There are many sides to fried chicken in American history and culture. Tons of people love this famous dish, but it comes with painful stereotypes and assumptions. Finding out where fried chicken came from and how it changed over time is an interesting story of cultural exchange and new ideas. But it also brings up tough truths about racism and unfairness that we need to face.
The Roots of Fried Chicken Trace to Europe and Africa
The specific way of frying chicken in pieces comes from cooking styles in Scotland and West Africa. Scottish immigrants brought the tradition of frying chicken without seasoning to the American South. At the same time, Africans who were slaves used their deep knowledge of spices and frying techniques, which came from West African food.
The origin of fried chicken involved the intermingling of these two culinary traditions Africans did popularize the dish following the inflow of Scottish immigrants in America. Yes, the magic originates from Scotland! In the 1700s, the Scotts who immigrated to America had a tradition of deep-frying chicken pieces in fat. This dates back to the middle ages
But the Scottish version was bland and lacked the complex flavors we associate with modern fried chicken. It took the skill and expertise of African cooks to transform this basic dish into the beloved favorite it is today.
Enslaved Cooks Innovated and Perfected Fried Chicken
Africans who were slaves in the American South were often forced to work in the kitchen. Even though this was unfair, it did give slave cooks chances to try new things and come up with new ideas.
Slave cooks expertly changed the Scottish frying method to fit their own rich culinary heritage. They also added their own special mix of herbs, garlic, onions, peppers, and spices. Their skill at seasoning and frying turned plain fried chicken into a new, delicious dish.
For enslaved communities, fried chicken symbolized skill, solidarity, and small acts of resistance. They used meager ingredients to create something special and take pride in their cooking. Fried chicken allowed enslaved people to retain and celebrate their culinary identity despite horrific oppression
The Spread and Commercialization of Fried Chicken
After the Civil War, fried chicken began spreading across the country, popularized largely by African American cooks and entrepreneurs. However, as it expanded into the mainstream, fried chicken also became problematically commodified and stereotyped.
Restaurants like Sambo’s and Coon Chicken Inn incorporated grotesque racist imagery into their marketing and décor. Advertisements used caricatures of African Americans to sell fried chicken, cementing hurtful associations in the public mindset.
While African American culinary ingenuity elevated simple fried chicken into an iconic American dish, the enduring racist connotations surrounding it tell a far more troubling story of exploitation and discrimination woven throughout its history.
Modern Impacts: Stereotypes, Pride, and Nuance
Today, attitudes around fried chicken remain complex. It undoubtedly holds deep cultural meaning for the African American community as “soul food” tied to celebration, family, and heritage. However, hurtful stereotypes associating African Americans with fried chicken persist.
Public figures like Tiger Woods have suffered racialized taunts and jabs related to fried chicken. And serving it insensitively during Black History Month has sparked recent backlash. This reveals how the racist undertones of fried chicken still lurk disturbingly near the surface of American society.
The true history of this dish demands acknowledgment and respect for the essential contributions of enslaved African cooks. Their innovation and resilience transformed basic fried chicken into an enduring emblem of American cuisine. We must continue working to dismantle lingering stereotypes while honoring this important culinary legacy.
Key Takeaways
- Fried chicken has roots in both European and West African culinary techniques
- Enslaved African cooks perfected and popularized the dish in America
- They added distinctive spices and seasonings still integral to fried chicken today
- The dish allowed enslaved communities to celebrate their cooking and identity
- Racist marketing and association with stereotypes also shaped fried chicken’s history
- Stereotypes persist today and must be actively confronted and debunked
- Fried chicken remains an important symbol of African American culinary heritage
The multifaceted history of fried chicken contains both triumph and tragedy—stories of resilience and racism. Reckoning with its complex past and present is crucial for truly understanding and celebrating this iconic American dish.
Did you get it?
Feeling hungry? CHOC it up to tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day.
Ready to learn more? Find an adult friend or family member to help you with these activities!
- Take a look at this fried chicken recipe. Adult family or friends should help you make it for dinner. If they can’t, write down the steps for them. That way, both of you will be ready when it’s time!
- Fried chicken is a traditional dish for many families. What meals does your family always eat? Write them down with a family member. Do you have any secret family recipes?.
- American fried chicken is a type of food called “soul food.” Read more about the history of soul food. What did you learn? Write a paragraph about what soul food is and where it comes from. Include the most interesting facts you learned.
- https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/07/finger-lickin-good/491108/ (accessed 18 June 2019)
- https://cassiuslife.com/187/history-of-fried-chicken/ (accessed 18 June 2019)
- https://firstwefeast.com/features/2016/04/fried-chicken-illustrated-history (accessed 18 June 2019)
- https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/fried-chicken-day-best-global-recipes/ (accessed 18 June 2019)
Have You Ever Wondered…
- Who invented fried chicken?
- Is fried chicken the same everywhere?
- How has fried chicken changed?
Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ian. Ian Wonders, “When was fried chicken made?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ian!.
What’s your favorite food? Do you like couscous or dim sum? Some people like to cook with fresh fruits and vegetables. Many people in the American South might say their favorite meal includes mashed potatoes, gravy, and biscuits. And of course, they’d include the dish at the center of any southern meal: fried chicken.
Have you ever bitten into a crispy, juicy, fried piece of chicken? Many say it’s a joy like no other. Fried chicken comes in many forms. There are legs, wings, and nuggets, just to name a few! But have you ever stopped and WONDERed who invented fried chicken?.
Fried chicken doesn’t have any one inventor. And it’s much older than you may think! English cook Hannah Glasse had the first published fried chicken recipe in 1747. However, the earliest stories of fried chicken are thousands of years old. They come from China, the Middle East, and West Africa. However, the dish has changed a lot over the years.
American-style fried chicken started in the American South. Some people think the recipe came from Scottish immigrants. However, many believe it was brought from Africa.
We’ll likely never know who made the first American fried chicken. However, there’s no doubt that African people who were enslaved in the US made the dish what it is today. They used West African spices in the breading mixture. This created a taste that was new to the Southern US. The dish quickly gained fame.
African American entrepreneurs, many of them women, started selling fried chicken as early as the 1730s. Later, other people did the same. Have you ever heard of Kentucky Fried Chicken? How about Popeyes? Fast-food restaurants selling fried chicken started opening up in the 1950s. Many of them are still around today.
Fried chicken has also continued to change. Nashville hot chicken, chicken and waffles, and Buffalo wings are just a few modern takes on the classic food. Some people even eat fried chicken wings dipped in gold!.
People all over the world make versions of fried chicken. Some of them are similar to American fried chicken, and many of them are not. If you’re looking for some tasty varieties of the dish, order it in South Korea, Senegal, or Japan.
What kind of fried chicken do you like? Or do you eat it at all? Some people prefer grilled chicken or even fried tofu. With its long history, fried chicken is a traditional dish for many families around the world.
Standards: C3.D2.His.2, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.4, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2, CCRA.SL.1
We’d like to thank:
Ian, john, and Zoraiz for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!
Keep WONDERing with us!
The Untold RACIST History of Fried Chicken
FAQ
Who first created fried chicken?
You may be surprised to learn that it is much older than you think! The first recipe developed around fried chicken was published in 1747 by English cook Hannah Glasse. Yet fried chicken has been around for thousands of years. Their countries of origin include China, the Middle East, and West Africa.
Did Africans invent fried chicken?
Scottish and West African foods have been linked to the development of fried chicken in the southern United States. Scottish fried chicken was battered with seasonings and deep fried in lard and West African fried chicken added different seasonings, and was battered and cooked in palm oil.