Independence Day, Freedom and One More Black Chef

Hercules
photo by Virginia.org

Happy Fourth of July, Meltingpot Readers!

I don't know about you, but as an adult, the Fourth of July just isn't as much fun as it was when I was a child. Growing up, the 4th was my favorite holiday. We decorated our bikes, participated in the neighborhood parades, played old-fashioned games at the park and ate ice cream. At night, it was a big family bar-b-cue followed by fireworks down by the lake.

Now that we live in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation, you'd think the 4th would be an even bigger deal, but somehow the thrill is gone for me. And part of the reason is that when we talk about celebrating our independence, the great hypocrisy of an independent nation with enslaved individuals as the backbone of the country's success, just doesn't sit well with me. What are we truly celebrating?

But, I'm not mad. I love this country and the independent spirit that defines it. And like I always do, I have found the way to honor 'my people' and their unique contributions to independence. So, instead of praising the founding fathers who saw fit to reduce their slaves to less than human status in their declaration of independence, I am celebrating the Black men and women who fought for their own independence, instead of waiting for it.

Since I have Black chefs on the mind and George Washington is kind all over the 4th of July holiday, I'm celebrating the life and courage of Washington's excellent (enslaved) chef, Hercules. Known only by his first name, Hercules ruled the presidential kitchen with an iron skillet, replaced the previous White chef because his culinary skills were just that good, and was a budding entrepreneur who enjoyed a respected status in Free Black society in 18th century Philadelphia. But still, he was slave and that didn't sit well with him. So he planned and executed a flawless escape. He fled on Washington's 65th birthday, never to be heard from again. Now that's freedom and independence I can celebrate. To read more about Hercules, and his culinary genius, check out this link.

And however you celebrate this day, make it a good one! BTW, we're having tacos for dinner before the fireworks. That's the Meltingpot way.

Peace!

Happy Loving Day! A Day Late...

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Yesterday was Loving Day. Did you remember to celebrate? I kind of forgot. But just like I feel like every day is Martin Luther King, Jr. day when you're Black in America, every day is Loving Day when you're a Black woman, married to a Spanish man and you have three brownish kids. I mean, we celebrate interracial marriage being legal every morning we wake up in the same bed together. Ya dig?

That being said, there are some things I would like to do in honor of the great sacrifice Mildred and Richard Loving did in order to have their marriage recognized by their home state of Virginia. Namely, I'd like to fly my entire Kinky Gazpacho family to the Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival this weekend in Los Angeles. But it ain't gonna happen, because we just don't have the funds this year. (sigh) But we'll get there hopefully next year.

I'd also like to get a chance to see the new documentary about the Lovings, The Loving Story. It's being screened at Mixed Roots, but you already know, I won't be there. (bigger sigh). Here's the trailer.



I'm not sure when I'll be able to see the film, so in the meantime, to satisfy my Loving Day wanderlust, I'll probably just troll the internet and look for all of the slideshows that feature 'our favorite celebrity interracial couples.' I admit, it's a guilty pleasure. But one I really only indulge in, on Loving Day. I swear.

Okay, dear readers. Did you do anything to celebrate Loving Day? Are you going to? Let's hear it. You know I'm listening.

Peace!

Fiji for the Holidays

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Are you all whipping up your Thanksgiving goodies? I'm going to get started in a just a few minutes. Have I mentioned that Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday? It has nothing to do with the whitewashed Pilgrims and Indians breaking bread together fantasy, but rather the simple pleasure of making a gorgeous meal and spending time with family. Love it!

And in true kinky gazpacho style, this year our Thanksgiving meal will be a feast from Fiji. Yes, Fiji. Turns out my mother has "adopted" a new daughter who fell out with her family in Fiji and now lives in Wisconsin. To show her appreciation for being welcomed into our great big family, she's hosting Thanksgiving this year. So far on the menu, I know we're having three kinds of curries, lamb, chicken and egg, and roti. Yum.

 Of course we are bringing some traditional 'kinky' to the feast, a turkey, a ham, sweet potato pies and collard greens. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the sharing of cultures and traditions, right?

