Historiographical Essay
Linked to Africa: An Examination of the Current Historical Discourse on Enslaved Foodways in the United States
Author:
Edith Ritt-Coulter
University of North Texas, US
Abstract
In the late twentieth century, historical analysis adopted a cultural lens in understanding the African American experience. In more recent years, food has become a new method in examining African American culture. These new scholars examined how African American food habits are rooted in slavery and are linked to West African agricultural traditions. Two distinct schools of thought have emerged in understanding enslaved foodways in the United States. The first group of scholars adopted a scientific lens by exploring the nutritional impact of enslaved foodways on the Black body. The second wave of historians dissected the cultural meaning behind enslaved foodways. They collectively argued that food was used as a form of resistance in the formation of Black identity. This historiography examines the two approaches in studying enslaved foodways.
How to Cite:
Ritt-Coulter, Edith. 2022. “Linked to Africa: An Examination of the Current Historical Discourse on Enslaved Foodways in the United States”. Essays in History 55 (1): 1–12. DOI: http://doi.org/10.25894/eih.180
Published on
01 Aug 2022.
Peer Reviewed
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