understand someone’s gender, social status, and ethnic identity through the foods one consumes. While it is evident that food is a part of culture one typically does not consider the history and reasons for why those specific foods define a cultural group. Today’s blog post is going to address that very topic as we delve more deeply into the history of Soul Food, addressing what it is and how it came represent African American culture.
The term Soul Food epitomizes the culinary traditions of African Americans (Figure 1). It originated during the Slavery Period in the American South and continues strongly to this day. Specific preparation methods, means of spicing and flavoring the foods, as well as dietary staples are all characteristic of this cuisine. The name Soul Food was coined in the 1960s during the Black Civil Rights Movement to characterize the shared culinary traditions that African Americans shared and kept while other cultural aspects, such as their languages and religions, were either completely lost or transformed as a result of enslavement. The choice of “Soul” in the name was meant to inspire pride and memorialize the resilience of African Americans who continued using African foods and cooking styles to maintain their cultural traditions even after they were stolen from their homelands.
Soul Food describes a host of foods and recipes often associated with Southern cuisine, but this is an inaccurate link. Southern cuisine was actually influenced by enslaved African cooks who brought with them their culinary skills and knowledge and used them to feed the enslavers. These traditions were then learned by Whites who picked up these techniques from their Black caretakers and incorporated and appropriated into Southern cuisine or cooking. Even the tradition of community eating stems from Western African traditions, specifically the tradition of teranga. While there are parallels between the two culinary styles and traditions there are also distinctive differences, which many note is in the stronger flavors found in Soul Food.
Soul Food itself originated from African dietary staples,
but it is also derived from European and Native American foods and traditions. This was because the foods used by enslaved
Africans were provided by their enslavers, but they also managed to bring with
them specific crops and did control their own food production. This is how and why various Soul Food
staples, such as okra and rice, make up a large proportion of Soul Food recipes. Other ingredients, such as corn bread, come
from Native American influences. A lot
of the foods, however, come from enslaved Africans ingenuity and creativity in
dealing with what was provided to them. Culinary
delights such as chitterlings and other meat dishes came about from enslavers
provided enslaved Africans the undesirable cuts of meat, which included pigs’
feet, innards, and tail. The cooking techniques
they used for preparing their meals were solely their own. For example, boiling collard greens comes
from the boiling of vegetables throughout the continent of Africa, and the preservation
techniques for meat that their enslavers depended on were also African in origin. This is but a small sample of the foods associated with Soul Food as there are various other recipes and dietary staples associated with this culinary style and tradition.
Today, Soul Food continues on and remains an important part of African American identity, despite attempts to appropriate it and make it mainstream. It is important to understand the history of Soul Food and what it represents both in the past and today. African American culinary historians and chefs are willing to share their traditions, but they ask that their histories and identities be respected and acknowledged.
Works Cited
Hayford, Vanessa. "The Humble History of Soul Food." 22 January 2018. Black Foodie. Electronic. 15 December 2021.
No Author. "“Soul Food” in America, a story." n.d. American American Registry. Electronic. 15 December 2021.
Terry, Ruth. "How Black Culinary Historians Are Rewriting the History of American Food." Yes! Magazine 26 February 2020. Electronic.
8 comments:
During the start of the slave trade there were roughly half of a million Africans that were brought to the United States. Even though they were deprived of their clothing they were able to maintain their cultural roots and any skills and techniques they possessed. Enslaved African Americans worked amongst the agricultural fields for years having no other choice but to cook and clean for their owners. With their knowledge of vegetables and fruits they incorporated these foods together making some delicious dishes. Preparing meals for their owners they were able to authenticate their cooking abilities. Later down the line they used some of these same styles inside their own homes as slavery was coming toward an end. With the expertise they were able to make various kinds of foods using stuff that they had grown on their own. Soul Food has become a tradition among many African American Families. This day is typically celebrated on a Sunday where families get together and eat a home cooked meal. This tradition has become a popular attribute towards African American culture which has been passed down through generations. This popularized custom has influenced many other cultures and their cooking’s styles which they have used in their own traditional foods. Some favorite dishes that pertain to soul food are sweet potatoes, black eye peas, greens beans and cabbage. Soul food will forever be apart of African American culture and continue to influence other people's culture as well.
This is a great example of adversity and adapting. Slaves got the worst cuts of meat so they seasoned them til they started tasting better. Slaves worked together and ate together keeping their traditions alive in their harsh environments. Soul Food is a southern thing when you hear that you know you're going to eat good. It’s a proud staple in black culture. On Wednesday at our HBCU we have soul food. Wednesday the fried chicken and collard greens are really good. The line goes back to the other side. I tried soul food on my fathers side of the family. It was way different from my Mexican side of the family. I enjoyed it and it helped me understand black culture. Soul food mac and cheese is undefeated.
Enslavers were fed food cooked by the slaves due to the knowledge they had. The slaves never lost their culture because they did everything together. Described as soul food, the tradition later learned by enslavers was incorporated into the southern cuisine. It has remained important in the history of African Americans. The food is so delicious, i.e., fried chicken, collard greens, and mashed potatoes, especially when cooked by an old-school African American.
When hearing the term "soul food" an image of certain foods come to mind. Although everyone knows what soul food is, everyone does not know the history behind the term. Slaves used seasoning to make the food they were given taste better, and the amazing outcome led to many attempts to appropriate this practice. The slaves made the best out of their situation and what they were given. Keeping this practice is still very important to African Americans and is practiced all over the world.
McKenzie Williams
Tyler Roe said...
I love me some soul food. My aunt used to tell me this style of cooking was called this because it was good for the soul. I was not aware though of the other cultural influences within "Soul Food". The Native American influence of cornbread never crossed my mind. I never really associated "Soul Food" with the south, I just thought of it as an African American style of cooking. This post brought back some memories of my grandmother. Thank you
While there is considerable overlap between the two, Soul food is generally based on the lesser cuts of meat and on offal. It includes ingredients brought from Africa by slaves, including such things as okra and sorghum. It is further complicated/distinguished by an admixture of the foods of Native Americans, particularly game, small game, and corn/maize. Me personally Im not a huge fan of soul food and particularly prefer more simpler dishes.
Being an African American woman, I love soul food. I grew up eating and being taught how to make soul food. This is something special that has been being done for generations and generations. Slaves made all different types of soul food dishes and used different types of seasonings to give the food flavor and taste.
- Jada Watkins
I was moved by the history and cultural significance of soul food. It is wonderful that the pride and ingenuity of African Americans, who preserved their culture in the face of slavery, is embodied in this cuisine. The pride and resilience expressed by the word “soul” resonated with me, and I felt the importance of appreciating the background of this cuisine.
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