So, what will you all be eating tomorrow? Please share. You know I'm listening.

Peace and Happy Thanksgiving!

Boycotting Columbus Day: A Native American Perspective

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

You know my life is all about learning about the other. I truly enjoy reading, writing and researching about other cultures and ethnicities and seeing how we are similar and at the same time honoring the differences. It's not always easy to honor those difference but we have to try. That's why I am always interested in meeting people who come from ethnic and/or cultural groups different from my own. And I always ask a lot of questions.

Last year, I taught a class at Temple called Race and Racism in the News. During the course of the class, I invited many guest speakers from different ethnic groups around Philadelphia to come speak. One of my speakers was a Native American man, who was also an activist and educator. (He also happens to be my accountant but that's another story.)

He talked about reservation life, Native American traditions being co-opted as cool and a host of other issues facing modern day Native Americans. But one thing he said stuck in my mind and always will. Not surprisingly, he said he not only ignores Columbus Day, he boycotts it. Why? In his mind, and many others in the Native American community, Christopher Columbus is likened to Hitler. Yes, he said Hitler. They see him as a man responsible for the utter destruction and decimation of Native people in the Americas. And not for nothing, they also find it highly disturbing that streets are named after Columbus in almost every major city. "Can you imagine a Hitler street?" he asked my class. Ouch.

So, on this Columbus Day, I'm thinking about the Native American community and how they must be feeling on a day honoring a man they consider pure evil. I'm not heading out to join any protests, but I'm definitely sympathetic. This is how we learn, people. This is how we learn.

What do you do on Columbus Day? Do you celebrate, sympathize, protest, or just enjoy a day off work?

I'm listening.

Peace!

Easter Traditions Always Evolving

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Did you know Easter is one of my favorite holidays? Although now that I"m living gluten and sugar-free, I'm not sure I feel the same way since I can't eat jelly beans and marshmallow eggs. (sigh) But I just love dying easter eggs and buying pretty spring flowers and fresh asparagus and English peas. And as a mom, I love hunting for the perfect treats for my kids' Easter baskets.

This year, thanks to an overzealous grandmother and great-auntie who've already sent my boys butt loads of candy, I didn't want to add a lot of extra candy to their Easter baskets. Not to mention, the latest research linking artificial food colors to ADHD made me rethink the pastel M&Ms and Starburst jellybeans. So what did I do? I bought all of my Easter candy in very small containers from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods this year. Jelly beans and gum drops are all colored with fruit and vegetable dyes. Chocolate is all natural and organic. And none of it was more expensive than I would have paid from say, Target. But, I admit, I bought much smaller quantities.

A good friend of mine told me she often puts socks and flip flops in her kids' Easter baskets instead of loading it up with candy, so I tried to be more original as well. So this year, in addition to all natural candy, my kids will find packets of vegetable seeds to plant in our garden, a CD of kid's music and a collection of Superman videos. Oh, and new recycled toothbrushes. I'm pretty pleased with myself. But I'm curious, what do you other moms place in your kids' Easter baskets? That is if you even celebrate this particular holiday?

And FYI, I'm making dinner too. Wanna know what's on the menu? El esposo (who by the way, doesn't remember a single thing about celebrating Easter in Spain!!!) and I created our menu last night.

Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken
Shrimp and Spring Vegetable Risotto
Scalloped Potatoes
Asparagus
Garden salad
Spanish Olives
Fresh Berries and Whipped Cream (sweetened with agave nectar of course)

Yummy.

I'll tell you how it all turns out. I hope you all have a sweet and happy Easter!

Peace.

Death May Not Be Proud, But it Can Be Fun... in Ghana

Hey Meltingpot Readers,

I saw this article in the New York Times about the festive nature of Ghanaian funerals, now being celebrated more frequently in Ghanaian communities in New York City.

Please check out the story here and let me know what you think.

Rituals and beliefs about death are so fascinating to me and really makes you realize that there are so many different ways to view things in this world. Parenting, race, marriage and death. The things we feel so strongly about, when viewed through the lens of a different culture, can really rock one's faith and belief system. But that's a good thing, isn't it?

