Foodways—the cultural, historical, and social traditions that surround food—provide context for what we eat, how it gets to us, who prepares it, and who is at the table.
As foodways are central to understanding the experience of immigrants, Indigenous peoples, and descendants of the African Diaspora, food can help us reclaim a sense of identity and kinship—especially when languages or cultural traditions have been prohibited and erased.
The initiative includes the Food Dialogues, Foodways Workshops, and an annual spring symposium.
February 11, 2025; 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ross Hall
Join us for an engaging lecture and discussion of Lynne Howarth-Gladston’s new book, Marianne North: A Victorian Painter for the 21st Century. This lavishly illustrated book re-assesses the work of botanical painter Marianne North (1830–1890), examining her unique approach to painting, her techniques, and her use of photography.
October 19, 2024; 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Ross Hall
Join us for a one-day symposium to celebrate the closing of the exhibition African American Garden | Diaspora: Same Boat Different Stops. The symposium will feature a conversation between celebrated chef Kwame Onwuachi, creator of New York City’s restaurant Tatiana, and award-winning author Dr. Jessica B. Harris, as well as a panel with trailblazing food scholars and community organizers who participated as key advisors in the creation and development of the African American Garden.
Saturday, June 29; 12 p.m.
Ross Hall
Join us for a screening of the widely acclaimed documentary Farming While Black (2023), which examines the historical plight of African American farmers in the United States and the rising generation reclaiming their ownership of land and reconnecting to their ancestral roots. The screening will be followed by a lively conversation between writer and director Mark Decena and NYBG trustee Karen Washington, one of the film’s main characters.
Saturday, May 11, 2024; 1–3 p.m.
Offsite
Unleash your creativity and awaken your senses with our hands-on incense making workshop! Learn the art of blending fragrant herbs, spices, and resins to create your own signature scents that will infuse your home with peace and tranquility.
Saturday, April 13; 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Ross Hall
Esmeralda Santiago, author of When I Was Puerto Rican, sits down with Dr. Jessica B. Harris for a conversation that explores memory and belonging through food, landscapes, and gardens as they show up in her work and her life.
This series brings together prominent authors, chefs, and historians for important conversations that re-examine our notions of culture and identity through food.
The series moderator is Dr. Jessica B. Harris, America’s leading expert on the food traditions of the African Diaspora. Her 12th book, High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America, has inspired a new Netflix series.
Carla Hall & Tonya Hopkins Watch
Michael Twitty & JJ Johnson Watch
In parallel with the Food Dialogues, Foodways Workshops explore the food and drink traditions of particular Bronx communities.
Generous support provided by Mellon Foundation