"Food Network says it's dedicated to teaching. But it never let me say 'slavery' on air."

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/05/28/food-network-slavery/

By Dan Kohler

Something special happened when Kardea Brown discussed Jim and Henry Hutchinson on a recent episode of her show, “Delicious Miss Brown” on Food Network.

As she prepared to host a fish-fry fundraiser to refurbish the historic Hutchinson House on Edisto Island, S.C., she said, “They were former slaves and they built a house … and it’s the only house owned by a freedman that’s still standing on Edisto.” Later, she said: “Coming from being former slaves and probably living in slave quarters, to them this was a mansion. But to me, even though it’s a little smaller, it feels big, it feels large because you know the story behind it.” She even talked about how her own great-great-great-grandmother was the last person to own the house.

I was delighted to see and hear this, and not just because of the convergence of culinary content and American history — my own wheelhouse. But I was amazed that she talked about enslavement at all, because for years, Food Network and its associated properties (Cooking Channel and Food Network Kitchen) wouldn’t let me make any such mention on its outlets.

Over the past four years, producers working with the network, owned since 2018 by Discovery Inc., have repeatedly asked for my silence on the topic of enslavement. And just in case you think I’m the only one, just last year, Brown — one of the few Black hosts on the network — told Southern Living magazine that she had experienced the same resistance.

[jimfields33]

1. A cooking show. I think if she mentioned that the dish was made by slaves

should be acceptable. Not sure what’s wrong with that.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. White supremacy pushes to hide unpleasant realities so white people don't feel uncomfortable.

It's a feel-good cooking show! We can't possibly mention anything that makes people sad when we're trying to keep things light!

[jimfields33]

4. It's not like people don't know slavery existed. It's not hidden.

Just announce it while preparing that slaves made this dish. I doubt they’d get pushback at all.

[ret5hd]

6. Yet.

Soon though, soon.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. I disagree. TV producers don't do things in a vacuum, so it's clear to me advertisers have made

their opinions known, and I would bet folding money that mentions of slavery would get letters and phone calls about "politicizing everything" and "I watch the Food Network so I DON'T have to think about these things" and "it's just food, don't overthink it" and "get over it."

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. White fragility

[Politicub]

15. Jacques Pepin, Julia Child, etc. told stories and shared history, too.

People complaining about this show are racist.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Not an expert, but doesn't most of Southern cuisine have its roots in slavery? nt

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. Not just southern. Netflix's "High on the Hog," inspired by the book of the same name,

digs into the history of many signature foods in different parts of the U.S.

[Solly Mack]

5. I've seen food shows where they made a point of talking about the history behind the food being

prepared - because it was of interest. (and it is - can't see separating food from its history. Food is cultural and wonderfully so)

But I guess, for some, the story needs to be all sunshine and puppies.

Wouldn't want to make the viewers uncomfortable with a side of facts to go along with their entrees.

Trying to make the mention of slavery taboo is just one more way of trying to erase history.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. It sounds like "High on the Hog" (which I mention above) is doing a phenomenal job of

telling the whole story.

[Solly Mack]

11. I'll have to check it out.

I love food shows that do tell the story behind the food.

[Wounded Bear]

9. American history has been largely white washed...

sad and sick. The roots of the different kinds of food is very interesting, and ignoring reality is never a good idea.

[Solly Mack]

12. I call it feel-good history.

[Politicub]

16. The best food shows are always about more than a recipe.

I like the hosts that make it feel like you’re hanging out in their kitchen, listening to them talk, while they cook.

[Solly Mack]

19. I agree. Life happens in the kitchen. Did in my house.

[sop]

10. Efforts by white supremacists to cancel the mere mention of slavery are increasing.

Before we know it terms like Jim Crow, lynchings, ku klux klan or even the civil rights movement will be cancelled as well.

[Me.]

14. Despicable

Especially considering the heritage of that food. Many, many of the foods we love today are the children of what those slaves thought up and cooked up. It's amazing how prevalent they are on today's dinner tables.

[Hortensis]

18. Times change, we do advance. At one time, Aunt Jemima was the

only black cook I heard of on TV; that she was meant to evoke the prototypical black mammy, always happy and giving to the family who owned and later employed her, wasn't mentioned, didn't need to be.

That was before the internet revolution, of course.

[Vinca]

20. The Food Network is dedicated to teaching? I thought it was dedicated to Guy Fieri.

We used to watch a few shows on it, but they've disappeared and all there is is Guy Fieri, Guy Fieri, Guy Fieri with Bobby Flay thrown in every few days so you know they change the tape. "Delicious Miss Brown" sounds interesting. Could they swap out a few Guys for it in primetime? Can't imagine why the woman wasn't allowed to say "slavery." It's not exactly a state secret.