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DrPhil 11-23-2011 05:55 PM

African American Holiday Traditions
 
What our ancestors used to eat. Today's Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are just a taste of how African Americans used to eat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Root
Before you slice into that sweet potato pie, douse those greens in hot sauce or cut a corner of macaroni and cheese this holiday season, consider what you may be missing.

African-American food historian Leni Sorensen says that the iconic images of soul food during Thanksgiving and Christmas represent a small slice of black American culinary customs. "There's a wide repertoire of food. Everybody understands the iconic list of greens and pork chops and corn bread and sweet potato pie. But that is only a minor list of all of the different foods that people eat within their own communities," says Sorensen, a researcher at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

http://www.theroot.com/views/what-ou...s-ate-holidays

Which, if any, culinary traditions are you upholding? :)

christiangirl 11-23-2011 06:36 PM

Besides the ham, none. But that strawberry wine sounded tasty as well as the painted Christmas cookies made with rose water. Maybe I'll try those for Christmas!

amIblue? 11-23-2011 06:44 PM

Sorry for lane swerving, but I thought this gawker posting is relevant:

http://gawker.com/5862384/pat-robert...-food?autoplay

I would like to state for the record that my white family eats mac & cheese for Thanksgiving. Every year my whole life. I think mac & cheese transcends race.

Then again, I have found over the years that the food traditions that I grew up with have more in common with my African American friends' familial food traditions than many of my white friends' familial food traditions.

Also, Pat Robertson is dumb.

DrPhil 11-23-2011 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2108371)
Sorry for lane swerving, but I thought this gawker posting is relevant:

http://gawker.com/5862384/pat-robert...-food?autoplay

I would like to state for the record that my white family eats mac & cheese for Thanksgiving. Every year my whole life. I think mac & cheese transcends race.

Then again, I have found over the years that the food traditions that I grew up with have more in common with my African American friends' familial food traditions than many of my white friends' familial food traditions.

Also, Pat Robertson is dumb.

No lane swerve. :)

I love me some Pat Robertson (he says some dumb things but still) but LOL @ mac n cheese being "a Black thing." Since when is that a Black thing? My favorite mac n cheese since childhood is a 3-cheese layered and baked mac n cheese done by this white owned restaurant in my home city.

Mac n cheese is a year round meal. Home baked mac n cheese with extra cheese OR Kraft Deluxe. Cream cheese, sour cream, or multiple cheeses...whatever's clever. :)

AGDLynn 11-23-2011 07:48 PM

I was going to post this!

Amazing!

From Wikipedia....

He graduated with honors and enrolled at Washington and Lee University, where he majored in history. The claim that he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa is not substantiated by the Phi Beta Kappa membership directory.[5] He also joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Robertson has said, "Although I worked hard at my studies, my real major centered around lovely young ladies who attended the nearby girls schools."[6]

I think W&L wants the diploma back. :rolleyes:

DrPhil 11-23-2011 08:53 PM

Sooo...how about those African American holiday traditions.... ;)

Honeykiss1974 11-25-2011 01:22 AM

People confuse 'black/soul" food and southern food all the time. :) Bless his heart.

Anyway, my mom prepares chitterlings every Thanksgiving. I've already told her that tradition will probably pass on when she does since there is NO WAY I'm standing in front of my kitchen sink cleaning those things. lol We still have those along with turkey and dressing (NOT stuffing), butter beans & okra, cornbread with sweet potatoe and pecan pie (with sweet tea to wash it down).

DrPhil 11-27-2011 04:34 PM

Any Black/soul food traditions this Thanksgiving? If not, were there any southern food traditions (that span across race and ethnicity)?

My nuclear family has not cooked chittlerlings in decades.
My significant other's family has chitterlings for every holiday.

My family served stuffing, rice, turkey necks, turkey gizzards, turkey liver, and some other stuff...yum. :)
SO's family served greens seasoned with pork, deliciously sweet cooked ham, whole turkey (I did not eat it), baked macaroni, potato salad, 6 desserts...and some other stuff...yum. (:)).

I'm leaving lots of stuff out but I'm listing the stuff that I ate more than one serving of. :)

Psi U MC Vito 11-27-2011 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honeykiss1974 (Post 2108593)
People confuse 'black/soul" food and southern food all the time. :) Bless his heart.

I will admit my ignorance here, but are there meals associated with Southern African Americans (no idea if that is the right way to phrase that) that is not associated with the South as a whole?

DrPhil 11-27-2011 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito (Post 2108874)
I will admit my ignorance here, but are there meals associated with Southern African Americans (no idea if that is the right way to phrase that) that is not associated with the South as a whole?

