I feel like a lot of people are continuing myths about the origins of Southern Cuisine. Southern Food is a veritable mishmash of influence, certain spices and methods vary from European, Native American, African, or Mexican. I’ve seen people perpetuating lies that Fried Chicken was brought to Asia by black soldiers when they already had variations of it in 15th Century cook books. It’s basically just nigger worship being packaged and it’s frustrating because it’s just assumed rather than confirmed by any source. Nations influence each other’s cooking styles all the time, Tempura isn’t a Japanese invention and has roots in Portuguese abstaining of meat during Holy Days. The way it’s done is what irks me more than anything else.
A lot of the “worst cut” or “slaves were given the worst” is a lie, most of the dishes originate with people making due with what they had. Barbecue and slow cooking tough cuts is universal among poorer farming communities, the methods and spices can point out who has influence over a dish. Allspice, sumac, a lot of peppers, and wood onions typically pointed a Native inspiration. Middle Eastern Spices, Rosemary, and Parsley was usually a sign of Anglo, Scott, or Irish. African ones are usually Okra, African pepper, and tapioca from a root vegetable.
Most peasant food made do with what they had.
It pisses me off. There are a lot of good recipes that have their origins in a tradition of African cooking and slaves trying to recreate something in a strange land, but nigger fatigue gets to me because it just becomes “WE MADE DIS WE WUZ KANGZ”.