Food and Traditions

In both "Reclaiming True Grits” by Bryant Terry and "Eating the Hyphen” by Lily Wong, readers are given a small taste of how food affects a person and their culture. In both pieces, the authors focus on a "traditional" food from their different cultures (grits and dumplings, respectively) and discuss the different ways these foods are perceived. Both authors challenge a part of their different cultures by questioning the "traditional" ways. In Terry's piece, it's obvious that the author grew up with grits done a certain way. He, however, has a problem with how the grits are seen more than the grits themselves. He believes that people see the food of his culture as "soul food", but in reality it's just what they ate. The idea of what soul food should be has shaped it into a fatter, greasier, less organic version. Terry is complaining that people do not know what the food really signifies, and shouldn't go around using the term "soul food" lightly. While Terry is challenging the ideas of his culture in words, Wong is using her actions to defy cultural norms. Wong describes how she eats a dumpling in her story, the process of which is 100% not traditional (using a fork/knife and ketchup). It makes one wonder why the authors became a symbol against the traditions they grew up with. It makes one wonder how traditions are formed in the first place. What makes something a tradition, and not just the way things are? Why does it need to have a label as "expected" or "right"? It is easy to notice that the authors each have a different relationship with food, too. Terry has a professional relationship, in which there is mutual respect and trust. Wong, however, seems to think of food as a source of entertainment, or a way to feel good. While neither is necessarily right or wrong, they are very different and for a reason. This reason, though, is hard to read. What is important to take away from these pieces is not only the different authors tones and thoughts, but also the idea that things need to be a certain way. Question everything.