Free film screening tells story of soul food, tradition: 2/15

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Free film screening tells story of soul food, tradition

by Susan Johnson
Office of Health Promotion

Food nourishes us and keeps us alive. It signifies home and family. And soul food, which occupies a special place in African-American culture, enjoys all of those positive attributes. But can too much of it make you sick and even kill you? "Soul Food Junkies" asks this question and others as it explores the history of soul food and its effects on the health of African-Americans.

Framing the film around his father's love of eating and subsequent illness and death, filmmaker Byron Hurt tells the story of soul food, from its origins during the days of slavery to present day modifications in traditional cooking. Many of the items that are considered soul food staples, such as yams, corn, and pork, were once the sustenance of slaves.

Through time, dishes made with these items morphed into Southern cuisine, as survival food became a delicacy.
Soul foods prepared in the traditional manner are generally high in starch, fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories. In fact, traditional-style soul foods have been blamed for the abnormally high rates of high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack suffered by African-Americans, especially those living in the southern and central U.S.

In "Soul Food Junkies," Hurt sets out on a historical and culinary journey to learn more about the soul food tradition and its relevance to black cultural identity. Through interviews with cooks, historians, and scholars, as well as with doctors, family members, and every day people, the film puts this culinary tradition under the microscope to examine its consequences.

Hurt explores the socioeconomic conditions in predominantly black neighborhoods, where it can be difficult to find healthy options. He also meets some pioneers in the emerging food justice movement who are challenging the food industry, encouraging communities to "go back to the land" by creating sustainable and eco-friendly gardens, advocating for healthier options in supermarkets, supporting local farmers' markets, avoiding highly processed fast foods, and cooking healthier versions of traditional soul food.

In recognition of Black History Month, the MUSC Urban Farm and the Office of Student Diversity are hosting a free screening of this documentary at 6 p.m., Feb. 21 in the auditorium of the Basic Science Building.

The documentary, which is 64 minutes long, will be followed by a panel discussion. A tour of the Urban Farm will be from 5 to 5:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Basic Science Building lobby. Space is limited.

Reservations may be made at http://paperlesspost.com/p/fffa9a8003#paper/front/0.

For more information, email johnsusa@musc.edu or call 792-1245.

Friday, Feb. 15, 2013

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