During slavery, the whites would gain access to crops grown from African soil. They then would begin to culturally appropriate and innovate them. Food plays a vital role in Africans' identities and culture. Ingredients included in their dishes tell many stories to this day. During this period, slaves' identities were being neglected, taken, abused, and ignored. Before emancipation, the cruel traumatic acts done to and by our ancestors are why so much history is lost and forgotten.
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Hi, Jonia. I really enjoyed reading your blog post.I really like your reference to the movie Princess and the Frog as it displays the elements of black culture and its food. Africa has influenced not only American foods but other countries as well. Africa is the root of many things that we encounter in todays society.
Wasn't that a good take? I was elated to learn about the crops that were so deeply embedded in a culture I once viewed as simply being America. Would you say Americans even have a culture? We've seen just a piece of what was stolen from African and how it has enhanced America and its crops. Crops came from the people who were taken and just wanted a piece of their own home, and they somehow managed to take these crops and grow their own wants.
Hello Jonia,
First, I love your Princess and the Frog Gif that is my all-time favorite movie! Also, it was very interesting to learn a lot of the crops vital to us today originated in Africa or came to America due to the Transatlantic slave trade. Many people today, like myself before reading Holloway's article, don't know this and that is very unfortunate.
Hi
Yes food is essential and much needed always. The crops, dishes and ingredients Africans brought with them we find today in our foods. Their contributions have lingered on for generations and I appreciate it.
Slave master most definitely stole the crops and began to innovate them. Almost everything they have today is a a result of them stealing and re-inventing it.
I like how you speak about the Africans food being connected to their identities and culture. This is true, even today we say a dish was made with love from the soul and the flavor has a spirit!