On this Fourth of July Weekend, our nation honors the birth of America. As for me and my detailed knowledge on suburbia, my life experiences are being pooled together to tell you all about the cookout culture that circulates on holidays such as the 4th. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and possibly anything that involves day and warm weather constitutes as a major day/weekend to fire up the grill. In American society this became something of a colloquial tradition, and somehow became one of the many unofficial expressions of freedom. Though this is so, barbecue's have become more that just preparing food and consuming it with family and friends on a holiday.
They are the epicenters of culture, and social concepts. I have had my fair share of white and black bbq's. What I mean by the previous notion is that I can personally attest that they are two VERY separate entities (hence why very is all caps). These subtle yet strikingly obvious differences are noted in today's age through the internet. Now the cookout never has to end because all it takes is a well placed hashtag with a clever caption, for example #whitepeopleinvitedtothecookout. Even though it's a product of Black Twitter, this hashtag is one of many that parody the differences between cookout cultures.
Though very comical and commonly satirized, the illustrations of black cookouts for the most part are very realistic. The food that is served, the people that come through, and all the social commentary of African American's are placed within a backyard, park, or parking lot. Black cookouts are near and dear to my heart. From family reunion's to holiday celebrations, I love coming together and to see and take part in the camaraderie. The food is unbelievable, but only certain individuals are deemed worthy to make a specific type of food. This is taken very seriously. You don't want to be that person to mess up the potato salad, macaroni salad, ribs, burgers, and pretty much anything else that is edible. Cooking is something of a competition at black bbq's as well. The best of the best in one place. That one uncle or maybe even your father that pulls up on you and asks "How them ribs taste? You know I put my special sauce on them right? Bet they taste good huh?".
Besides the competition of food, the people that are invited tend to bring a plus one. But usually it wouldn't matter anyway because everyone and their mom shows up to the cookout with or without invitation. You don't know if their family or friend, but somehow they always seem to end up in your backyard and contribute to the familial atmosphere. The old folks are my favorite. The white linen suits, kangol hats, canes, card/domino table, line dancing, and the essence of throwing shade. I really enjoy when they slam cards on the table to let everybody know they won. If any of these are presented at the bbq, then your cookout is indeed lit.
I remember when I went to my first white cookout. Now it was pretty alright, BUT there are a few things I picked up on that I have never seen before. A friend in middle school invited me over for his birthday cookout. My mom dropped me off and the first thing that I noticed, is that everyone who was their had an invitation. Not one person was questioned because we literally already knew everybody that was there. In terms of the aesthetics, not everyone was in their best fit, and secondly the music being played didn't resonate well with me. Guns N' Roses is a great band, but doesn't seem to compare to Frankie Beverly and Maze, well at least to me at a cookout setting. Last thing, I had the warmest potato salad in my life and I will never eat such a thing again. But through these differences in the way we have cookouts, just remember that the one shared commonality is the concept of being in unison with those around you.
