July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day
‘Soul Food Scholar’ Adrian Miller explains why the crispy yard bird should be heralded as an American treasure.
When cooked correctly, fried chicken is a perfect food. And when paired with the right accompaniments, such as collard greens, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese, it becomes the quintessential Southern American meal.
But where did it come from? And how did it find itself on the continent of North America? James Beard Award-winning author Adrian Miller recently hung out with me on the “Instagram Live! Culinary Series” to discuss the origins of fried chicken and more.
“The love for chicken gets planted in West Africa and becomes a part of West African culture, especially religious rites,” explained Miller. “It was an emblem of cultural status, and that came across the Atlantic during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It takes root here in different iterations.”
He goes on to discuss how formerly enslaved Black women cooked and sold fried chicken to make a living during the Reconstruction period. Miller’s deep knowledge of fried chicken is fascinating, humorous and well researched.
I hope you get to celebrate National Fried Chicken Day with a crispy drumstick or breast, but if not today, there’s always tomorrow!
Deliciousness!