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Dr. Jessica B. Harris

Dr. Jessica B. Harris

A Leading Authority on the Food of the African Diaspora

Jessica B. Harris is considered by many to be one of the ranking authorities.          

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Bio

Full Bio

Jessica B. Harris is considered by many to be one of the ranking authorities on the food of the African Diaspora. A New York Times bestselling author, she is the author, editor, or translator of eighteen books, including twelve cookbooks documenting the foodways of the African Diaspora. Her award-winning book, High on the Hog, was the basis for the acclaimed Peabody Award-winning Netflix series of the same name.

She has lectured widely and written extensively for scholarly and popular publications. Harris consults internationally, is leading the Culinary Institute of America’s team to establish an African Diaspora concentration, and worked with the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture conceptualizing its cafeteria.

Dr. Harris holds degrees from Bryn Mawr College, Queens College/CUNY, The Université de Nancy, France, and New York University. She was granted an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Johnson & Wales University and holds numerous awards and accolades. In 2019, Harris’s books were inducted into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame and she was the 2020 James Beard Lifetime Achievement awardee. She was named to the 2021 TIME Most Influential People list. Dr. Harris was a professor at Queens College/CUNY in New York for five decades and is currently professor emerita at that institution.

Visit Dr. Harris’ website for more information.

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Topics

Topics

Same Boat Different Stops: Culinary and Cultural Connections in the African Atlantic World.

Serve It Up Proudly: Some Thoughts on The Intersections of Food and Museums

Studying the Silences: A New Way of Searching for African American History

Videos

Videos

High on the Hog | Dr. Jessica B. Harris Interview | Netflix
2020 James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Jessica B. Harris

Books

Beyond Gumbo
Beyond Gumbo
SWEET HOME CAFE
SWEET HOME CAFE

News

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