Abby Fisher was an incredible cook – and she had the accolades to prove it. No matter where she went, she won cooking contests and fairs. But that wasn’t all that was incredible about her.
She wrote a cookbook and chronicled her life – without being able to read a single word! She dictated the entire thing – and it turned out it was one of the most sought-after books in white high society.
But that’s not the most powerful part of her story.
Her book was more than just recipes. Fisher packed her book with stories, advice, and hope for our people. Her goal was to show our people in a positive light and to inspire other Black cooks to follow in her footsteps.
Fisher not only professionalized the Southern cooking that Black women did daily, but she provided a way for future generations to build wealth grounded in Black identity. She created a pickle company and sold her award winning jams, relishes, and chou chous, chronicled in her cookbook – in spite of white detractors.
Fisher meant for her work to demonstrate and preserve the art of Black cooking for generations to come, and it did exactly that. She left evidence of Black excellence. We have so much wisdom – let’s make sure we share them to make history and inform future generations!