For some things, yes, and that dates back to a combination of things:

1. African culture
2. Slavery (i.e., slaves being given the leftover or less valued parts of foods)
3. The types of foods that Blacks in the south (which has the highest population of Blacks/African Americans in the country) were able to afford because Blacks/African Americans are disproportionately poor.

That high correlation between race, cultural practices, and poverty passed down certain traditions across generations of Blacks, including Blacks who were not enslaved and who were not/are not impoverished.

I have a Healthy Soul Food cookbook that I have never used. LOL. Where is that thing?

amIblue? 11-27-2011 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2108878)
For some things, yes, and that dates back to a combination of things:

1. African culture
2. Slavery (i.e., slaves being given the leftover or less valued parts of foods)
3. The types of foods that Blacks in the south (which has the highest population of Blacks/African Americans in the country) were able to afford because Blacks/African Americans are disproportionately poor.

That high correlation between race, cultural practices, and poverty passed down certain traditions across generations of Blacks, including Blacks who were not enslaved and who were not/are not impoverished.

I have a Healthy Soul Food cookbook that I have never used. LOL. Where is that thing?

Earlier in the thread I mentioned that my family's food traditions are often closer to my African American friends' families' traditions than my white friends' families. I believe the bold is the reason; my ancestors were primarily poor, subsistence farmers. For example, my grandmother always ate the neck of whatever poultry we had. Even when my grandparents were able to afford pretty much whatever they wanted (within reason), she kept eating what she ate growing up.

I do believe that the similarities in what all Southerners eat is due to Black women doing the cooking for the higher classes, first through slavery and then via employment as domestic help. (i.e., I've never met a southerner who didn't like fried chicken, which I believe has its roots in African food ways.)

Healthy soul food cookbook? Really?

als463 11-27-2011 05:58 PM

You know, between this thread and the thread started by PM Mama about the new show "All American Muslim" I would love to see a forum set up in chit chat about cultural awareness or something. Because I see myself as far from an expert, I would clearly not start it. I just think it's great to learn about various cultures.

Munchkin03 11-27-2011 06:00 PM

This was my first Thanksgiving with my parents since 2005. In the interim years, I've been with friends, other family members, and significant others.

My aunt prepared dinner, and the "traditional Southern/Black" foods were in full force. Collard greens, candied yams, ham, and some pork parts were at the table. It, among other things I observed, reminded me of the massive cultural difference between the sides of my family. When it's at my parents' house, there might be a small ham and no collard greens or candied yams--definitely no pig parts.

christiangirl 11-27-2011 06:46 PM

Our holidays always consist of the same foods: deviled eggs, collard greens, mac and cheese, ham, turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce (real cranberries this year thanks to MommyCG), baked corn, and a bajillion desserts. Corn bread and potato salad were absent this year. We save the chitlins and black eyed peas for New Year's.

Munchkin03 11-27-2011 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christiangirl (Post 2108887)
Our holidays always consist of the same foods: deviled eggs, collard greens, mac and cheese, ham, turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce (real cranberries this year thanks to MommyCG), baked corn, and a bajillion desserts. Corn bread and potato salad were absent this year. We save the chitlins and black eyed peas for New Year's.

Deviled eggs! I forgot about those! Sometimes we do sweet potato casserole w/ the marshmallows.

Growing up, my mom had to eat chitterlings because her father loved them. She hates them and probably hasn't eaten them in 40 years. My grandmother stopped cooking them after my grandfather died. I don't know anyone in my family who actually still eats them.

DrPhil 11-27-2011 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2108880)
Earlier in the thread I mentioned that my family's food traditions are often closer to my African American friends' families' traditions than my white friends' families. I believe the bold is the reason; my ancestors were primarily poor, subsistence farmers. For example, my grandmother always ate the neck of whatever poultry we had. Even when my grandparents were able to afford pretty much whatever they wanted (within reason), she kept eating what she ate growing up.

I do believe that the similarities in what all Southerners eat is due to Black women doing the cooking for the higher classes, first through slavery and then via employment as domestic help. (i.e., I've never met a southerner who didn't like fried chicken, which I believe has its roots in African food ways.)

I think you hit the nail on the head. I also read a lot about the connection between southern culinary traditions, Black culinary traditions, and Native American culinary traditions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2108880)
Healthy soul food cookbook? Really?

Google "healthy soul food cookbook." :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by als463 (Post 2108883)
...I would love to see a forum set up in chit chat about cultural awareness or something.

The hundreds of GC threads created over the years are more than sufficient for GC purposes. Most of those threads were not created for the purpose of awareness and that's a good thing. I hate anything that resembles diversity training whether in real life or the Internet.

DrPhil 11-27-2011 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03 (Post 2108890)
Deviled eggs! I forgot about those!

