Denver BBQ expert Adrian Miller noticed Blacks were conspicuously absent from media coverage of the culinary craft. His third book on food culture gives them their due.
African Americans
Posted inSunLit Interviews
Adrian Miller drew on oral histories of enslaved people to address origins of barbecue
While exploring Black cultural ties to barbecue cuisine, author Adrian Miller’s research for “Black Smoke” also revealed its Native American foundation.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: The Colorado legislature’s big health care bill will worsen health disparities for African Americans
As a physician and native Coloradan, I am grateful to wake up every day and provide quality medical care in the state that is so close to my heart. I spent the first 27 years of my career as a pediatric cardiologist in a private practice. To me, I am more than just a doctor […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Councilwoman Ortega, Sen. Moreno: “Building back better” means an opportunity for environmental justice for all communities
It is no secret that people who live in the Denver metro area are exposed to air pollution daily and frequently at hazardous levels. We breathe in pollution from power plants, industry, oil and gas facilities, from cars, trucks and buses, and wildfires as well as out-of-state. Emissions from these facilities also lead to the […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
“Our” beloved Colorado: Race, privilege, and landscape in the state’s history
As we look forward to Colorado Day on Aug. 1, History Colorado asked each member of its State Historian’s Council to reflect on what “our beloved Colorado” means to them. Here, Jared Orsi reflects on who we mean — and who we exclude — when we say “our.” One-hundred-twenty-seven years ago last week, Katharine Lee […]
Posted inColoradans, COVID, Education, Health
Denver survey shows Black and Hispanic families more likely to prefer virtual learning
In late June and early July, the Denver school district asked families to make a choice: Would they want their children to stay home this fall and learn online, or would they want to send their children in person to school buildings, with safety protocols to protect against the coronavirus? The district got answers for […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, News, Politics and Government
At nearly every turn in Denver, protesters confront a reason to march
Kenny White, a black man in his late 20s, joins the downtown Denver protesters near dusk. A speaker has just wrapped his exhortation to the hundreds gathered at the west steps. “This is not a black-versus-white issue,” he says. “This is an us-versus-them issue.” The words “By any means necessary” are spray-painted on the Capitol […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Wilson: Brother Jeff has created a gathering place for Denver’s African-American community
His name alone is a Denver institution. At times, it seems that more people have heard his name than can actually recognize his face. Yet, Jeff Fard, better known as “Brother Jeff” continues to reinvent himself, his brand and his activism. Not only is Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center on Welton Street somewhat of a landmark and […]
Posted inBook Excerpts, Culture, Food and Restaurants, SunLit
Presidents’ affinities for foods reveal their humanity, but alcohol has proven a dicier deal throughout history
The following is an excerpt from Adrian Miller’s book, “The Presidents Kitchen Cabinet.” The piece explores what Miller found in his research: that while African American chefs cooked for every president, their stories remained largely untold. Miller is an attorney, James Beard Award-winning food writer, and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver, Colorado. Miller […]
Posted inCulture, Food and Restaurants, SunLit, SunLit Interviews
Research for “Soul Food” led author to tales of African-Americans at work on White House cuisine
“The President’s Kitchen Cabinet” celebrates the legacy of African-American presidential chefs. These fascinating people excelled at the awesome responsibility of nourishing our First Families. As both enslaved and free people, they were celebrated culinary artists in their time, family confidantes and, upon occasion, civil rights advocates. Adrian Miller is an attorney, James Beard Award-winning food […]