Do you have any special cultural/traditional rituals around death and grieving in your family? In my big, loud family, we don't have specific traditions, but when my crazy uncle -- and I mean crazy as in 'life of the family' crazy --died two years ago, rather than a wake, we had an outdoor dance party and picnic in his honor the night before the funeral. We celebrated his life instead of mourning his passing. It was great. The tears came the next day, but we laughed all night long.

So, tell us what you do when death takes a loved one away?

I'm listening.

Peace!

Back to Babies, The Movie

Happy Friday, Meltingpot Readers,

I finally saw the documentary film Babies last weekend. I actually bought a copy of the DVD at a toy story that was going out of business. My sons and I watched it and it was wonderful. For those of you unfamiliar with the film, it's pretty basic. The director decided to follow four children in four different parts of the world -- Namibia, Tokyo, San Franscisco and a small village in Mongolia -- for one year. Or as they say in the film, from their first breath to their first steps.

Their is no dialogue in the film, really, the only sound is the gurgling, cooing, and crying of the babies as they develop. The parents and other adult voices really become inconsequential background noise. I thought my boys -- ages six and nine -- might be bored with the 90-minute film, but they remained as delighted and entranced as I, as we watched the various ways these babies made sense of their world.

I believe the filmmakers purpose in making this film was simply to show how universal parenting is, despite the vastly different methods and materials used. In addition, I felt it was a bit of a wake-up call to some of us Western parents who get caught up with all the baby stuff we're encouraged to buy to keep our babies happy/satisfied/stimulated/on the right track/quiet/healthy. There is this one scene where we see the Japanese baby surrounded by her toys. She gets so frustrated with one particular toy because she can't make it do what it is supposed to do that she just throws herself on the ground flailing in agony. This scene is immediately contrasted with a shot of the Mongolian baby playing in his house, tied to the bed so he doesn't get into mischief and amusing himself with a roll of toilet paper. He is so happy with that toilet paper. We still laugh about the toilet paper scene.

All in all, this is a great film for a Sunday afternoon with or without your kids. There's a lot to learn about these four different cultures and lessons in child-rearing abound. Like, if your child eats dirt, she probably won't die. I have to remember that, being the germ freak that I am.

Has anybody else seen Babies? What did you think? I just read that the director is planning a follow up film when the babies enter school. That's going to be good!

Peace.

MLK DAY: A Day Off or On?

Welcome Back Meltingpot Readers,

I've missed you. I hope you all have been well. I am getting back into the groove of work and writing and full-speed-ahead family life. Break time has been great and I've decided I should have been born a wealthy heiress because I enjoy being lazy far too much. We can all dream right...

And speaking of dreams, today is the day we celebrate the life and dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And do you want to know what I"m doing on this day? I'm working. And going to the doctor. And making dinner and folding laundry and returning library books. Early this morning, the kids and I collected about 20 books to donate to a local school here that tragically burned down in a fire last week. We'll be dropping those off as soon as I'm done here.

For the last week I've been beset by guilt that I wasn't setting this day aside to participate in the many service projects taking place all over the city in honor of Dr. King. Now known as a "day on instead of a day off," we're all supposed to dedicate this day to helping our fellow man. And while I think this is such a wonderful way to honor Dr. King's legacy -- I took part in a great day of service last year -- I realized that I can't beat myself up for not being able to do service work on this one day.

I look at it this way. I have dedicated my life work to healing racial tensions and working towards equality and peace and justice for people of all colors. Whenever I have the chance to help others, I do so eagerly. Now, don't get me wrong, like most people I could always do more, but just like I don't wait until Valentine's Day to tell the people in my life that I love them, I don't think I have to save up all of my good deeds towards men for MLK Day. It's a great opportunity, but I'm not a bad person --and neither are you -- if you can't squeeze a service project in on this particular day.