Daag, how did I forget the deviled eggs? I ate a couple of servings and packed the Significant Other and me two plates that included deviled eggs. My plate was intentionally better than the plate that I packed for the SO. :p

Lesson that SO remembers every holiday: Pack your own plate so you won't be stealing DrPhil's awesomely good leftovers. SO is more into chitterlings and other dishes that SO's family cooks but my family does not cook.

KDCat 11-27-2011 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2108880)
(i.e., I've never met a southerner who didn't like fried chicken, which I believe has its roots in African food ways.)

Healthy soul food cookbook? Really?

FFried chicken, like a lot of things in American culture, has its roots in both European and American culture. Fried chicken is Scottish. Scots were known for frying chicken; English people boiled or baked it. It was bland, though The Scots didn't put any spices in it. African Americans added spices and seasonings to it and made it taste a lot better.

DrPhil 11-27-2011 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDCat (Post 2108895)
FFried chicken, like a lot of things in American culture, has its roots in both European and American culture. Fried chicken is Scottish. Scots were known for frying chicken; English people boiled or baked it. It was bland, though The Scots didn't put any spices in it. African Americans added spices and seasonings to it and made it taste a lot better.


;)

In all seriousness, *taking off my subjective hat* every group of people has spices and seasonings. I would never claim one group's spices and seasonings to be superior.

*Putting my subjective hat back on* Yeah, some spices and seasonings are better tasting. Too bad traditional "soul" food is very unhealthy (especially for a subpopulation that no longer walks hundreds of miles and works the land all day and everyday) and contributed to diabetes being considered a part of Blackness.

amIblue? 11-27-2011 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDCat (Post 2108895)
FFried chicken, like a lot of things in American culture, has its roots in both European and American culture. Fried chicken is Scottish. Scots were known for frying chicken; English people boiled or baked it. It was bland, though The Scots didn't put any spices in it. African Americans added spices and seasonings to it and made it taste a lot better.

The things you learn on GC. I had no idea that fried chicken had Scottish origins, but yuck without the spices. That's what makes it so good.

christiangirl 11-27-2011 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2108902)
Too bad traditional "soul" food is very unhealthy (especially for a subpopulation that no longer walks hundreds of miles and works the land all day and everyday) and contributed to diabetes being considered a part of Blackness.

You're lucky I'm typing because, if I had to say this statement, you wouldn't be able to understand it through my mouthful of macaroni and cheese. ;) I know it's not really funny, but iChuckled at the thought of diabetes being part of Blackness. Call it a shame, but not even the threat of diabetes could make me put this bowl down. I only get this dish 2-3 times a year. Given there's enough butter in it to last a season, I think it's appropriate. :o

DrPhil 11-27-2011 09:02 PM

Mac and cheese is a vegetable during the holidays. :D

Yeah there is a problem when a large percentage of a subpopulation of people does not change their eating habits to adjust to the change in daily living patterns (i.e., the majority no longer walking and working the land). It became the norm to be overweight, have high blood pressure, and be diabetic. Actually, if you were of a healthy weight and did not have diabetes, depending on where you were, you were called uppity and wannabe white. That still happens in some places. Yep.

/end necessary PSA for Black food thread :)

Gusteau 11-27-2011 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2108908)
Mac and cheese is a vegetable during the holidays. :D

Only during the holidays? That certainly changes Gusteau's Food Pyramid...

amIblue? 11-28-2011 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2108902)
;)

In all seriousness, *taking off my subjective hat* every group of people has spices and seasonings. I would never claim one group's spices and seasonings to be superior.

*Putting my subjective hat back on* Yeah, some spices and seasonings are better tasting. Too bad traditional "soul" food is very unhealthy (especially for a subpopulation that no longer walks hundreds of miles and works the land all day and everyday) and contributed to diabetes being considered a part of Blackness.

At the bold - I would. :D

But I mostly mean it in the spirit of your "subjective hat" statement, not in any kind of "culture A uses spice 1 and culture B uses spice 2, therefore spice 1 is better." That would be dumb and really poor logic.

Honeykiss1974 11-28-2011 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christiangirl (Post 2108887)
Our holidays always consist of the same foods: deviled eggs, collard greens, mac and cheese, ham, turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberry sauce (real cranberries this year thanks to MommyCG), baked corn, and a bajillion desserts. Corn bread and potato salad were absent this year. We save the chitlins and black eyed peas for New Year's.

New Years is typically black eye peas, cornbread, and neck bones. Now I will probably continue the neck bone tradition because those are really good and not as much work as chitterlings. lol

Speaking of healthy soul food, Patty LaBelle has a cookbook too and I've heard great reviews about it.

