Meet 7 Recipe Creators Cultivating a Digital Space for Black Food & Culture

Whether it’s deeply ingrained in your culinary background or you’re not yet aware of it, you have been influenced by Black cooking. Like music, art, and culture, it’s impossible to talk about American food without acknowledging how integral Black people have been to its evolution and distinct personality. That’s why the seven women behind Black People’s Recipes created their cooking website: It’s a safe and engaging space to celebrate, share, and teach Black culinary traditions. 

All good recipes begin with a vibrant and passionate creator, and the food found on Black People’s Recipes is no exception. The site was founded by seven bloggers, already having strong presences in the food and cooking space: Tanya Harris of My Forking Life, Brandi Crawford of Stay Snatched, Shannon Epstein of Fit Slow Cooker Queen, Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes, Jessica Hylton Leckie of Jessica in the Kitchen, Davinah Smith of Dr. Davinah Eats, and Imma Adamu of Immaculate Bites. 

All of these women maintain thriving websites of their own, but after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, they felt called to do something more. “We wanted to create a space where we could just be ourselves and support each other as we navigate being entrepreneurs, but also Black food bloggers,” explains Dr. Smith. 

That’s the magic of Black People’s Recipes: These seven women come from diverse backgrounds and all have a unique specialty in the kitchen. “On the blog, you’ll find a wide variety of recipes,” says Epstein. “Slow cooker recipes, vegan food, desserts, African specialties … there’s literally something for everyone.” Black People’s Recipes is a valuable resource for those looking to reconnect to their culinary heritage, or educate themselves about Black food. The recipes span African, African-American, and Caribbean influence, with dishes like Chitterlings, Classic Jamaican Lemonade, Okra and Tomatoes with Chicken, and Kool-Aid Pie. The bloggers also feature timely and seasonal inspiration, like a recent collection of Soul Food Easter recipes (race you to the carrot soufflé!).

From a user experience standpoint, Black People’s Recipes is a joy to use. It’s easy to search and navigate. Every recipe features helpful tips, pictures, and step-by-step instructions. Even more important: There’s context for the recipe at hand. The blogger who created it shares a little bit about its origins or their personal connection to the food. Harris, for example, keeps both her Caribbean heritage and her two daughters at the top of her mind when creating recipes. “I want them to be able to experience the foods that I grew up eating,” she says, adding that her current home in North Carolina also provides inspiration.

Black People’s Recipes is — at its heart — a group of women who support and look out for each other. That’s evident in the site design — many recipes link back to the creators’ own pages, increasing traffic for the creators and generating important revenue. The women behind the website also seek to be a source of inspiration for other entrepreneurs. “Ditch the perfectionism,” says Crawford. “You will make mistakes along the way and those are the perfect opportunities for you to learn and pivot.”

Black People’s Recipes is so much more than just a food blog. (Not coincidental: Black food is so much more than just a meal.) It’s a gathering place, educational resource, and historical text. “Generations of Black food are truly special and deserve a place where people can find them,” says Delk Adams. Yes. And yes! With that in mind, you can connect with all of the creators behind Black People’s Recipes on their own pages or on social media. Psst: Their Instagram handle is @blackpeoplesrecipes.  

There is no shortage of recipes on the internet, so in a landscape of seemingly endless possibilities, why not start somewhere that has a cultural impact? Black People’s Recipes provides an accessible resource for everyone to learn about and celebrate Black food — and support Black creators.

Interested in finding out about more women-owned businesses? Check out our Instagram Highlights to find your new soon-to-be favorite brand. And don’t forget to follow Black People’s Recipes on social, too!