“The black eye pea was introduced into the West Indies from Central Africa in the early 1700s and journeyed from there into the Carolinas. The pea with the small black dot is considered especially lucky by many cultures in Western Africa. While the pea was certainly not lucky for those who were caught and sold into slavery, the memory of the luck it was supposed to bring in West Africa lingered on among the enslaved in the southern United States and the Hoppin’ John that is still consumed on New Year’s Day by black and white Southerners alike is reputed to bring good fortune to all who eat it.” By Jessica B. Harris, High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America, pg. 18
Cooking is among the surest ways to access ancestral memory. The food we eat tells a story of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Recipes are passed down from generation to generation...continue reading at Kwanzaa Culinarians
