Events include a culinary demonstration.
Wayne E. Phaneuf, executive editor of The Republican, and editor of The Republican's forthcoming "The Struggle for Freedom: The History of the African Americans in Western Massachusetts," will be among the panelists on Feb. 23.
The Pan African Historical Museum USA in Springfield’s Tower Square will celebrate Black History Month with events that include a panel discussion and a culinary demonstration.
“Our ancestors say ‘Come, sit at our table and then you will know us.’ It’s applies not just to the cooking but to sharing, learning and getting to know one another,” said LuJuana D. Hood, executive director.
On Feb. 19 at noon, the museum will host a culinary event, “Saluting Edna Lewis,” that will highlight this “Great Dame of Southern Cooking.”
“Lewis wanted to preserve the African-American cooking tradition for the younger generations. She was in pursuit of good food that was simple and elegant. She lived on a farm so she was all about sharing with people what she had,” Hood said.
Lewis, born in April 1916, was the granddaughter of one of three emancipated slaves who founded Freetown, Va. During her early years, she moved North and became the cook at Café Nicholson on East 57th Street in Manhattan.
Celebrities like Tennessee Williams, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Vogue editor Diana Vreeland were among her customers.
Lewis wrote several books including “The Edna Lewis Cook Book,” “Taste of Country Cooking,” and “The Gift of Southern Cooking” with Chef Scott Peacock.
She was the first person to receive the James Beard Living Legend Award.
Lily Morales, a Holyoke resident and cook for the New Hope Church of God and Christ in Springfield, will make a Lewis-inspired dish featuring catfish and zucchini vegetable melody over white rice.
“Lily is an excellent chef and was taught the Southern tradition by the late Willa May Butler, who came out of Arkansas. She gave Lily all her techniques for making excellent cakes and pastries but groomed her to cook that authentic way you just can’t learn in a school,” Hood said.
On Feb. 23 at 1 p.m., “Discovering Springfield’s African American Heritage,” a panel discussion, will presented..
Panelists will include Amilcar Shabazz, a professor and faculty adviser for diversity and excellence at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Wayne E. Phaneuf, executive editor of The Republican, and editor of The Republican’s forthcoming “The Struggle for Freedom: The History of the African Americans in Western Massachusetts,“ and Joseph Carvalho III, author of “Black Families in Hampden County, Mass.: 1650-1855,” and retired executive director the Springfield Museums.
“Our guests for this event will be talking about their books and why they wrote them. It’s going to be a journey of learning about our culture and for people who don’t know about African-American culture to learn about it and enjoy it. There’s going to be something for everyone,” Hood said.
For more information, call (413) 733-4823 or visit