This book changed the way I see food in specific communities. I have a deeper understanding of how people are oppressed based on class and race and how that impacts food as a result of this book. I believe it does create a greater sense of community where people will come together to create food that us unique to them and their area. Chapter one allowed a look into how deep-rooted racism creates an inability to access food that is readily available to most people. Living in a place like Deanwood where there are no generic suburban grocery stores seem difficult, and it is even worse to imagine that it is a result of societies attempting to outcast an entire group of people. There was this idea in Deanwood that there was no cuisine and no way to create beautiful food, and it was stagnant and forever stuck like that. This concept of mixed cultures further separates this neighborhood from others. However, a long standing sense of community is what really makes a difference here. A community market and the people surrounding it become incredibly valuable. As a reader, there was so much dimension and separation here. From the outside, as chapter two says, “there ain’t nothing in Deanwood,” but there are so many things to take into consideration when reading a book that familiarizes its readers with a specific culture and living situation. Especially the way that the sense of community creates an environment where people will create food for themselves that reflects their culture and their struggles. Overall, I found this book interesting and informative in many ways.
Week 6: Black Food Geographies
