Soul food is a Southern staple with a heavy history. During the transatlantic slave trade, enslaved Africans created meals from what little rations they were given. What started as a means for survival has flourished into the delicious meals we now know as soul food. The Dekalb History Center is hosting its 14th Annual Black History Month Celebration with an event called Soul Food in Dekalb: A Tasty History, to be held both in-person and virtually on Feb 10. “City Lights” producer Summer Evans spoke via Zoom with two of the event’s presenters, Chef Asata Reid and culinary historian Akila McConnell, about what soul food means to them.
What do we mean when we say “soul food“?
“I think most people who have a food culture have their own soul foods; they may call it ‘comfort food’ or ‘traditional cooking.’ Our soul food is derived from our African legacy, so it reflects some of the things that have been a part of our culture for centuries, like black-eyed peas, greens, grilled meats and things of that nature,” said Reid.
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