Atlanta, like much of the South, has a rich culinary history that is largely intertwined with African American culture.
But many may not be aware of the deeper history related to the impact Atlanta’s black food scene had on the city’s social landscape. That’s the focus of an upcoming free event at the DeKalb History Center hosted by Atlanta culinary historian Akila Sankar McConnell on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
For nearly 100 years, “the single biggest industry in Atlanta was the food industry, and African Americans played a huge role in defining what was sold, eaten, and cooked in this city,” the history center said in a statement.
McConnell will explore how black entrepreneurs in the culinary industry “propelled the rise of the Atlanta's black middle class and contributed to the success of the civil rights movement.”
The event will discuss early pioneers like James Tate, Myra Miller and Robert Webster, and cover more recent success stories like the Paschal brothers and Lucy Jackson of Busy Bee Cafe.
“We'll also talk about important Southern foods like fried chicken and hoecakes and how they relate to stereotyping and bias in Atlanta's history,” the history center said.
The event will run from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25 on the second floor of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur Square. While it is free, attendees are asked to bring their own lunches.
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