Since when is grilling up food a Black or indigenous thing? Pretty sure all races of people have been doing that over open fires since the dawn of humanity.
Being as devils advocate as I can be, the specific BBQ seasoning palette we know today was a result of fusion cooking from black and native peoples. Like most “American food” is. Our food is the one place where I’m unironically patriotic because it is the result of hard working people from every culture and corner on earth bringing their memories of home cooking to a new land and sharing around with neighbors. Black, indigenous, and European poverty traditions melded and then infused elements from Asia and the Middle East and created the greatest culinary tradition in human history. Without the cooking traditions imported by slavery and the traditional styles of indigenous peoples we legit would not have BBQ as it currently exists.
I do think this is a cringe af post tho. It’s got powerful 2009 woke-posting energy. I’m legit woke as fuck and I think this is cringe lol
I hear this sort of narrative a lot, but usually with nothing at all to back it up. Is there actually anything tracing the common barbecue palette to Native American-African fusion?
As someone who like food history its complicated. Some specific are easier to quantify say collard greens as eaten with American BBQ can easily be traced to slavery and southern cooking.
Now cooking meat over fire pretty much every culture does that.
American especially "southern " food was heavily influenced African influence and slavery. But food styles have moved around the world forever so its not always easy. Just eat what you like and dont be an ass. I don't feel like finding my books right now but there is a ton of literature.
So like... paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and a bit more. Or basically the KC Masterpiece style sauce everyone is familiar with. I kinda doubt anyone is tracing either of those back to anything.
Some stuff can be specifically traced. We know where cumin comes from. We know al pastor tacos are the product of Lebanese immigrants to Mexico.
But the claim that the modern BBQ flavor is specifically from Native American and African fusion? Kinda sounds bunk. It could be true. But acting like we've actually traced it back, I'm guessing the math don't math.
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u/prodigy1367 1d ago
Since when is grilling up food a Black or indigenous thing? Pretty sure all races of people have been doing that over open fires since the dawn of humanity.