A Celebration of Black History – Black American Foodways 

Black History Month serves as both a reminder and celebration of Black peoples’ achievements in U.S. society and a way to share facets of Black American history not traditionally taught in the public education system. Parts of Black American culture can be understood through foodways, which are the socio-cultural, political, and economic behaviors, institutions, and beliefs surrounding the production, distribution, and consumption of food.¹ 

Black Americans have a rich culinary history that originates from their West and Central African heritage. Despite attempts to stifle enslaved Africans’ ties to their heritage by their captors, these individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience to that suppression by adapting their culture and traditions over time. ² The term “soul food” refers to food that emerged from enslaved Africans’ adoption of Amerindian and European foods coupled with West African culinary practices. Coming primarily from the U.S. South, the two major variations of soul food emerged from the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina, who relied upon rice and seafood, and the people of New Orleans, Louisiana, who developed spicy Creole foods. ³ 

Today, there are several ways to learn more about Black American culinary practices through historical books, cookbooks, and documentaries. The resources below examine how Black American cuisine and soul food traditions have traveled through time from sociological and anthropological perspectives. 

Historical Books: 

• African American Foodways: Explorations of History and Culture edited by Anne L. Bower 

• The Cooking Gene: A Journey through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty 

Cookbooks: 

• Fix Me a Plate: Traditional and New School Soul Food Recipes from Scotty Scott of Cook Drank Eat by Scotty Scott 

• The Twisted Soul Cookbook: Modern Soul Food with Global Flavors by Deborah VanTrece 

Documentaries:  

• High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America  

• Soul Food Junkies: A film about family, food, & tradition  

References 

1. Vivanco, L. foodways. In A Dictionary of Cultural Anthropology. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 5 Feb. 2025, from https://www-oxfordreference-com.libproxy.lib.unc.edu/view/10.1093/acref/9780191836688.001.0001/acref-9780191836688-e-142. 

2. Hellie, R. (2025, February 4). slavery. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/slavery-sociology 

3. Lumpkins, C.  (2009, December 01). Soul Food. Oxford African American Studies Center. Retrieved 5 Feb. 2025, from https://oxfordaasc.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195301731.001.0001/acref-9780195301731-e-46221. 

4. (image) iStock by Getty Images. Black History Month Celebrate with African People Professions Background stock illustration. Retreived 5 Feb 2025, from https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/black-history-month-celebrate-with-african-people-professions-background-gm1449761358-486866953 

Written by Aaliyah Goodman

Aaliyah Goodman is a research assistant in the Living F.R.E.E. Lab.