Chicago’s history is deeply entwined with African American migration, resilience, and food traditions. Once a key destination of the Great Migration, the city became a new home for millions seeking opportunity - bringing with them the rich culinary heritage of the South. But how did African Americans adapt to urban life when access to farmland was scarce? And how did fresh produce shape their food culture in a city built on industry?
Join John and Patrick for this special bonus episode, where they welcome photographer, content creator, and 77 Flavors of Chicago podcast cohost Dario Durham (who you may also recognize from Netflix’s award-winning series High on the Hog). Together, they explore the legacy of Chicago’s Black food culture, from its early agricultural roots to the role of markets like Maxwell Street in keeping Southern food traditions alive.
What fresh produce was central to Southern cuisine, and how did Black communities source it in a rapidly growing city? How did community gardens and urban farms become a lifeline for preserving traditional foodways? And what systemic barriers limited access to fresh produce in historically marginalized neighborhoods?
From iconic dishes to modern initiatives aimed at bringing fresh produce back to Black neighborhoods, this is the story of how Chicago’s food culture was shaped by migration, adaptation, and resilience.
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Listen to Dario Durham's podcast 77 Flavors of Chicago
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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
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