
African Technology & Rice: The Making of American Wealth & Cuisine
This curated American History tour is designed to illuminate the profound impact of African ingenuity on Charleston, SC and America at large. Indigenous African technology was not only pivotal in establishing Charleston’s economic wealth through rice cultivation but also crucial in shaping America’s cuisine, even under the yoke of chattel slavery. Participants will explore how Africans, far from home and under brutal conditions, demonstrated remarkable resilience and ingenuity. Cooking for their family after punishing days was an act of love and resistance, a way to craft joy and preserve cultural identity through food. Additionally, the tour will cover other forms of resistance, from these subtle acts of cultural preservation to outright rebellions. This history also showcases how the model of slavery developed in Charleston would set a precedent for the rest of the South, influencing the cultivation of rice, sugarcane, and cotton. Through a series of guided tours, historical site visits, and culinary experiences, participants will learn about the acts of resistance embedded in off-overlooked, invaluable contributions, offering a deeper appreciation for the complex tapestry of American history.