Saturday, February 4, 2012

Slave Food: Okra


Okra is low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Riboflavin, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium and Manganese. (source: Nutritional Data)

Okra (botanical name: Abelmoschus esculentus).

Okra: Abelmoschus esculentus, also called guibo and guimyombo, originated in what geo-botanists call the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) center of human food zones. It is still cultivated in present-day Ethiopia on the plateau portions of Eritrea, and in parts of the Sudan. It also became the essential ingredient of Louisiana gumbo.Food scholar Jessica Harris asserts that okra is “the one vegetable absolutely emblematic of the African presence in the New World.”

Indeed, its shape, texture and thickening abilities are predominantly associated with southern cooking, and most especially in southern Louisiana where it has been utilized for centuries to not only thicken but give a name to the state’s most iconic food: gumbo.

The apocryphal story of okra’s journey to the New World is that slaves brought the seeds with them. But as Harris wryly notes, given the horrors of being abducted from one’s home and sold into slavery, it is unlikely one had time to pack even the seeds of a treasured vegetable. Instead, like breadfruit, okra was probably brought over to be cultivated as a cheap foodstuff to feed the burgeoning slave population. While okra is often savored alone, it is most renowned for its thickening abilities, specifically in gumbo. (http://sofab.wikia.com/wiki/Okra)


Okra or gumbo, as it is called in Africa, was especially favoured in French and Spanish Louisiana during the colonial era, when European and Native American cuisine came together with African cooking to produce the unique Creole cuisine of New Orleans. Gumbo is a popular stew or soup, made up of vegetables mixed with chicken, pork, shrimp, or crawfish with okra as the main ingredient. The stew is thickened with powder from sassafras leaves (gumbo file).

Slaves in South Carolina commonly prepared the seeds of the Okra plant as a coffee substitute. Its leaves were also used medicinally as a softening ingredient in making a poultice, which is a warm mixture of bread or clay that can be applied to aching or inflamed parts of the body. Enslaved women sometimes used okra to achieve abortions by lubricating the uterine passage of pregnant women with the plant’s slimy pods. In West Africa, women today still use okra to induce an abortion, employing much the same method. (source: Slavery in America)


24 comments:

  1. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an incredibly long comment but after
    I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing
    all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
    My blog post : Hot Penny stocks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Howdy! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering
    which blog platform are you using for this site?
    I'm getting fed up of Wordpress because I've had issues with
    hackers and I'm looking at options for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
    Here is my web-site quit smoking cough

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey there, You've done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I'm sure they'll be benefited from this website.
    Here is my web site : day trading university

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is very fascinating, You're a very professional blogger. I have joined your rss feed and stay up for looking for extra of your great post. Also, I've shared
    your site in my social networks
    Also visit my weblog affiliate

    ReplyDelete
  5. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!

    I'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. Many thanks
    Review my website - online mutual fund investing

    ReplyDelete
  6. Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness on your publish is just spectacular and i can assume you are knowledgeable on this subject.

    Fine together with your permission allow
    me to grab your feed to keep up to date with impending post.

    Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the rewarding work.
    Feel free to visit my webpage penny stocks canada

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very shortly this website will be famous among all blogging users, due
    to it's pleasant articles or reviews
    My weblog inc. buy stocks

    ReplyDelete
  8. Heya i'm for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
    My site: google free classes review

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?

    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no backup.
    Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?

    Here is my webpage - know more

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog
    and wanted to say that I've truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I'll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!



    Also visit my web site: know more

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think that is among the so much important info for
    me. And i'm glad reading your article. But wanna commentary on few basic issues, The website taste is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Excellent task, cheers

    Here is my web-site :: visit link

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey! I realize this is somewhat off-topic however
    I had to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours require a lot of work?
    I'm brand new to running a blog but I do write in my diary every day. I'd like to
    start a blog so I can easily share my own experience and thoughts online.

    Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for new
    aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!

    Here is my homepage ... website

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just desire to say your article is as surprising.
    The clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you're an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.

    My website: more info

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi there, its fastidious paragraph about media print, we all be aware of media is a great source of facts.


    Stop by my web blog :: know more

    ReplyDelete
  15. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate
    you penning this post and the rest of the site is really good.


    Feel free to surf to my web-site; visit link

    ReplyDelete
  16. An outstanding share! I've just forwarded this onto a friend who was conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this issue here on your web page.

    My web blog ... visit link

    ReplyDelete
  17. First off I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question in which I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing. I've had a difficult
    time clearing my thoughts in getting my thoughts out. I truly
    do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like
    the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted just trying to figure out how to begin.
    Any recommendations or hints? Cheers!

    my web page site

    ReplyDelete
  18. Saved as a favorite, I love your web site!

    Also visit my blog post: click here

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you really understand what you're talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally visit my web site =). We may have a link exchange arrangement among us

    Feel free to visit my page - more information

    ReplyDelete
  20. I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by
    him as no one else know such detailed about my problem.
    You are wonderful! Thanks!

    Feel free to visit my page: website

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my website so i came to return
    the desire?.I'm trying to find issues to improve my web site!I assume its ok to use some of your concepts!!

    Here is my web site :: penny stocks

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at alone place.



    Check out my blog :: more info

    ReplyDelete
  23. Keep on working, great job!

    Here is my web-site: continue reading about wartrol reviews

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi there everyone, it's my first pay a quick visit at this website, and post is genuinely fruitful designed for me, keep up posting these types of articles or reviews.

    Look at my blog: additional idol lash reviews here

    ReplyDelete

HOME

HOME
Click here to return to the US Slave Home Page