What is one practice you’re cultivating that’s connected to the Black food sovereignty and liberation movement?

Across the Black diaspora, culinary traditions are often passed down orally or through tactile experience, so you have to be in the room to really learn. This can get a little challenging when the matriarch typically holds much of the cooking knowledge, and if interest in that knowledge skips a generation or the matriarch is protective of it, that wisdom can get lost over time.

In my journey to better understand my identity, my history, and the people who came before me, I’ve become more intentional about finding and collecting those culinary traditions, along with the stories and cultural importance behind them. So, since 2018, I’ve been cultivating a practice of archiving, remembering, and recreating family recipes or meals.

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Did someone teach you this practice, or did you cultivate it on your own?

My mom taught me the practice of recipe collecting. When she got married, she wanted to learn how to cook. But my grandma, her mother-in-law, wasn’t generous about sharing family recipes or cooking techniques.

Still, my mom wanted to learn, especially once she got married. She wanted to prepare meals that were meaningful to her husband, culturally relevant for her children, and reflective of her own culinary interests. So, she began putting herself in the kitchen with my grandma, even when she wasn’t exactly welcome there.

She’d observe closely, jot down notes, and capture what my grandma was cooking. My grandma made it hard for her, but my mom was like, “Okay, if you want me to jump through hoops, I’ll do it.”

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Are there any ancestors or elders whose wisdom you draw from in your practice?

My grandma influenced my interest in recipe archiving. She instilled in me the importance of the written word and having documentation. I deeply appreciate the physical and domestic labor my grandparents did, whether it was farming or cooking. For me, practicing record keeping is a way of honoring and placing value on that labor.

My grandma would often say her writing wasn’t good enough, or that her country accent was too strong. That legacy still shows up in my life today. I sometimes hold back from expressing myself, afraid my thoughts aren’t good enough either. But then I think about the wisdom she carried. That’s why I believe it’s important to write things down. Her voice, and voices like hers, are important.

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Maya’s Steps for Archiving Ancestral Recipes and Preserving Generational Wisdom

• Approach family members with humility and patience, and be transparent about your intentions when asking to document a recipe. Recognize the privilege of access and document recipes as a way to honor elders who may have been denied the confidence or space to share their knowledge. 
• Whether you’re documenting by writing, recording, or both, come prepared so you honor the time, energy, and stories being shared. If using a phone to record, let a pen and paper accompany you, so you don’t lose wisdom to the whims of technology.
• Finally, offer your insights as a gift to the recipe creator or others in your circle. Sharing the result is an act of gratitude that keeps the archive alive, growing, and appreciated.