Here are three popular drinks, from a Black classic to an American favorite, all with deep roots in our culture that you should know.
Ginger Ale: In our Black homes, ginger ale is a cure for many ailments. While commercial soda brands mostly only include traces of ginger, our loyalty to the beverage could be tied to ancestral knowledge. Whether grocery store ginger ale works or not, ginger itself has long been a balm for us, as many of us relied on herbal remedies long before colonization.
Red Drinks: From the sorrel of Jamaica to the bissap of Senegal, these hibiscus-based drinks are a diaspora favorite traceable to West Africa, where our people first made drinks using hibiscus flowers and cola notes for medical and celebratory purposes. In the U.S. South, red drinks were made with berries and cherries.
Mint Julep: The mint julep is often associated with the Kentucky Derby but has deep roots in our history. Black bartenders helped popularize the cocktail in exclusive Southern country clubs with mixologist and mint-harvester Julian Anderson’s 1919 book of cocktail recipes.
Cheers to knowing and sharing our history despite what schools didn't teach and what they're actively trying to erase right now. We all we got.