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.