I attended a church service yesterday that was dedicated to the memory of Dr. King. And just hearing the choir sing the songs of the Civil Rights era (and a few heart-tugging spirituals) inspired me to no end. I will continue to work for equality and justice and peace amongst all men, with songs in my heart. Just not today.

Here's one of my favorite songs of that era, that I hope will inspire you too.



PEACE!

And We're Back...

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Thank you all so much for the well wishes. Luckily my stomach bug was one of those fast and furious kinds. My older son and I both got it, but we were pretty much better two days later. Then of course, because life is just so funny and unpredictable, el esposo got it bad on Christmas morning. Yes, it was nasty, but our holidays were still very merry because we were surrounded by family and blessed with lots of nice gifts and a crazy feast of food.

Our Christmas dinner included fried chicken, ham, tortilla de patatas and a big pot of Mexican pozole. None of this is traditional fare for the holidays, but we decided to start some new traditions, since this was the first time our parents came to our home, instead of us traveling home. So, overall it was delightful.

And now we are tunneling out of the mountains of snow dumped on us last night. I hope all of you were graced with a joyful holiday filled with laughter and light.

Peace!

Who Brings Better Gifts? Santa or The Three Wise Men?

Meltingpot readers,

If you live in a multiculti household like I do, where language, culture and customs are varied, holidays pose a special challenge. Christmas is no exception. In the Kinky Gazpacho household, since we live in the United States, we pretty much rely on Santa Claus to bring the gifts to our children, but now that el esposo's sister is here with us, we are trying to incorporate more of the Spanish Christmas traditions into our celebrations.

So, of course my clever children think it all boils down to this: Who brings better gifts? Santa or the Three Wise Men? In Spain, Santa Claus is growing in popularity, but traditionally gifts were given by the Three Wise Men on January 6. In my opinion, it makes far more sense that the we'd get presents on Jesus' birthday by the same three dudes who brought Jesus his presents back in the manger, instead of some random Dutch guy in red suit who keeps company with domesticated deer and mini-people. I wonder why we in America fixated on Santa instead of The Three Wise Men? If anyone knows why, please enlighten the rest of us.


And in the meantime, how do you all who live in multicultural households combine traditions at holiday time?

I'm listening.

Peace!

Kinky Gazpacho II & Thanksgiving

Meltingpot Readers,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and El Esposo's sister is coming home to meet the family as the official girlfriend of my brother. It's crazy. To be honest, Meltingpot readers, I don't know if this Kinky Gazpacho romance is going to work, because really, can lightning really strike twice in the same two families? I don't know. What do you think?

In the meantime, we're getting ready for the big feast tomorrow. Because in my big extended family we have a tendency to take in 'strays,' our Thanksgiving feast is going to have some delicious international additions. My mother's new 'adopted daughter' from Fiji will be bringing her famous spicy curry chicken and rice. My aunt's 'man friend' from Jamaica will be making stew peas and rice. And I'm trying to convince El esposo and his sister, to make a nice tortilla de patatas. I don't even know if I'll be eating the turkey this year. By the way, I'll be making my famous wheat-free, sugar-free apple crisp so I'll have something to nosh on for dessert.

So, let's make everybody's mouth water here. What will you be making and/or eating this Thanksgiving? Here's a story that I'm quoted in about how Arab-Americans bring their culinary traditions to the Thanksgiving table. Try not to drool over the Moroccan pumpkin pie.

Have a delicious day, everybody!

Peace!

Cinco de Mayo isn't Really About Mexico

Hola Meltingpot Readers,

Happy Cinco de Mayo. Do you know why we celebrate this day? Hint, it's not about Mexican independence, that day is actually celebrated in September. It's actually a day to commemorate the battle of Puebla when the Mexican army fought against the French.

So why all the sombreros, tacos and tequila contests on this day Stateside? I heard on NPR this morning that the holiday has been co-opted by Americans to sell beer and tequila. From ABC News:

" For the average Mexican, today is just another Wednesday, wrote Oscar Casares, a professor at the University of Texas-Austin.

