Carla Hall Is Black and She Wants You To Know It
By
DariusCooks
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September 9, 2016
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By now, everyone should know the name Carla Hall. She’s the quirky co-host of ABC’s hit show, “The Chew.” She’s 1/5th of the cast, but she completely holds her own. She’s got a sense of weirdness about herself that makes her completely likable by all who watch.
Recently, she gave an interview on the Eater Upsell podcast. She was raw and uncut…literally. Here’s what she had to say about being Black, working in food, and producing a cookbook for her core audience.
Carla: Yeah, and I think a lot of times I can say, “I love being Black, I love Black people,” and that doesn’t make me a racist. I think all groups — when I say, “Yes, this food isn’t for Black people, but I can be very proud to do it and have Black people come and eat it.” And I think a lot of times, you look at soul food and Southern food, and there is a difference. There is a difference, and I’m looking at so many people outside of the community do this food and be elevated for it. I’m like, “Wait. Hey, wait, I’m from Nashville. I’m Black. Why can’t I do my food?” You know, and not go and research it and come back and do this food.
I think also, even in doing my cookbooks, it’s very interesting. I’m working on my third cookbook. So I have Cooking with Love and Carla’s Comfort Foods, and I’m working on the third one. And this one is about the food of Africa and being very proud of it, but also looking at the everyday foods and not the celebration foods. A lot of what I’m actually serving at the restaurant. But I talked to my publisher and she was like, “Well it can’t just be for Black people.” And I’m like, wait a minute, if I’m sharing my experience, it doesn’t mean it’s just for Black people. When you see a cookbook that’s Israeli or Indian or Chinese or Thai, do you say, ‘What about the white people?’ Why, are they gonna be racist? You can’t focus on them, but you always say it with Black people. Because I think there’s a very interesting relationship in this country with Blacks and whites, and we have to be able to say, “Look, honey, you can love and enjoy your culture as a Black person. You can love and enjoy it as a white person. But I shouldn’t feel guilty for raising my culture up because you feel uncomfortable with our race relations.”
How could you not love her? Got some time on your hands and want to read the full transcript, see below.
By
DariusCooks
-
September 9, 2016
0
3
Share on Facebook
Tweet on Twitter
By now, everyone should know the name Carla Hall. She’s the quirky co-host of ABC’s hit show, “The Chew.” She’s 1/5th of the cast, but she completely holds her own. She’s got a sense of weirdness about herself that makes her completely likable by all who watch.
Recently, she gave an interview on the Eater Upsell podcast. She was raw and uncut…literally. Here’s what she had to say about being Black, working in food, and producing a cookbook for her core audience.
Carla: Yeah, and I think a lot of times I can say, “I love being Black, I love Black people,” and that doesn’t make me a racist. I think all groups — when I say, “Yes, this food isn’t for Black people, but I can be very proud to do it and have Black people come and eat it.” And I think a lot of times, you look at soul food and Southern food, and there is a difference. There is a difference, and I’m looking at so many people outside of the community do this food and be elevated for it. I’m like, “Wait. Hey, wait, I’m from Nashville. I’m Black. Why can’t I do my food?” You know, and not go and research it and come back and do this food.
I think also, even in doing my cookbooks, it’s very interesting. I’m working on my third cookbook. So I have Cooking with Love and Carla’s Comfort Foods, and I’m working on the third one. And this one is about the food of Africa and being very proud of it, but also looking at the everyday foods and not the celebration foods. A lot of what I’m actually serving at the restaurant. But I talked to my publisher and she was like, “Well it can’t just be for Black people.” And I’m like, wait a minute, if I’m sharing my experience, it doesn’t mean it’s just for Black people. When you see a cookbook that’s Israeli or Indian or Chinese or Thai, do you say, ‘What about the white people?’ Why, are they gonna be racist? You can’t focus on them, but you always say it with Black people. Because I think there’s a very interesting relationship in this country with Blacks and whites, and we have to be able to say, “Look, honey, you can love and enjoy your culture as a Black person. You can love and enjoy it as a white person. But I shouldn’t feel guilty for raising my culture up because you feel uncomfortable with our race relations.”
How could you not love her? Got some time on your hands and want to read the full transcript, see below.