TonyB06 11-28-2011 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honeykiss1974 (Post 2108593)
People confuse 'black/soul" food and southern food all the time. :) Bless his heart.

Anyway, my mom prepares chitterlings every Thanksgiving. I've already told her that tradition will probably pass on when she does since there is NO WAY I'm standing in front of my kitchen sink cleaning those things. lol We still have those along with turkey and dressing (NOT stuffing), butter beans & okra, cornbread with sweet potatoe and pecan pie (with sweet tea to wash it down).

HK,
Please kiss you chitterling-making mama for me, because, like my Aunty Ricky who always makes them for me and my cousin (her son) during the holidays, those who make this delicacy are really special people. :D

My family has many of the other traditional items, including fried chicken and ham for those that don't do turkey, but "chess pie" an old southern delicacy is usually the hit of the dessert tray, along with sweet potato, apple pie and assorted cakes.

christiangirl 11-28-2011 08:55 PM

I can't remember why, but I always thought chess pie was English. :confused:

DrPhil 11-28-2011 09:00 PM

I never heard of it so I had to wikipedia.

It was brought from England: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_pie

ElieM 11-28-2011 09:02 PM

^^^what she said

DrPhil 11-28-2011 09:04 PM

I read wikipedia and still don't know what the heck chess pie is supposed to be. What does it taste like. Wikipedia references vinegar pie and says they are similar.

Speaking of vinegar, my family puts vinegar on our cabbage and cornbread dish. Is vinegar pie that tasty? If so, sign me up. :)

Munchkin03 11-28-2011 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2109085)
I read wikipedia and still don't know what the heck chess pie is supposed to be. What does it takes like. Wikipedia references vinegar pie and says they are similar.

Speaking of vinegar, my family puts vinegar on our cabbage and cornbread dish. Is vinegar pie that tasty? If so, sign me up. :)

It's like pecan pie without the pecans.

DrPhil 11-28-2011 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03 (Post 2109086)
It's like pecan pie without the pecans.

Oh yum, thanks! Wikipedia mentions pecan pie and the similar preparation. I take the pecans off of my pecan pie, anyway.

amIblue? 11-28-2011 09:14 PM

Chess pie is the bomb-diggity. My mom makes a chocolate chess sometimes which is just a slice of heaven.

Munchkin03 11-28-2011 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2109088)
Chess pie is the bomb-diggity. My mom makes a chocolate chess sometimes which is just a slice of heaven.

Okay, that sounds good.

One of my family's Christmas traditions is a brunch. We're Black so I guess that makes it an African-American tradition. :) I think we'd serve shellfish, but my grandmother is seriously allergic to it (ie, can't even be in the same room as someone who's had it and hasn't washed their face/hands).

DSTRen13 11-28-2011 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amIblue? (Post 2109088)
Chess pie is the bomb-diggity. My mom makes a chocolate chess sometimes which is just a slice of heaven.

I *love* chocolate chess pie! No one outside my family ever seems to know what I'm talking about, but it's so good :D

DrPhil 11-28-2011 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03 (Post 2109089)
One of my family's Christmas traditions is a brunch. We're Black so I guess that makes it an African-American tradition. :)

"Flag on the play! Misuse of Black Card! 40 Acres Penalty!"

~ Black Folks Referee :)

This thread has made me hungry.

MysticCat 11-29-2011 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03 (Post 2109086)
Quote:

Originally Posted by DrPhil (Post 2109085)
I read wikipedia and still don't know what the heck chess pie is supposed to be. What does it takes like.

It's like pecan pie without the pecans.

Exactly how I was going to describe it. The kind of chess pie my mother usually made was one she called syrup pie. I loved it when I was a kid.

christiangirl 11-29-2011 01:28 AM

The vanilla version on Wiki sounds like a mix between a creme brulee and a really eggy custard.

ETA: Oh crap, I just got hungry, too. #sweetpotatopie&icecream

TonyB06 11-29-2011 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christiangirl (Post 2109130)
The vanilla version on Wiki sounds like a mix between a creme brulee and a really eggy custard.

ETA: Oh crap, I just got hungry, too. #sweetpotatopie&icecream

This is closest to the version my family makes, although not too "eggy," and no pecans. This year on my way back to my city, I actually bought one from a dessert vendor to bring home.

I had a slice last night. gooooooooooood eats.

AOIIalum 11-29-2011 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTRen13 (Post 2109091)
I *love* chocolate chess pie! No one outside my family ever seems to know what I'm talking about, but it's so good :D

I haven't had a good Chess Pie in about 11 years. Anyone have a good (meaning=idiot proof) recipe? I'd love one for Chocolate Chess but at this point I'm not picky.


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