January 1. We made it to see this day. It’s that pivotal date when all things new are embraced and our efforts at finding that balance which optimizes our lives are keen. There’s so much to be said for the moments that shaped the previous year. We all experienced happy moments, sad times, anxious thoughts, … Continue reading
By Toni Tipton Martin: On Christmas Eve 2011, NPR’s Morning Edition shared a sample of the 2,368 minutes of messages received on the Hidden Kitchens’ listener phone line over the preceding six months — stories that spoke not only of the phenomenal ability of food to bring people together for fellowship, but as a mysterious, … Continue reading
Having been born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Kwanzaa is not a celebration I know much about. As I learn about the related principles and practices, I reflect on how they relate to my experience—in Kenya, Tanzania and more recently in the US and UK, and how food is entwined with creativity and identity, and … Continue reading
The celebration of Kwanzaa has been an important tradition in my family for several years. In this article, I will discuss its historical development in my own family and why I believe it to be a significant milestone in the reclamation and restoration of African and African American history and culture. My wife and I … Continue reading
“The black eye pea was introduced into the West Indies from Central Africa in the early 1700s and journeyed from there into the Carolinas. The pea with the small black dot is considered especially lucky by many cultures in Western Africa. While the pea was certainly not lucky for those who were caught and sold … Continue reading
