Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness

In this phenomenal meditation on food’s role in Black history and culture, anthropologist Reese (Black Food Matters) shares guiding principles gleaned from Black social gatherings that can help combat hunger and food insecurity. Asserting that “the values we practice and the rituals we build in our everyday lives hold keys to how to transform our food system,” she draws on interviews, oral histories, and her own experiences to make a series of tangible, elegant connections between Black tradition, community values, and on-the-ground activism. An interview with a pastor at Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Baltimore about his efforts to plant a community garden expands into a history of Black agrarian traditions and overview of solutions for the food deserts that disproportionately impact Black neighborhoods. The role of food at funerals merges into reflections on grief, care, and how “reciprocity” is a fundamental community value that “requires an openness to give and receive.” The author’s own experience organizing food distribution and housing in Texas after Winter Storm Uri caused a massive power outage in 2021 leads to a probing discussion of the differences between mutual aid and charity. Ultimately, Reese hopes to inspire readers to rekindle their sense of connection with others and “submit to being transformed in the process.” It’s a delicacy for the heart, mind, and soul. (Apr.)