Roots, Heart, Soul: The Story, Celebration, and Recipes of Afro Cuisine in America

Roots, Heart, Soul: The Story, Celebration, and Recipes of Afro Cuisine in America by Todd Richards is a sweeping, beautifully layered exploration of the West African diaspora’s enduring influence on the Americas. Blending more than 100 recipes with history, interviews, and documentary photography, Richards traces soul food from the Middle Passage to modern kitchens across the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States. It’s a powerful, celebratory testament to resilience, migration, and the flavors that continue to shape American cuisine.