Muhammad Ali went toe to toe with Joe Frazier during 1971’s "Fight of the Century.” But Ali wasn’t floating like a butterfly or stinging like a bee.
Sold on corners across the country by bowtie-wearing members of the Nation of Islam, bean pies were a tasty treat for Black Muslims. It was touted as an alternative to the sweet potato pie, which Nation leaders rejected as a relic of the "slave diet" in their efforts to disconnect us from enslavement.
The custard pie is made with navy beans, sugar, eggs, and milk and flavored with nutmeg and cinnamon. Navy beans were crucial for the Nation, because all other beans were divinely prohibited. Ali couldn’t resist the bean pies made by his personal chef, Lana Shabazz. Before facing Frazier in the ring, Ali might have had one pie too many. Ali famously blamed his big loss on just that.
Eventually, bean pie became a fixture in Black American culture, with references in rap and on TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The pie's importance is about more than entertainment, though.
It reminds us that we've always been capable of finding ways to share our ideas and connect. We don’t have to fight for crumbs. We can win together.