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Stephanie Teasley

Stephanie Teasley is a writer living in Palm Springs, CA. Her work has appeared in Lunch Ticket, Cuisine Noir, and NuOrigns, among other publications. Stephanie enjoys writing and crafting other people’s stories and sharing narratives to the masses. She completed the Muses and Melanin Professional Writers Fellowship through California Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities. Stephanie is currently working on a collection of experimental, personal essays. When she is not writing, Stephanie enjoys playing video games, being a Trekkie, and spending time with her loved ones, both human and furry.

For inquiries, please email stephanieteasleywrites@gmail.com.

GFDI •

The History of Black Foodways Through the Plate

Foodways in the social sciences refer to the ways food, culture, traditions, and history intersect and influence one another. This also extends to economic practices relating to how food is produced and the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period. Food is history, and its origins span millennia. As humanity evolved and grew, so did Black foodways.
Black foodways pertaining to the African diaspora carry deeply embedded cultural meaning and history, maintaine...
GFDI •

History of Food Sovereignty in West Africa

The Neolithic Revolution was the era when early humanity transitioned from hunting and gathering to the domestication of plants and animals. While this period is linked with the Fertile Crescent starting around 10,000 BCE, it became a global phenomenon of independent innovation.
For ancient African civilizations, specifically those in West Africa, the Neolithic Revolution established them as major players in history. Until 1977, many attributed West Africa’s evolution solely to external factors,...
GFDI •

West African Roots of Carolina Gold Rice

Carolina Gold rice is one of two rice species of Oryza sativa, also known as Asian cultivated rice, which was first domesticated in China between 13,500 and 8200 BCE.
The first recorded introduction to rice in America was in 1685 in Charleston, South Carolina. Referred to as Carolina Gold rice because of the golden color of the unhulled grains, it quickly turned South Carolina into a global trading hub by becoming the state’s largest cash crop. Rice plantation owners were among the wealthiest of...
GFDI •

Ancestral Superfoods of the African Diaspora

The modern wellness industry goes through cycles of “discoveries,” like how hibiscus, moringa, and baobab have been pushed forward for the last few years as superfoods. It’s important to note that the word superfood is not a scientific term; it’s just a marketing word, but it doesn’t mean the foods aren’t powerful.
Proteins like salmon, leafy greens, nuts, and berries are packed with vitamins and minerals. However, hibiscus, moringa, and baobab aren’t just food in Africa. For millennia, they’ve...
GFDI •

From Memory to Record: Saving Black Recipes

So much of Black history in America has been lost through time, violence, and circumstances. Among the many untold stories are the Black recipes born out of desperation and ingenuity, and passed down orally through the generations. This was necessary for the enslaved who were not allowed any education and had to rely on memory and oral communication.
Even after emancipation, the oral tradition stayed central. Recipes stayed locked in the minds of the elders, who are often the sole keepers of the...
GFDI •

A Look at Food Systems Through a Black Lens

A food system is a network that interconnects processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population. It encompasses production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management, along with the people, resources, and institutions that facilitate these activities.
Food systems exist in every country and are generally well-known and recognized. However, when looking at these food systems through a Black lens, the history and knowledge that shaped them are overlooked or absorbed w...
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Black Farmer Fund Helps Fill Capital Access for Black Farmers

Black Farmer Fund was created to address the long-standing gap in agricultural capital access. A nonprofit, community-led investment organization based in the U.S. Northeast, the fund supports Black farmers and food businesses to build community wealth, health, and long-term stability.

Unlike traditional financial institutions, the fund centers community governance and therefore does not rely on personal credit reports and limits personal guarantees. Community-based committees make investment decisions, ensuring capital supports growth rather than reinforcing debt.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Short Term Rentals Platform Whimstay Fills Vacation Needs

Whimstay is a dedicated vacation platform for short term rentals that offers discounted, last-minute bookings for professionally managed properties. It caters to what co-founder Alex Alioto calls “the next‑generation traveler.”

“We focus specifically on last-minute bookings, helping hosts fill unsold gap nights,” Alioto says. “For travelers who are open to spontaneity, that means access to vacation rentals at about 30% off typical Airbnb prices if they’re willing to book last-minute. That’s the model. We’re not reinventing the wheel — it’s similar to Nordstrom Rack, grocery outlet stores, or other concepts that sell inventory at a discount.”
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

How Food Businesses Are Leading Innovation in Ghana

Ghana’s food scene is undergoing a dynamic transformation, led by a new generation of culinary innovators reclaiming and redefining the country’s rich food traditions. Whether they were born abroad, have returned to Ghana, or are rooted in Ghana from the beginning, these creative food entrepreneurs are part of a rapidly growing movement.

