February marks the 44th annual Black History Month, a commemoration of important events and achievements by Black Americans in American history. Evolving from a weeklong tribute started by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, this acknowledgment of the vast contributions of the African Diaspora was officially recognized by the U.S government in 1976. Of course, the influence of African Americans on our country’s cuisine cannot be underestimated and is worthy of much more than a month-long celebration.
Most recently, Mariya Russell became the first Black woman to receive a Michelin star, and chefs Mashama Bailey (The Grey), Rodney Scott (Rodney Scott’s BBQ), Dolester Miles (Highlands Bar & Grill), and Edouardo Jordan (Salare and June Baby) all won James Beard Awards. Their critical and commercial successes are rooted in the legacies of chefs, historians, innovators, and provocateurs across the centuries.
So in February, and throughout the year, we celebrate the contributions of dearly departed icons Edna Lewis, Patrick Clark, Vertamae Grovesnor, and Leah Chase as well as living legends such as Joe Randall, B. Smith, and James Beard Award winners Alexander Smalls and Marcus Samuelsson. These chefs helped feed presidents, hosted activists, and used the power of food to change America.
Dr. Jessica B. Harris and Toni Tipton Martin illuminate the history of African-American foodways and inspire the next generation of writers, historians, and stewards including Nicole Taylor, James Beard Award winners Michael Twitty, Adrian Miller, Osayi Endolyn, Leadership Award winner Bryant Terry, Therese Nelson, Dr. Howard Conyers, Devita Davison, and so many more.
In addition to making delicious food, chefs Carla Hall, Tiffany Derry, and Herb Wilson are recognized around the world for their work on Bravo’s Top Chef, The Chew, and other television shows.
James Beard Award winners Nina Compton and JJ Johnson, as well as Jonny Rhodes, Jessica Craig, B.J. Dennis, are some of the food scene’s most talked-about chefs and are using their platforms to expand narratives around Black chefs and Diasporic cookery. Artist-activists Omar Tate and Tunde Wey use food to tell ancestral stories and highlight the socioeconomic disparities entrenched our current food system.
Together, their work is a constant reminder that we must acknowledge the contributions of the millions of enslaved Africans and their descendants who farmed, fed, cultivated, and built this nation. Countless Black women were sought-after cooks for slave-holding wealthy families. Black men cooked on wagon trains travelling out west. Enslaved gentlemen Hercules Posey and James Hemings (the first French-trained American chef) were executive chefs of presidential kitchens. The formula for Jack Daniels was created by Nathan “Nearest” Green.
Chefs today are telling these, and their own, stories on the plate, while reclaiming ingredients such as okra, rice, millet, and sorghum that were brought to America by kidnapped Africans.
There are a number of ways you can engage in this month’s celebration and learn more about the role of the African-American community in shaping foodways and culinary arts:
- Several museums offer exhibits on this topic, including The Museum of the African Diaspora (San Francisco), the Cultural Expressions exhibit in the National Museum of African American History (Washington, D.C.) and a new exhibit that will open in 2020 at New York’s Museum of Food and Drink curated by Dr. Jessica B. Harris
- Follow @Blackfoodfolks (cofounded by photographer Clay Williams and me) to connect and convene with Black food professionals making history today
- Have dinner at the Beard House. This February, the James Beard Foundation will commemorate Black History month with African Diaspora Feast on February 19 and Modern Griots: Chefs and Their Stories on February 27
Please join us in acknowledging this history and celebrating the contributions of Black Americans across our food system.
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Colleen Vincent is the director of culinary community initiatives at the James Beard Foundation and co-founder of Black Food Folks. Find her on Instagram @Blackfoodfolks and @ms_collycol.
