Know your history: Why do we eat certain Southern foods on Juneteenth?

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Ribs, fried chicken, red velvet cake and more are staples on Juneteenth. But those foods aren’t just Southern classics — they have specific meanings for the holiday.

Atlanta News First’s Lana Harris met with GE Southern Foods Chef Rasul York, who explained the history and significance behind the food eaten on June 19. For instance, did you know that James Hemmings, Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved chef, is credited with bringing mac and cheese to the United States from France?

“Even though we take for granted that we can eat this food every day, it’s a great remembrance of our culture,” York said of the various dishes.