Blending Ghana’s heritage with modern innovation and creating a fusion that respects the past and embraces the future, their efforts demonstrate that Ghana’s culinary identity is enduring and evolving, reflecting its robust culture and influences.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Container Gardening: Guidance to Grow Food in Your Apartment

Cuisine Noir often spotlights community gardens and outdoor farming in conversations about climate and food, but not everyone has space or access to a garden outside. Apartment and container gardening offer practical ways for food you can grow in your apartment.

Container gardeners like Timothy Hammond and Quincey Adams have been practicing this approach for years, showing how accessible food you can grow in your apartment can be with the right techniques.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Ghanaian Hospitality: How Americans Are Investing in Ghana - Cuisine Noir

The number of American expatriates, people living outside their home country, moving to Ghana has risen significantly, especially since 2019’s Year of Return initiative.

Launched by the Ghanaian government, this initiative aligned with the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Virginia in 1619. The Year of Return aimed to promote travel and investment in Ghana and encourage African resettlement by reconnecting the diaspora with their heritage.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

12 Creative and Transformative Uses for Food Scraps

In our article, “From Waste to Wisdom: Lessons on Using Food Scraps for Sustainability,” Dr. Donna Nickerson discusses the practice of food scrapping and the benefits both individually and for communities.


She is also sharing 12 uses for food scraps that transform waste into valuable meals to demonstrate the practicality of food scrapping in everyday households. Below are examples of recipe creations that can be made from common scraps used in weekly cooking.


1. Pineapple Skin and Core Tea...
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

From Waste to Wisdom: Sustainable Lessons on Food Scraps

The term “food scraps” in relation to Black Americans pertains to the historical practice during American slavery, where enslaved individuals were supplied with the least desirable leftover parts of animals by their enslavers—such as ham hocks, pig feet and intestines—to prepare their meals.

The need to make use of leftover ingredients for nourishment led to the development of soul food, a cherished culinary tradition that continues to influence Black American cuisine today by turning often discarded ingredients into beloved dishes.

In our previous conversation, Dr. Donna Nickerson discussed home composting. She described how her business, Da’ Shack Farmers Market Health and Wellness, Inc., in Waco, Texas, supports others in this effort.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Helt Araújo Reclaims Angolan Cuisine with OVINA YETU

The Republic of Angola is a country located in southwestern Africa. Although its official language is Portuguese, a significant portion of the population is from the Bantu people, an ethnolinguistic grouping of 400+ distinct native African ethnic groups.

Due to the eclectic demographic, the modern appearance of Angolan cuisine consists of a combination of indigenous African ingredients and cooking techniques, Portuguese influences and ingredients from other colonies. However, the same demographic mix has led to a loss of Angolan culinary practices.

To combat this, chef Helt Araújo created OVINA YETU, a project intended to reveal and promote Angolan cuisine as a fundamental element of Angolan cultural and environmental heritage.
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

How to Compost at Home Using Ancestral Practices

Dr. Donna Nickerson is the owner of Da’ Shack Farmers Market Health and Wellness, Inc. in Waco, Texas. “Professionally, I’m a psychotherapist, and I also have a deep connection to Indigenous gardening, which has been a part of my family for generations,” she says.

“I started gardening as a child, learning from my mother, who hails from the Philippines, while my father is from the United States.” Dr. Nickerson grew up surrounded by her family’s gardens, which fostered her love for them and taught her how to compost at home.
NLPG inc. •

Inflicted by Stephanie Teasley/KIZA BlackLit Spring 2025 Mini Series — NLPG inc.

AN EXCERPT FROM THE NOVELBY STEPHANIE TEASLEY©2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  Chapter One: Autumn Grove, Missouri, United States. March 18th, 2040Adana Bond was the world champion at losing her possessions. Her parents didn’t seem to mind; most of her items were hand-me-downs from her older sister, fourteen-year-old Dedra, who was shooting up at an alarming rate. Adana was also tall, one of the few physical traits they both inherited from their parents. Adana’s parents, George and Gina, were educato...
Cuisine Noir Magazine •

Sorghum: Decolonizing an Ancient Grain Fueling Agriculture

Chef, educator, and food advocate Bashir Munye, whose journey spans Somalia, the U.S., Italy, and Canada, recalls his initial encounter with sorghum in his native Somalia, a grain now at the heart of his innovative approach to African food studies.

“I left Somalia when I was five years old, so my first experience with sorghum was back home as a child,” he says. “One of our traditional dishes is anjero, similar to the Ethiopian laxoox. In Somalia, we ferment sorghum to create sourdough flatbreads similar to dosa, an Indian flatbread.”

Chef Bashir views food as a connection to culture, equity, and innovation. Having traveled widely and immersed himself in various countries, their cuisines, and traditions, he understands that food represents more than just sustenance.
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