High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America is a captivating, Netflix original docuseries that premiered in 2021. It is a culinary journey that explores the cultural and historical impact of African American cuisine on American food culture, tracing its roots back to Africa, and detailing its transformation in America. It provides an enlightening view of how this cuisine has shaped the American identity and offers a poignant tribute to African American culinary heritage.

The show gets its title from an old African American colloquialism, "living high on the hog," meaning living one's best life. This phrase captures the essence of the series as it ventures beyond the common narrative of struggle and triumphs, shedding light on the rich and joyous dimensions of the African American experience through their food.

The series is led by food writer Stephen Satterfield, who takes viewers on an exciting journey, exploring the multifaceted dimensions of African American cuisine. Satterfield serves as a warm guide who stirs up enthusiasm with every mouth-watering bite and every enlightening conversation, making the series both informative and entertaining.

High on the Hog is based on the book of the same name by Jessica B. Harris, a renowned scholar on the foodways of the African Diaspora. The show incorporates historical research, personal anecdotes, culturally rich settings, and cooking to tell the story of African American food and how it influences, and is integral to, the American food scene today.

The series spans four episodes, each focusing on a different aspect of African American food culture. It commences in Africa, specifically in Benin, showcasing the culinary traditions and ingredients that were brought to America with the transatlantic slave trade. By exploring the origins and significance of certain foods and practices, the series provides a clearer understanding of the depth and breadth of African influence on American culinary practices.

The subsequent episodes carry this narrative forward in the American context, focusing on regions like the Carolinas, Texas, and Philadelphia. Each region serves as a vibrant backdrop to anecdotes of resilience and creativity. Important historical figures, notable moments, and regional specialties like okra soup, barbecue, and mac 'n' cheese, are highlighted and celebrated.

Although the series is certainly a feast for the eyes, it goes far beyond the surface-level beauty of the meals prepared. It emphasizes the significant contributions of African Americans to America's gastronomical identity and remaps American food history through an African American lens. The series doesn’t shy away from addressing how this cuisine grew out of the trials of slavery and was forged in the crucible of struggle and disparity. However, it also underscores the strength, resilience, innovation, and the vibrant cultural exchanges that have unquestionably shaped American tastes and dietary preferences.

High on the Hog is a poignant and resonating tribute to the enduring spirit of African American culture and its indelible, transformative impact on American cuisine. It is a celebration of food as a powerful cultural expression, a medium of connectivity, a symbol of liberation, and a testament to resilience. It intertwines tales of culinary delight, cultural resistance, and survival, which together, transcend the limits of the kitchen and the dining table, recounting a profoundly American story that will move and engage every viewer.

Moreover, the show disrupts the conventional narrative, underscoring the importance of recognizing African American contributions to America's culinary landscape, and redefining the significance and scope of soul food. By showcasing a variety of dishes from across the African American culinary spectrum, High on the Hog paves the way for a more inclusive, comprehensive understanding of American food culture.

High on the Hog is not just a feast for food lovers, it is an enriching and educational journey that reveals, revives, and rejoices in the African American culinary legacy. It prompts viewers to rethink their perceptions of food history and encourages an appreciation for the African American contributions that permeate our everyday dining experiences. No matter how much you think you know about American cuisine, High on the Hog is likely to serve up something new, delicious, and thought-provoking.