culture Book ver final 5 - Flipbook - Page 103
The basis of cultural context in history is predicated on necessity. In other words, it’s the mother of all
invention. Most of our actions are connected to need, purpose, or reason.
During the late 1960’s, for example, the Black Panther movement introduced a free breakfast program
for children. According to journalist, Erin Blakemore, “[the program] fed tens of thousands of hungry
kids. It was just one facet of a wealth of social programs created by the party – and it helped contribute
to the existence of federal free breakfast programs today.”
Food is indeed a powerful indicator of how history has shaped today’s culinary experience. According to
studies and archeological evidence from plantation records, cookbooks, and oral stories passed from the
men and women who were enslaved, their culinary concoctions were largely credited to their white
plantation owners.
Kim Severson from the New York Times’ article, “The Profound Significance of ‘High on the Hog,’” (a
Netflix Show) describes how African American cuisine has shaped mainstream meals and recipes. Think:
mac and cheese, barbecue sauce, and mashed potatoes.
But there’s another, more “dark” side to history that many
White people – and Black people don’t want to discuss or
acknowledge, notes Bruce. “They want only positive
stories. But if we don’t acknowledge it all, we will never
learn from our mistakes.”
The museum seeks to teach visitors that preserving history
and then fostering creativity to address the problems of
today is essential.
“Our mission says it all,” says Young. “We want to offer an
enriching experience – for people to explore, celebrate and
share the rich art and history of African Americans; to be a center of social and civic engagement, and a
source of experiences that enhances cultural understanding and inspires positive change.”
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