Adrian Miller couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Back in 2004, he found himself watching a Paula Deen special about Southern barbecue. By the time its credits rolled, he’d seen not a single Black barbecue chef profiled. “An hourlong special with no Black people at all,” he said. “And you know, that s just crazy.”
Until recently, the oversight would likely have been inconceivable, said Miller, a Beard Award-winning writer of food history and author of a new book called “Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.”
Stretching back to Colonial times when enslaved Africans were most often in charge of the pits, Black barbecue cooks had been regarded as the most skilled practitioners of the art during most of America’s history, Miller said.
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PUTNEY â The man behind Curtisâ All American Barbecue Pit, a local landmark, is being remembered as a friend of the community who served up tasty food.
On the businessâ Facebook page, the family said Curtis Tuff died Tuesday morning in his sleep. He was 82.
âWe appreciate everyoneâs thoughts and prayers,â the post says. âJust during this time, we need time to mourn and we love you all.â
Tuffâs widow Christine Tuff, who handles the business end of the barbecue, said a lot of people have been reaching out and a memorial service will be held in the spring. The couple had been together for about 40 years.