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The Food Programme: Fried Chicken: a story of race and identity

Fried Chicken: a story of race and identity

BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme, Fried Chicken: a story of race and identity

Jaega Wise and Melissa Thompson look at the racial connotations of fried chicken.

Jaega Wise and Melissa Thompson explore the history of fried chicken within the black community.

Since the American Civil War to the present day, fried chicken has been used to create negative stereotypes of black people. These stereotypes and this history has seeped into today’s consciousness which has established a complicated relationship between chef and author Melissa Thompson and the food item. It’s a relationship which she wrote about and she joins Jaega Wise to explore her feelings and attitudes towards this fried dish. 

Food historian Adrian Miller looks at the presence of fried chicken on the plantation fields in the Deep South and explains how the racial connotations of fried chicken and black people materialised in America. 

We hear from Dr Kehinde Andrews who details the importance of having shared collective experiences of food and culture within communities. Dr Andrews explains how this experience strengthens the connection amongst people when faced in situations of being ‘othered’. 

Melissa pairs up Maureen Tyne at her Caribbean food establishment in Brixton, South London. Maureen shows Melissa how she makes her special recipe for fried chicken and shares her love for the meal. 


Presenters: Jaega Wise and Melissa Thompson
Produced by Candace Wilson

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