'The holiday, which has never really been much of one in Mexico, crossed over to this side of the border in the 1950s and 1960s, as civil rights activists were attempting to build harmony between the two countries and cultures,' Casares wrote.'" The article goes on, " "The date gained more attention in the 1980s when marketers, particularly beer companies, saw this as a perfect opportunity to capitalize on the celebratory nature of the holiday."

You can read the full story here.

So, my kids were told in honor of Cinco De Mayo they could wear a silly hat today to school. Hot lunch is enchiladas. There's a tequila festival at the local bowling alley. Is there anything wrong with this commercialization of a holiday? Especially when most people probably don't even know why they're celebrating?

What do you think? Are you doing anything to celebrate? My Mexican friends, do you celebrate on Cinco de Mayo? If so, how so?

I'm listening.

Peace.

How To Enjoy Black History Month Like a Pro

February is a busy month in my home. My birthday is in February, so is El esposo's. So is my dad's, which coincidentally is the same day as El esposo's. That's weird right? And then sandwiched between our birthdays is Valentine's Day. Of course we also celebrate George and Abe's birthdays too with a day off from work and school. But the biggest celebration of all in the month of February has to be, Black History Month. That trumps all of our birthdays and excuses to eat cupcakes with pink frosting.

Wait, are you surprised? Are you telling me that in your house Black History Month isn't heralded as 28 days of fun and excitement? Of delight and wonder for the whole family? Maybe that's because you're not celebrating it properly. Or maybe because you are not Black, you've always felt that Black History Month wasn't for you or about you, so you just kind of let it pass you by. Well not anymore. I'm going to give you some how-to tips so that you too can enjoy Black History Month like a pro, and then in subsequent years, you'll look forward to February as much as I do.

So without further ado, here are: Five Tips to Help You Enjoy Black History Month

1. Read a book by a Black author! And I don't mean a dry, historical tome with big words that won't fit in your purse. I mean a really good, juicy novel or heart wrenching memoir by a Black author that seems interesting to you. It could be a romance, a comedy, or even a thriller. It just cannot be written by Toni Morrison or Alice Walker. Are you stuck because you don't know any Black authors? Well, don't despair, just click on over to my friend Carleen's wonderful website where she recommends all types of books written by Black authors for your enjoyment. You will definitely find something you like. And if you're too lazy to even do that, just go pick up a copy ofWench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.


2. Go out to eat at restaurant that is owned by a Black person, or has a Black executive chef. Now, before you wrinkle your nose in distaste because you don't like collard greens, fried chicken or chitterlings, let me tell you, Black chefs don't just make soul food anymore. They have expanded their repertoire. If you live in New York City, you could dine on gravlax and cloudberries at Aquavit, owned by Ethiopian chef extraordinaire, Marcus Samuelsson. He's black. Or if you live in my new home town of Philly, you could check out Iron Chef Jose Garces' new Peruvian/Chinese restaurant, Chifa. Why? Because Chifa's chef du cuisine, Chad Williams, is Black. So as you're munching on Swedish meatballs or ceviche you can say to yourself, 'man, Black people really can throw down in the kitchen. I had no idea Black History month could be so tasty!'


3. Go to a movie with at least one significant Black leading character. But it can't be Denzel's new flick, Princess Tianna doesn't count because she's not real, and Tyler Perry cannot be involved. Oops. scratch that. I don't think this one is possible. But you can go to the video rental store, or search on netflix for a good movie with Black characters in it. But just to stretch people, you may not watch The Color Purple or Roots. We have moved on as a people. Want some suggestions? Okay. In no particular order; Anything by Spike Lee, but try The Miracle at St. Anna for something a little different from Spike. The Hurricane, starring Denzel Washington. Ali, starring Will Smith, Akeelah and the Bee for those of you with kids, and Eve's Bayou, directed by the very talented Kasi Lemmons. These are some of my personal favs. For more suggestions, check out, I Love Black Movies.com.

4. Just for kicks, try to imagine how Black people feel about current events. Try to get into our skin and see how things may be different. Not into role playing? Well then, for the month of February, just bookmark The Root and read the news as it is reported by Black reporters. If you want an alternative to The Root, visit, NBC's The Grio.com. They have more video on their site for those of you who don't like to read all that much.

