 "Photo: SHOLTEN SINGER")
Celebrating African American history and cultural lifestyle, the Center for African American Students sponsored Soulful Sunday’s Soul Food Feast as a time of fellowship and educational opportunity.
“It’s really just a way of recognizing a part of Black History Month and we as a people gathered around the table eating together is a way of communing with one another,” said Bill Smith, Cabell County Superintendent of Schools, who attends the event annually. “It really represents the family tie and the closeness we have, and it’s one of the things we do as a Huntington community.”
“One of things that bring people together historically in African American communities and families is eating,” said Maurice Cooley, director of the Center for African American Students. “It was very common that on Sunday’s after church that we as African American families and extended families came together and ate these foods. It was a time for fellowship, unity, love and celebrating with one another, so that sort of nuclear atmosphere was one of the ways that kept families together, because they spent time together and food was part of that.”
The foods served are traditional dishes that have been enjoyed by African Americans for years, he said.
“African Americans refer to themselves as soul people, so it’s the foods that soul people eat,” Cooley said. “A lot of this has a lot of old meaning. Many of the foods here were introduced to us by our ancestors the slaves.
“Out of the pork roast ordered by the master and his guests, the slaves had to be creative to find food from what was left over, so they found ways to prepare the guts – chitlins,” he said. “Collard greens – that’s just the stuff that was left out in the field.”
Fried chicken, ribs, chitlins, collard greens, corn bread and macaroni and cheese were some of the soul foods served at the feast.
“Many of these dishes were handed down over the years, so now they’re not secondary, they’re a delicacy.” Cooley said.
Marshall University celebrates and recognizes them as African American students and values ethnicity and diversity, Cooley said. In addition to the formal elements of education, Marshall teaches students how to live in the world and in harmony together.
“A lot of African Americans bring their friends who are not familiar with our culture,” he said.
“Soul food means the coming together of all different types of groups, whether they’re black or white, getting back together and joining in a joyous affair, talking amongst everbody, a sense of community and belonging once again, and just having fun, but with food,” said Shaunte Polk, graduate assistant in the office of Multicultural Affairs. “It’s just cooking from the heart that brings everybody together.”
“Soul food is part of our lives, so it’s not like a regular meal,” said De’Recco Lynch, a sophomore psychology major from Charleston, W.Va. “It’s a family tradition and about bringing the family back together, so we’re not just throwing ribs into the oven, but it’s about seasoning the ribs and really putting your soul into the food that you’re cooking,”
The dinner was followed by a performance of the African American Arts and Heritage Academy Showcase, which featured performances by West Virginia high school students from all walks of life who share the bond of celebration of the African American traditions in the performing arts.
Elizabeth Adams may be contacted at Mccoma36@marshall.edu.
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