Growing Resilence

2023

Many crops from Africa are staples in African American gardens today.

Gardens have long been a source of physical and spiritual nourishment for African Americans. This installment of “Let’s Talk African American Gardens,” Debra Freeman explores the history and relevance of traditional African American crops including fish peppers, watermelons, sweet potatoes, collards, peanuts, and other legacy vegetables. Freeman is an award-winning writer and podcaster who writes on topics like the legacies of Black farmers, the significance of yellow cake in the Black community, Black veganism, and the importance of spoon bread in Southern culinary history.