I don't eat that sh1t but I guess you're right in a way. My only problem is when you give that food merit, you (not you alone) make it seem like our history started with slavery.
It's "Deeper Than Food", you're right about that.
I don't think there is "giving merit" though...I think we just need to acknowledge that Soul Food is ours, and rep that shyt, and protect it from vulturey.
It is the Southern Cac that is without a culture. Their culture was based on slavery, and when slavery ended, so did their culture. Since then, they have just been stealing from the descendants of slaves, who actually had to work (oftentimes in secret) to keep our traditions and heritage alive. Cacs exist as resentful ghost, nothing more and nothing less.
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Seriously, fried chicken and watermelon? Why not Godfather's pizza or mcdonalds? Both have/had black CEO.
I think you're being coy, but I'm going to answer anyways.
These aren't cultural traditions. These aren't apart of our heritage, regardless of who ran the companies. These are examples of American consumerist culture, not ethnic traditions.