Summary Of Soul Food Junkies
Itzel Juarez
September 7, 2014
SOC160 M/W 10:45
Film Analysis Paper: Soul Food Junkies
“Soul Food Junkies” Byron Hurt, filmmaker of “Soul Food Junkies,” has created this documentary to inform individuals on why soul food is more than just food to African-Americans. Some of their unhealthy choices are deeper than just wanting comfort food. Soul food is part of the African-American group since the time of slaves, and continues as tradition. It has become part of their culture. The Process of cooking soul food is also a way of socialization for the African-American community. Although soul food brings African-Americans together, some of the foods in their diet are a cause of stratification within the minority group The Soul food diet began during slavery. Slavery began in early times, and it was the act of a person owning another person as property (Merriam-Webster online). As explained in the documentary, slaves were fed the cheapest food. For example, they were fed leftover rice that was not sold and they were expected to grow their own food. Slaves also resorted to hunting using traditions from Africa. In the documentary, it is mentioned that soul food was survival food for the slaves (Hurt). Soul food is also a way of socialization in the African American community. “Socialization is a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a
…show more content…
As stated in the documentary, slaves introduced beans into their diet from other slaves south of Louisiana, from places like Cuba (Hurt). From generations behind, poor Hispanic families harvested beans because they were inexpensive and quantitative allowing to feed large families. Today, families continue to eat beans, many not from necessity but because traditional dishes that include beans have been passed from generations behind. In the Hispanic community, as in the African-American community, it is also a great disrespect to reject anyone offering a plate of
How Did Soulfood Influence West African American Culture
742 Words | 3 PagesToday, African Americans have one of the highest leading obesity rates, that “more than two-thirds of the African American community are overweight or obese”(Dr. Tyeese Gaines, thegrio) and soul food is one of the many reasons that contribute to that. Soulfood is a cuisine that really elaborates on flavor and texture. Thus, large amount of spices such as cajun seasoning, which contains high quantities of salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne powder, oregano, thyme, and red pepper are constantly use in many Soulfood dishes and that leads to high blood pressure and can eventually cause heart attacks. Also, many soulfood dishes such as fried chicken are deep fried in lard which is made from rendered fat of a pig to create a crunchy and flavorful texture.
Hawaii Plantation Workers Essay
1233 Words | 5 PagesFinally, food was another important cultural practice that the workers developed. They often shared their recipes and cooking techniques with each other, and they created new dishes that combined elements of their home cuisines with local ingredients. These cultural practices allowed the workers to assert their identity and resist the dominant culture of the plantation owners, and they also created a sense of community and solidarity among the
Slavery In Jamestown Virginia Essay
1379 Words | 6 PagesThe contributions and cultural influences that slaves made have gone unappreciated throughout American culture. African culture, Southern food from songs to dances are not just present in today’s times but have had a huge effect throughout America. During the Middle Passage, slaves had to abandon traditional customs, rituals and cultural artifacts. They had to do this to get a ticket into the New World. However, slaves still used their customs survive and carry on in the New World.
Hog And Hominy Analysis
553 Words | 3 PagesOne of the main arguments made in Hog and Hominy is that Soul Food wasn’t created without outside influence. Opie points out that many of the food types associated with soul were introduced to the Africans by European traders and white plantation owners. He argues “that African cookery was significantly transformed by [European influences], in large part stemming from the commerce that began as a result of, first, the
Rhetorical Analysis Of Slave Diets
995 Words | 4 PagesOn the 8th of this month, I attended a lecture in the UA Poetry Center presented by Dr. Jerome Dotson (an instructor in Africana Studies). The speaker, who obtained a MA in African American Studies and a PhD in History, presented information for this particular lecture on the diets of slaves, and specifically within that, the connotation of pork in their meals. Dr. Dotson began the talk with a brief discussion of ‘roots’ and played a video of Kunta Kinte’s visual explanation of the meaning of food in a slave’s life. The video highlighted what slaves ate, which consisted mostly of grits, roughly ground corn, and pork. Kinte’s video also presented yet another tragedy behind slavery—the nature of chronic underfeeding and hunger.
Ap Us History Dbq About Slavery
320 Words | 2 PagesThe life of a slave in the Southern colonies was not a pleasant one. According to document 6: "[The slaves] plant peas, garden peas, transplant or prune trees, and plant cabbage... They ["Negroes"] are given as much land as they can handle. On it they plant for themselves corn, potatoes, tobacco, peanuts, water and sugar melons, pumpkins, bottle pumpkins... They plant for themselves also on Sundays. For if they do not work they make mischief and do damage...".