5. And finally, this is the big challenge but you have a whole month to try to accomplish it. Try to find a Black friend. Really, make the effort to make friends with someone who is Black and see how your life changes. (spoiler alert: Having a Black friend probably won't change your life at all.). If you live in a part of the world where there just aren't very many Black people, well you can try to find a Black friend on Facebook. Heck, I'll be your friend. Just go out there and do the work to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Why? Because ultimately Black History month is not about going back into the past, it's about celebrating the here and now. By celebrating the authors, chefs, musicians, politicians, teachers, moms and dads of color of today, we are acknowledging the ones that came before.

I say Black History Month should be lived in the present day. It should be about celebrating the diversity and beauty of Black culture. As a Black person, I would really love it if people acknowledged our artists, authors, cuisine, intellectuals, and politicians of today, instead of only reaching into the past to find the Black greats. Not that they don't deserve mention, but their profound legacy needs to be incorporated with the rest of American history in the text books and history lessons, not segregated into one short month. Instead, leave the month of February for celebrating how cool we are today.


Happy Black History Month! What are you going to do celebrate?

Peace!

p.s. (Here's a little bonus: You can continue to celebrate these 5 tips March - January!)

Teaching Children Heritage without the Baggage

Yesterday I was in my car, listening to my new favorite NPR radio show, Tell Me More, when this excellent segment came on about how parents can teach their children about their cultural heritage without passing along the pain, sorrow, shame and sadness that often comes with history.

Tell Me More hostess Michele Martin, assembled a panel of mothers; An African-American mother, A Native-American mother and a Jewish mother who was the child of a holocaust survivor, to talk about the issue. It was a riveting discussion and while I didn't come away with a clear step-by-step guide for talking to my kids about slavery and the Spanish inquisition, I was given some quality food for thought. And I appreciated hearing the topic being given airtime. I think I was most impressed with the Jewish woman's comment when she said, her mother, the holocaust survivor, imbued her kids with a sense of their own strength. She always told them (and I'm paraphrasing) "Look, if Hitler didn't get me, nobody can." In a certain way, that has to play better than being a victim. It gives children a sense of pride. Imagine a kid saying, "My mother bested one of the baddest bad men around!"

If you'd like to hear the interview click on this link and then scroll down to where you see the headline, "Teaching Children a Painful History." I'd like to hear what you think.

I'd also like to hear how you approach this topic with your own family.

Peace!

p.s (Photo is of artwork by David Behrens.)

National Hispanic Month

Am I the last person to find out that September 15 marked the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month? Or are others out there as clueless as I? I happened to notice the small print on the calendar at my son's school and came home to investigate.

Sure enough, since 1988, September 15 - October 16 has been officially National Hispanic Month (or Latino Heritage Month, depending on who you're talking to), designated as such because five different Latin American countries -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua -- received their independence on September 15. And Mexico, coincidentally, celebrates their independence on September 16th!

Now here at the Meltingpot, we're all about celebrating diversity, so I am truly appalled that I didn't have a clue that Hispanic Month was happening. And I am willing to bet that I'm not the only one. Why is that? There are now officially like 35 million Hispanic people living in the United States and counting. This celebratory month (which was a week long celebration for 20 years before the U.S. government upped it to a whole month) has been an official celebration for more than three decades so why aren't there commercials on TV? Where are the PBS specials? Where are the books about great Latino/as in history being released to coincide with the big month? In other words, why isn't Latino History Month as big as Black History Month? Even National Poetry Month seems to get more play than Latino History Month.

And don't get me wrong, I know that in other parts of the country where there is a larger population of Hispanic people, there is surely a greater awareness, but still, I think there is at the very least a need for a greater PR campaign for this very important month.

But don't take my word for it. Check out Tolerance.org. On their website they not only explain the importance of Hispanic Heritage month, but they also offer some great ideas and lesson plans to help celebrate this oft neglected piece of American history.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!