Drinking Gourd Genealogy

10/25/2024

One of the things that I can’t wait to write about are the foods my Nana Mary taught me to cook and how they reflect the knowledge our ancestors brought with them from Africa and the sheer determination it took to make edible meals from kitchen scraps and garden leftovers.

Michael Twitty’s book The Cooking Gene was the first book I read on how genealogy research and foodways history can go hand in hand and then I discovered the Netflix series High on the Hog and my world has never been the same. This is the book the series is based on and I am so excited that she’s gonna be here!

The aroma of collard greens, cornbread, turkey, dressing, and sweet potato pie connects Black Americans to the cultural tradition of soul food. These memories surrounding food evoke a cultural connection of gathering around the kitchen table. From the sensory experience of sight, smell, and flavor, Black communities find enjoyment in gathering and communing over a meal, a tradition that is deeply rooted in a shared experience that has strengthened bonds for generations.

We’re proud to celebrate this rich Black culinary heritage by welcoming Dr. Jessica B. Harris, author of "High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America" and the inspiration behind the popular Netflix documentary, to the Missouri History Museum on November 7 during our Thursday Nights at the Museum series. Harris’s book describes how West African culinary influences survived the tumult and trauma of the Middle Passage and slavery, impacting the American continent.

Read more: https://mohistory.org/blog/soul-food

10/21/2024

Hey y’all!! I’m sure some of you are wondering about the name of my company. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” is a song long-touted to be an old African Spiritual that described landmarks enslaved people used to escape to freedom (there’s now speculation that it was actually written by a white dude from Indiana in the early 1900s but I grew up knowing it as the sweet spiritual that’s playing on the post over on IG).

Regardless of the song’s pedigree, it’s a well-known fact that enslaved people were typically illiterate (in most states it was illegal to teach Black folks to read or write) so they used songs filled with symbols and codes to describe the landmarks and people that could help them escape to freedom.

When I started thinking about doing genealogy research for other people, I wanted a name that illustrated both the creativity and perseverance often required to do genealogy research that also paid homage to the creativity and perseverance of my enslaved ancestors. We were teaching G about The Underground Railroad and I stumbled across the children’s book “Follow the Drinking Gourd”, rediscovered the song and Drinking Gourd Genealogy was born! ❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️

10/20/2024

Hey y’all!! I’m sitting here trying to plan out some upcoming posts but I’m low on spoons and I’ve got a bit of writer’s block.

So I thought I’d ask - what are you interested in learning about?

I’ve got pieces in the works on why I chose the name “Drinking Gourd Genealogy” and, with the Holidays coming up, I’ll likely do some pieces on Holiday Traditions (esp as they pertain to food)

I’m likely gonna do a few pieces on Gullah Geechee Culture & Traditions, Melungeon Culture & Traditions, and Hoodoo & Appalachian Folk Magic but none of these are specifically genealogical (although closely related and intertwined, my ND brain is playing tricks on me and thinks people might not be that interested in those topics)

So I thought I’d ask! If there’s a topic I’ve writen on before that you wanted to see more of or if you have a specific question you’d like for me to answer, HMU either in the comments or via DM!

PS I spent a good part of yesterday working on the website and I’m so excited about how it’s looking!! I think I’m just a few weeks away from going live!🥳🥳🥳

10/15/2024

One of my Nana Mary’s cousins (one of the Holcomb girls) delivered a number of the Darlington Heights babies born in the early 1900s. ❤️❤️❤️

Granny Midwives were a staple in many rural communities in the south. The skill set declined as hospitals became more accessible (and there was a smear campaign initiated by whyte docs in some towns to denigrate / discredit the work as not medically sound even though the birth rate amongst midwives was higher than the average at the time 😳😳😳😒😒😒)

I am so incredibly proud of the work Jamaa Birth Village is doing to revitalize this skill set!! Infant and maternal mortality is incredibly high amongst Black women because we aren’t heard nor do we get the care we require / deserve.

They’re one of the reasons nearly my entire medical care team is of WOC - some of their early posts really opened my eyes to the ongoing disparity in medical care for Black women. Go give them a follow ❤️❤️❤️✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

Happy October, Happy Community Midwives Month and Happy anniversary month to us at Jamaa Birth Village!! We have so much to celebrate and to be grateful for.🎉

This October we’re honoring Community Midwives for all of their hard work and accomplishments. We’re also celebrating the legacy of Black Midwives as well as Jamaa Birth Village’s 10th year in service.

To honor this very special month, we welcome you to join us for a beautiful Autumn filled evening at the Missouri History Museum for the 1st annual, "History of Black Midwifery" event, Presented by Wells Fargo and Washington University in St. Louis, and co-hosted by the Missouri History Museum-African American History Initiative (AAHI) and Jamaa Birth Village. We have a wonderful evening planned for you! This event is open to the public and there is no prior registration needed.

History of Black Midwifery-Thursday Night at the Museum Schedule:

✨5pm-Happy Hour at the Museum with Drinks, Food & Music
✨5pm-6:30pm Networking with community organizations and leaders
✨5:45pm & 6:05pm-Gallery Talks featuring a History of Black Midwifery Exhibit
✨6:30pm-History of Black Midwifery Presentation featuring award winning Traditional Midwife Priestess Okunsola M. Amadou
✨7:00pm-Panel Discussion led by Reproductive Justice Activist Sandy Thornhill featuring Georgia Community Home Birth Midwife & Law Student Corrinna Womb Partera and Missouri Midwife and ally Rachel Williston.

We look forward to celebrating and sharing history with you!

Learn more at: The Missouri History Museum Website & Event Page: https://mohistory.org/events/black-midwifery or Facebook Event Page: https://bit.ly/3TOTA8v