Cornbread just so happens to

be one of the food-medicines

both my native n’ black folk share

in common.

Though it has been called by many

names, Bvnaha, Shawnee cake,

Hoecake, Fry bread, Hushpuppies,

etc.

Cooked in different ways,

but cornbread through

and through.

Way back from ever since native

peoples been cultivating, harvesting

and paying respect to selu, maize,

corn

(check the 3sistas diagram).

My Cherokee ancestors used to

level up they batter by adding

chestnuts, sunflower seeds, berries

or beans, prolly where I get the

inkling to stack my cornbread.

Shoot to thousands of years later,

my enslaved African ancestors,

using the “scraps” the colonizers

allowed, what we do?

Made Soul Food.

So it’s only right & fittin’ that I use

this versatile staple as the base

for my various toppings & fillings,

on some fubu food-medicine.