St. John’s Celebrates Black History Through Food

St. John’s Home Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Lamonda Robinson treated residents to an afternoon of soul food and a history lesson on the importance of the cuisine in African American and Black culture.

“Red, green, yellow, and black represent our freedom and pride as African Americans,” Robinson answered when a resident asked the meaning behind the colors commonly associated with Black History Month.

Robinson and other employees on Hastings 3 served up plates of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. She discussed the importance of these dishes and their origins. Much of soul food, sometimes referred to as “southern food,” originated in Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama when enslaved people had to make do with meager rations of rice, bitter greens, legumes, and cornmeal.

Over the years, as recipes were passed down and adapted, soul food became a source of pride. The term “soul food” came about during the Black Power movement in the 1960s, when the word “soul” was commonly used to uplift African Americans through culture — soul music, art, food, etcetera. Soul food is now widely seen as the unofficial cuisine of the United States due to its comforting flavors and complex history.

Residents filled the Hastings dining room to take part in this culturally enriching activity — and of course — enjoy the delicious food.