In the 1940s and '50s, Ebony was one of the only magazines created by Black people that spoke directly to Black people. It showed Black Americans falling in love, playing sports, dressing in style, gathering together – and eating. Freda DeKnight was the magazine's first food editor, publishing recipes that were international and sophisticated, challenging the stereotype that Black American food was limited to soul food.

In this episode of The Sporkful podcast, host Dan Pashman speaks with historian Donna Battle Pierce about Freda's legacy, then meets Charla Draper, another Ebony food editor, at the Ebony test kitchen.