FOOD HISTORY: JUNETEENTH, "RED
DRANK" AND AFRICAN/AMERICAN CULTURE
Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan,1 1863,
ordering all slaves to be freed.but it wasn't until Dec.1865 that the
Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the whole United States. Because
the Union army of 1863 didn't have enough men to ensure that all slaves were
free in all the southern states, many African Americans remained enslaved. It
wasn't until two years later, in 1 865, that they army had strength enough to
enforce the Emancipation Proclamation in all the Confederate states, including
Texas, the most distant Confederate state, This occurred, finally,
for the last of two hundred thousand enslaved persons still in Texas,
when General Grainger arrived in Galveston, on June 19th (JUNETEENTH))
and read "General Order #13", informing them of their freedom.
Because Texas had been one of the last states to participate in the slave
trade, many Africans who came through Galveston were from both Africa and via
the Caribbean, which in the later years, were mainly the Yoruba peoples from
Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and the Konga peoples from Angola, Democratic Republic
of Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon. When they came, they brought with them
and maintained many of their traditional African heritage. They celebrated
their freedom by buying land across Texas, established Emancipation parks in
Houston and Austin and the Booker T. Washington park in Meria, TX. They
celebrated further, by embracing the colors of Africa - black, green and red -
the colors of the Pan -African flag. Further, they celebrated by drinking, Red
Drank" a red colored drink, long enjoyed in social gatherings in many regions
of West Africa and by peoples of African descent in America. The type of
"Red Drank” varied, whether a red "tea" flavored with Hibiscus
flowers or Kola nut, both indigenous to West Africa, a fruity red soda, made
using watermelon or strawberries or, even later, red Kool-Aid. . The only
constant for the drink was its red color - symbolizing the blood shed by their
formerly enslaved ancestors. Because of this, any kind off "Red
Drank" is associated with and drank, at Juneteenth festivities. Other red
colored foods were added to the tradition later; Red Velvet and red rice
and, even later, red Kool-Aid..
Recipe for Watermelon "Red Drank"
6 C watermelon pieces
3/4 C granulated sugar
1/4 C water
3 C sparkling water, plain or lemon-flavored soda
Blend all ingredients, except sparkling water o lemon
flavored soda and pour through a fine sieve to remove any seed particles.
Combine watermelon mixture with sparkling water or soda.
Serve with ice.
