Black People : Slave Food Menu

Destee

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Hello Everyone,

What were the "slave foods" that our folk were allowed to eat, that remain a part of our diet today?

I know that chitterlings were and I'm imagining pig's feet would fit on this list too. I was surprised, shocked even, to learn that turnip and collard greens were "slave foods." I have heard in some countries today, they only feed greens to their animals because they are so bitter and tough (guess it takes a good cook to make those greens taste so good).

As I think back, I remember those big, white buckets of lard. While I've not seen any in many years, I'd imagine they are still being bought and sold. Surely that's got to be a "slave food." What exactly was lard anyway?! A less refined cooking oil? I know that's how it was used ... but uuhhhh ... what was that stuff?

I did mention pig feet above, and it seems we had access to all the undesirable parts of this animal. Even today, pork rinds (that's the skin of the pig, right?) are very popular snacks. I understand there is even a microwave version available today.

Other than the above, I can't think of any other foods that were primarily given to slaves (and we still eat today).

Do you know any?

Also, what is the story on watermelon? Surely we weren't the only ones eating this sweet, juicy summer fruit. Why is it often used to refer to black folk in a negative way?

There has been much debate regarding our general health and how it is linked to these foods and our choice to continue eating them. Your comments regarding this are welcome too.

:heart:

Destee
 
oh wait, what about cornbread...

i remember some years ago a co-worker asked me why black people tend to eat alot of cornbread. my fellow black workers and i would talk about what we brought of had for lunch or dinner. red beans and rice also came up often.

i didn't know the exact answer by i told her to all cultures probably had a easy, inexpensive bread they could eat, like hispanics and torillas.

we all know that our grandparents could whip up some hot water cornbreak in minute, fried up in lard, of course.

we do pass along many of the same foods and cooking techniques we used to survive in slavery days.

as with red beans and rice. two foods with low cost and can feed an army.

don't know about the association of watermelon. though i know a few black folx who won't eat it because of the negative images associated with our images. i do know that watermelon contains at least 95% of water and maybe some vitamin C. i can see how this food was very beneficial to us while working long hot days in the sun. could it be because it helped to keep us from dehydrating?
 
Hey Thandiwe and 'Zorbsh'n ... :wave:

Thandiwe ... sweet potatoes ???!! ... really ??? ... wow ... now I know my grandfather used to have a baked sweet potatoe (or 2) with every meal ... yep ... shole did ... but why would they give this only to us ?? ... hmmmm ... probably because they were plentiful and cheap ... we all know how far a few potatoes can stretch a meal ...

Speaking of potatoes, you know what else? Now I don't know how true this is ... but I've heard that slaves (and/or black folk living during jim crow) were not even allowed to say the word white. This is why our folk called white bread, light bread ... and white milk, sweet milk ... and white potatoes, ash potatoes. There may be other examples I'm not aware of and of course if you have any elderly folk in your family to ask ... you can let us know if this was true in their part of the country.

LOL @ water cornbread ... :lol: ... we are surely some determined folk! Yep. I wouldn't have thought of cornbread but "water cornbread" certainly sounds like it belongs on the "slave food" menu.

Thandiwe ... thanks for the explanation regarding the watermelon. It makes perfect sense! Based on your explanation, watermelons probably saved the lives of many slaves. Wow. Okay. That really makes sense. Perhaps others will add on as well.

'Zorbsh'n ... I'll be looking forward to your input.

Oh yeah ... one more thing just came to my mind! That hog head cheese stuff ... eeewwww ... but that's the pig and I guess I sorta already counted this.

:heart:

Destee
 

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