'Presidential Soul' to Occur on Inauguration Day
This first-ever event by "The Soul Food Scholar" spotlights Black culinary achievement in the White House throughout the years.
Did you know that George Washington’s presidential cook was a Black man? Known as Hercules, an enslaved man who eventually escaped, Adrian Miller a.k.a. “The Soul Food Scholar,” says that his unmarked grave has recently been discovered in New York.
“He’s [supposedly] buried on the Lower East Side,” Miller tells me during a recent LIVE! Culinary Series episode. “There are some people working to identify his grave to get a historical marker there. For pretty much a couple of centuries, we just thought he had disappeared, which made sense because Washington was such a vengeful person. We know that when enslaved people escaped from Washington, he spared no expense trying to track them down.”
During Miller’s three-hour “Presidential Soul” virtual event, which commemorates incoming President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ first term on Jan. 20, he’ll celebrate the rich legacy of African Americans who have worked at the White House, particularly the culinary professionals. Miller, who penned The President’s Kitchen Cabinet, has assembled a high-profile list of speakers, who will discuss their experiences with past presidents.
One guest certain to be a highlight is retired Senior Master Sgt. Wanda Joell — the first Africa-American woman to serve on Air Force One — who served Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama during their terms. There will also be a live music performance by Such, a dance performance, a deejay spinning popular music, and more. A commemorative program and recipe booklet will be included with each ticket; there will be vegan recipes and instructions for a signature cocktail.
Check out my interview with the Soul Food Scholar in its entirety right here.
Another great interview!