Thanksgiving is a time when families gather round the dinner table and reflect on the multitude of blessings experienced over the previous year. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the contributions Black Americans have made to the famous holiday.  

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists from England and the Native American Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast that is known as one of the very first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. It’s thought of as a peaceful cease-fire between the colonists and the Native Americans, but tends to overshadow the unfair treatment and hostility experienced by the original inhabitants of the land. The Native Americans were eventually led West on a harsh voyage officially recognized as the Trail of Tears, which severely decimated the community with disease, separation of family units, and lack of resources. 

Black Americans have also had a tumultuous history with the holiday. Before the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Thanksgiving was a time when enslaved Black Americans would frequently try to escape, because it was the end of the crop season. When President Abraham Lincoln officially established Thanksgiving as a national holiday later that year, newly liberated families were able to gather and celebrate easier. Celebrations began in the church, which already had a strong influence in unifying the community and often included powerful sermons by preachers calling for a changed society. 

Fast forward 160 years and now, Black Americans have put their own unique spin on the holiday. The spread of food at the dinner table is one of our most noticeable and easily recognized traditions. No matter what state your family is from, you can typically count on ham, turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, collard or turnip greens, cornbread, mac and cheese, yams or sweet potato souffle, and a pecan pie as part of the menu. Soul food has a very special connection to Black history, our struggles, and is an integral part of our culture. 

Mac and cheese was created by James Hemings, a slave to Thomas Jefferson, when he trained as a culinary chef in France. Hemings was a highly trained cook known to many modern-day chefs and culinary historians alike. He was a notable chef who helped create and define American cuisine as we know it today. 

Collard greens were just one of a few select vegetables that Black Americans were allowed to grow and harvest for themselves and their families throughout times of slavery. Over the years, the dish has developed into a staple in many households. They are thought of to bring wealth to those who eat them. 

Cornbread was a dish created out of necessity to survive. Cornmeal was often combined with water to cook hoecakes, cornbread, or ashcakes over a fire. Corn became a fundamental dietary supplement to our enslaved ancestors. 

Usually, families gather at a grandparents house and split the cooking amongst each other. Typically the elders are in charge of making the keynote dishes until they decide to pass the coveted recipe down to another trusted person in the family who won’t mess up Grandma’s amazing mac and cheese dish. 

It’s a time to gather with grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and catch up after time apart. There’s usually a small card table set aside to play the classic game of spades while others watch sports or a movie on TV. The women almost always split off to handle the kitchen tasks such as warming the food, cleaning up, and packaging the to-go plates. 

Historically, Black Americans weren’t able to openly participate in the societal festivities of the day, so over time, we’ve created our own traditions to celebrate instead. It’s always a super busy day of the year, but being surrounded by family is definitely nothing to take for granted. 

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Signed, 

Jessica Marie