Tag: African diaspora

Over 7,000 years ago, corn was first domesticated in what is now Mexico, later becoming a foundational crop for enslaved Africans who adapted their culinary heritage with available ingredients. This ingenuity led to cornmeal replacing African staple starches, reshaping the traditional black southern diet.

West African diets for thousands of years were centered around staples like rice and yams. This rich history definitively proves that rice is considered soul food, serving as a foundational ingredient in African American cuisine and a vital link to ancestral heritage.

Genetic studies show that lactase persistence, the ability to digest milk into adulthood, varies significantly across African populations. The simple question "do Africans have lactose tolerance?" reveals a complex story shaped by millennia of evolution, different historical diets, and multiple, independent genetic mutations. The answer is not a single yes or no, but a fascinating exploration into human adaptation.