Film Analysis: Soul Food Junkies
124 Words | 1 PagesIn the film Soul Food Junkies by Byron Hurt, the consumption of soul food is argued as something to avoid for both health and cultural reasons. Spokesmen present the idea that soul food acts as a cultural retardant because of its slave roots, however these opinions ignore the abstract binding that soul food has on families. Food is a unique combination of geography, recipes, stories and celebrations that cannot be expressed in words. Soul food can only advance the strength of African American culture by nourishing the soul through memories family, tradition, and identity. In the film, the advancement of culture is never clearly defined to have a specific outcome therefore the judgment of its negative effect on African American culture cannot
A Place At The Table Documentary Analysis
531 Words | 3 PagesWhen you hear obesity, do you imagine malnutrition or simply an individual who “eats too much?” Well, these health threatening issues go hand and hand. Learning that a large number of obese individuals are low income, it can be concluded that a lack of funds results in cheaper, more fattening and unhealthy food purchases, which ultimately can develop into malnutrition and unsafe weight gain. The eye-opening film, A Place At The Table, provides viewers with a true representation of how the issues of hunger and malnutrition in the United States affect individuals on a daily basis. Throughout this movie, the filmmakers, Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush, examine the lives of three individuals who suffer from hunger and and lack of nutrition.
African Slaves Vs Serfs
734 Words | 3 PagesThroughout history, slavery has been a common method of labor production. Globally, many countries have a history of using harsh labor to assemble goods and services. The Russian Serfs and African Slaves are comparable examples of forced labor. Although both serfs and slaves were put in similar positions, the most notable difference between the two was the difference in reasoning behind the labor.
Soulfood In African American Culture
735 Words | 3 Pageseconomic class due to government assistance program such as food stamps. Hence, many soul food ingredients such as lard can be replace with a much healthier oil option such as olive oil and there are now reduced sodium products all over the country that can replaces the amount of seasoning use in soulfood. Even though, with the help of healthier ingredient options, many people still stay away from soulfood due to the low reputation it achieve from stereotypes of soul food being unhealthy. In addition, that causes numerous of, “legendary soul food restaurants [to] disappear at a alarming pace” (Miller, pg3) across the country. The loss of soulfood resturants is equivalent to losing significant amount of African American history in the United
African American Family Traditions
995 Words | 4 PagesThe African American culture takes pride in cooking and food in general. Food is mostly provided or prepared for any occasion like family reunions, cook outs, holidays, and funerals. My mother and her cousin, Sherrie would decide who house to celebrate holidays or cook outs and each person would cook and prepare the food for any of our family gathers. My mother also prepared traditional southern meals in our home. Home cooked meals are a value in the family as well as the African American culture.
Louisiana Essay
827 Words | 4 PagesThey were used to eating fish like salmon and lobster, so the change required learning how to cook and deal with these types of foods. Rice, potatoes, the holy Trinity, and spices like cayenne pepper was introduced to the cuisine from Native, African, and Spanish American cuisine. All of these components created great dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, and boudin out of these saiid ingredients that are widely known and enjoyed across the country and world. The love for seafood and food in general also brought people together for seafood boils, boucherie’s or whole pig roasts, etc. It is not just about eating the food; it is also about preparing it and enjoying it with people that you love.
Antebellum South And Kindred By Octavia Butler
552 Words | 3 PagesThe slaves in antebellum south and the prisoners in Camp 14 only ate poor food which mean unhealthy food that can easily get them sick. In the antebellum south the slave can only ate leftover. When Dana was going to the kitchen Nigel told her that they can only ate the leftover if their master left any food. On the other hand the prisoners can ate meat such as rats, insects, and cornmeal but they were unhealthy food as well according to Shin said.
Essay On Meso-American Slavery
1231 Words | 5 PagesThe end of the fifteenth century is attributed as the time period in which Christopher Colombus “discovered” the Americas. Although he was allegedly the first European to have reached these unknown lands at the time, many sought to reach the new world, for a variety of reasons. Most of those people could be divided in two: the settlers and the conquerors. In North America, there were more of the former, people looking for a new home where they could rebuild their families and lives. In Meso-America, however, the goal was to exploit the lands in order to produce and extract new goods which they could trade.
Soul Food Speech
1259 Words | 6 PagesThe term soul food didn’t even exist before the 60s. Soul food is a variety of cuisine originating in the Southeastern United States. It is common in areas with a history of slave-based
More about Summary Of Soul Food Junkies
How Did Soulfood Influence West African American Culture
742 Words | 3 PagesHawaii Plantation Workers Essay
1233 Words | 5 PagesSlavery In Jamestown Virginia Essay
1379 Words | 6 PagesHog And Hominy Analysis
553 Words | 3 PagesRhetorical Analysis Of Slave Diets
995 Words | 4 PagesAp Us History Dbq About Slavery
320 Words | 2 PagesFilm Analysis: Soul Food Junkies
124 Words | 1 PagesA Place At The Table Documentary Analysis
531 Words | 3 PagesAfrican Slaves Vs Serfs
734 Words | 3 PagesSoulfood In African American Culture
735 Words | 3 PagesAfrican American Family Traditions
995 Words | 4 PagesLouisiana Essay
827 Words | 4 PagesAntebellum South And Kindred By Octavia Butler
552 Words | 3 PagesEssay On Meso-American Slavery
1231 Words | 5 PagesSoul Food Speech
1259 Words | 6 Pages