JOYFUL PIECE #60

American Gumbo

Gumbo over rice image by jeffreyw, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. ‡

The richness in flavor and texture of a Louisiana Gumbo sends our palates abuzz, as spices romance the other ingredients in waves of sensations. I recall this delicious dish as I write this reflection on diversity in the American Scene.

There is much concern in some circles about losing the essence of America, often misinterpreted as Western European heritage. Yet the truth is that Europeans intruded upon the thriving cultures that they found in the New World. A world that loses diversity will be an insipid experience. Just look below:

Deconstructing Gumbo (and ingredient origins):

·      Stock from meat, salt, water (Mother Earth), spices (Asia, México, Central & South America, Caribbean), wine (Central Asia)

·      Roux, butter & flour mix (Northwest Europe for cattle and butter, Western Asia for wheat)

·      Okra (East Africa)

·      Sassafras (Choctaw Indigenous people)

·      Hot sauce (México, Central & South America, Caribbean)

·      Meat, fish, shellfish (Mother Earth)

·      Celery (Eastern Mediterranean)

·      Onions (Western & Central Asia)

·      Bell peppers (México, Central & South America, Caribbean)

·      Andouille (meat products) plus garlic (Mesopotamia, China, Egypt) and wine (Western Asia)

·      …and the rice (China)

Wonderful gumbo, in all its variations, depends on its diverse ingredients. Each ingredient contributes to the whole yet retains its individuality as can be seen in the above image, detected in its fragrance, and discerned in the flavors, textures and spiciness of its ingredients.

When I was in middle school the culture often spoke of the “melting pot” that it considered the US to be. I propose that American Culture is more akin to the diversity found in Gumbo— each wave of immigrants contributing to the whole yet retaining its glorious individuality.

These reflections were inspired by a message from Karen S. Bonnell, recommending Kaoru Ishibashi's movie "OMOIYARI". I thank Karen for raising my awareness of that beautiful movie.

It’s a small world— thrive in the joy of diversity!

20240826

‡ This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.