Skip to content

May 19, 2016

Michael Pollan Tells The Secret History Of This Popular Summer Food

A great 3-minute clip from Michael Pollan about the fascinating history of barbecue as one of the only foods that crosses racial barriers. #BBQ

Brandon A. Weber

Barbecue grills are heating up all over the country, but did you know how they got their start?

The roots go back to the tobacco harvests of the South, and even further back, slaves who went through the Caribbean and picked up the cooking techniques and even the spices there.

The tradition even held during the most highly charged racial divisions we’ve had in this country — like the civil rights movement of the 1960s — and white folks would still eat at the most popular African American barbecue restaurants, and similarly, African Americans would eat at the white-owned barbecue joints. The conflicts just didn’t matter when it was time to get some BBQ.

OK, I think I need to go light some coals …

For some great recipes and methods to use on your ‘Cue, check the usual places.

And for Michael Pollan’s books, go here. If you need a recommendation, Omnivore’s Dilemma is a fabulous place to start.

Lastly, he made a few more videos for Big Think.

Thumbnail image Creative Commons Licensed.

Related

An edited image of elmo peeking out from a trash can, positioned among scattered multiple cartoon-like chat bubbles expressing humorous thoughts.

Everyday Philosophy: “Is there anything wrong with trauma dumping?”

When does "oversharing" become an issue?

Bald man in casual attire sitting on a stool with a strategic diagram background in yellow.

Adam Grant on how to identify and develop high-potential leaders

The ability to toggle between abstract and concrete thinking is a key differentiator of high-potential leaders.

A split image with a close-up of a blue eye on the left, and a classical painting of a woman resting her head on her arm on a sofa on the right.

For true success we need to be more philosophical about “good” and “bad” failure

Bob Dylan gave us the paradoxical gem "there's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all" — he had a point.

atom quantum

Starts With A Bang

The idea that matter is mostly empty space is mostly wrong

Practically all of the matter we see and interact with is made of atoms, which are mostly empty space. Then why is reality so... solid?

Do you live in a new desert?.

America’s news deserts are growing

Most counties in the U.S. have only one local newspaper, often one that publishes weekly instead of daily.

Up Next

Which Countries Have the Best Passports — And Which Have the Worst

Passport specifications are regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the relative power of your country's passport says a lot about its standing in thew world.