Designed by Soul Food As an African American, I believe their culture Is represented not by one food, but is truly represented by a variety of foods. These foods are commonly known as soul food. According to Webster Dictionary, soul food is a variety of cuisine, traditionally popular in the African American culture. In the Coleman family, soul food is served randomly, through out the week, but it is known to be a Sunday ritual. It is an enormous meal that brings the family together and I believe it is key to keeping the Emily together.
Soul food has a long and rich history. Although the term soul food did not become popular until 1960, It can be traced as far back as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. During this time slave owners would feed their slaves as cheaply as possible, giving them the leftovers and waste from the plantation. Due too lack of resources, African Americans had to Innovate new ways of cooking, creating meals from whatever foods they could access. Today, many of those foods are served as delicacies, Including Fried Chicken, Ribs, and ox Tails.
Traditionally soul food is very unhealthy and has caused many health concerns over the African American diet. Normally, the foods cooked, are high in starch, fat, sodium, cholesterol, and calories. Across the southeastern region of the united States, the rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, clogged arteries, stroke, and heart attacks suffered by African-Americans continues to grow. It is understandable that eventually health concerns would arise. Until the sass’s, It was common for black cooks to reuse lard when cooking because of the lack of money.
The lard was a solid form of grease that came from reusing old shortening. As society progressed, many have become health conscious and are moving towards the use of liquefied oils Like vegetable, canola, and even olive OLL for frying and cooking. Looking at cultures retrospectively, one thing that is synonymous in all cultures is a popular dish that began during a time of hardship. These same dishes are now a part of traditions that will be the topics of conversations for infinity. These are the foods derived directly from whatever made resources made available in past enervation.
For example, in many Latin American cultures derived, Rice and Beans was a cheap and economically efficient food to make. It was prepared in a way that made the dish tasteful and satiating. Today, like African Americans, most Latin Americans could afford other foods, but most are stuck on past traditions. The same is the case with, Asian Americans, Cuban Americans, Italian American, and Irish Americans. The food eaten by different cultures tells you a lot about their culture and the history of their people.
Each time I eat soul food, It’s a reminder of all the struggles my ancestors went through to give me the freedom I have today. Soul food is more learns and takes something different away when they are eating soul food. Some think about the fellowship and being close with family during tough times; others think about music and past traditions. I tend to think of the struggle of my ancestors and the dire health concern from cooking with trans fats. My personal goal is to continue to pass on the tradition of eating soul food with my family.