Teacher, scholar, cook, author, historian, traveler, curator, lecturer, Dr. Jessica B. Harris is an expert on everything from the foods of the African diaspora to the history of enslavement. On this episode, Harris explains the importance of the "table" for “commensality” and shares stories from a life of extraordinary meals, encounters, voyages, and friendships. Listen in as she schools host Dana Cowin on the dishes that serve as the thrumming heartbeat of American cuisine, and on the people who made them possible.Want to stay up to date on the latest Speaking Broadly episodes? To hear more conversations with Dana Cowin and her fierce guests, subscribe to Speaking Broadly (it’s free!) on iTunes or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate + review us on Apple’s podcast store and follow Dana on Instagram @speakingbroadly and @fwscout. Thanks for tuning in! Speaking Broadly is powered by Simplecast.