Ashanté Reese is an anthropologist, author, and Associate Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches and writes about food studies and food justice. Her new book is called: Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness. Reese looks at Black church gardens, family reunions, funerals, and activist spaces—in all of which food plays a powerful role. She shines a light on how food can play a role in everything from nourishing body and soul to building power and food sovereignty.
TIMELINE
4’45 the deeper meaning of “nourishment”
6’55 the nourishment of food is so dependent on the context in which it’s eaten
8’59 Rev Heber Brown and his church garden, which came from looking at food disparity in the community
10’15 the role of churches after the murder of Freddie Gray
12’23 Mama Maxine a church leader/farmer/teacher
14’47 making chow chow and canning
18’18 Black family reunions
22’06 being welcomed as an anthropologist at the family reunions
24’54 the Repast after funerals, food for bereaved families and their guests
26’32 harmful stereotypes about black people and food
28’04 learning from a group of seventh graders
30’45 responses to hunger: charity and food justice
33’12 charity responses were supposed to be filling short term needs but they’ve been institutionalized over decades
36’11 the roles of inequality, regulation, and personal choice
39’30 A chef’s response to the murder of Tyre Nichols
43’47 the illusion of safety
47’28 the importance of living in joy
51’18 analogies between regenerative agriculture and regenerative communities
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