Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

?? How does your family cook their greens? Collard greens are often a staple at the dinner table in African American families. This stockpot was used to cook collard greens for over 20 years at the Florida Avenue Grill in Washington, D.C., one of the country's oldest African American-owned soul food restaurants. The various leafy greens in the cabbage family have grown across Africa, Europe, and North America for centuries. But greens flavored with ham hocks are part of a larger Black survival story. Enslaved African Americans stretched their allotments of food by growing greens and using scraps of meat to add flavor and nutrients. Often referred to as pot liquor (also "pot likker"), the broth created by the collards rich in Vitamins C, K, A, and iron – is used as a tonic by some elders today. This culinary tradition of 'making do' became a beloved staple in southern diets and traveled with migrating African Americans throughout the United States. #APeoplesJourney ?? Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Imar and Tasha Hutchins, Florida Avenue Grill.

Potato salad is more than just a dish——it’s a tradition, a debate, and sometimes, a family legacy. At Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture's Sweet Home Café, a former senior cook created a classic Southern-style recipe featuring Yukon gold potatoes, sweet pickle relish, and mustard.?#APeoplesJourney?

Macaroni and cheese has taken to the hearts and stomachs of generations in the United States and the Caribbean, where it is sometimes known by its British name, “macaroni pie.” #APeoplesJourney?

Often thought of as one of the few sweet treats of the Colonial era, sweet potatoes were used to make a bevy of foods including sweet potato biscuits, candied sweet potatoes, and the beloved sweet potato pie.?#APeoplesJourney

#OnThisDay in 1911, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It is the first African American fraternity founded at a historically Black university. #APeoplesJourney ?? Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Margaret Falkener DeLorme, Waldo C. Falkener, Cameron S. Falkener and Gilbert E. DeLorme.

Today, we remember dancer-choreographer Judith Jamison. The Philadelphia native brought passion and power to the art of dance, first as a principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which she joined in 1965, and later as their artistic director from 1989 to 2011. Jamison formed her own dance company, The Jamison Project, and fearlessly pushed the boundaries of expression through choreographed works, including “Forgotten Time” (1989) and “Love Stories” (2004). She earned numerous honors, including a Phoenix Award, Primetime Emmy, and induction into the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance. In 2011, Jamison became the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Emerita. Her performances inspired audiences worldwide. Through movement, she affirmed the beauty of Black expression and embodied the cultural richness and vibrancy of the African American experience. ?? Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc., Photography by Jack Mitchell, ? Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved.

#OnThisDay in 1960, Ruby Bridges integrated an all-white elementary school in the South. On her first day, 4 U.S. Marshals escorted Ruby and her mother to William Frantz Elementary School when local officials refused to protect her. For the entire school year, only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach Ruby in a classroom by herself due to the withdrawal of students from her class by their parents. For over a year, Henry taught Ruby alone. Her father was fired from his job, and her grandparents were thrown off the farm they rented. Ruby persisted and finished the school year, remaining a student there through elementary school. #APeoplesJourney #ANationsStory ?? Courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, NAID: 175739325.

#OnThisDay in 1922, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. 7 young educators founded the sorority. It is the only sorority in the National Pan-Hellenic Council established on a predominantly white campus. #APeoplesJourney ?? Members of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority during a Founders Day celebration, Baltimore, Maryland, November 13, 1993. Photo by Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images.

Black soldiers have served in every war in the United States. In choosing to join the military, they sought to have their service understood by the nation as a demand for liberty and citizenship. African American men and women who enlisted in the military made their service useful not only for the good of their country, but to benefit both their personal lives and their communities. Today, we honor their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of those who still take the call to serve their country. Learn more on our Searchable Museum: https://s.si.edu/3NZGHVZ #VeteransDay #APeoplesJourney #ANationsStory ?? Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter.

?? Discover the legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune with Noliwe Rooks’ powerful new biography! Renowned public historian and Brown University professor, Rooks sheds light on Bethune’s vital work as an educator, activist, presidential advisor, and founder of Bethune-Cookman Institute—whose indispensable contributions to the civil rights movement have been largely forgotten—until now. Signed books will be available for purchase courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises. Free to attend. Registration required: https://s.si.edu/48W2VSF