Soul Food: A Contemporary and Historical Exploration of New South Food

Tipton-Martin is a culinary journalist, author of the forthcoming book, The Jemima Code, co-founder of the Southern Foodways Alliance, and founder and executive director of the SANDE Youth Project. She will lead the discussion with her research on historical and contemporary African American cooks and chefs with roots in North Carolina.

The accompanying traveling exhibit to her book, The Jemima Code, will be on display at the museum for the event. Event co-sponsors in addition to the Levine Museum are UNC Charlotte’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund, Academic Affairs, the American Studies Program, the Center for Professional and Applied Ethics and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Complimentary parking is available after 5 PM at Seventh Street Station parking deck next to the museum. Attendees should bring the ticket to the museum for validation.

The event is free, but seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVPs are required. To RSVP, email CLAS-Event@uncc.edu with the event name in the subject line or call 704-687-1429.

The final event in the series is scheduled for September. In light of the issues brought to the forefront through these programs, a two-day conference on the “Culture and History of Food in the New South” will focus on topics such as culture and ethnicity in southern cuisine, the complex historical relationship between black and white women, the challenge of sustainability and access to fresh-grown foods, and the historical and contemporary politics of cookbooks. Scholars, culinary journalists, chefs and farmers are encouraged to participate. Details for this event will be announced later.

The first event in the series was a screening of the documentary film Pride and Joy (2013), directed by Joe York and produced by the Southern Foodways Alliance. Faculty members responded to the film, and time was scheduled for questions and answers. UNC Charlotte Community Garden co-sponsored the film. Concessions will be available for purchase, and complimentary parking is available. The second event focused on “The Future of Food in the New South” through a panel discussion featuring Cassie Parsons, Executive Chef and Owner of Farmer-Baker-Sausage Maker and Co-owner of Grateful Growers Farm; Robin Emmons, Founder and Executive Director of Sow Much Good; Food Editor Kathleen Purvis from The Charlotte Observer; and Timothy Cameron, Associate Professor at Johnson & Wales University’s College of Culinary Arts. Karen Cox, professor of History at UNC Charlotte, moderated. To view live tweets from the event, see #NewSouthFood