The Relationship between Food and Communities

Food plays an important role in the research of community culture. In Cate’s article, “Breaking Bread with a Spread” in a San Francisco County Jail, food leads a closer relationship to people in the jail. Cooking and sharing food together make inmates become more united and more willing to help others. Cate analyzes a special meal, which called “spread”, at jails in San Francisco. “Spread” implies a combination meal with various ingredients and leftovers you can find. Many inmates are willing to share their ingredients and leftovers with other inmates. As Cate describes, inmates always cook “spread” together at evening and pray together before eating. Food is a tool they interact with each other. The time of cooking “spread” gives inmates more chances to chat and contact with others. Spread has become a crucial cultural part in the community. No matter nationalities, complexions, and beliefs, food brings them together and teaches them a lesson about sharing.

In contrast, food has become a delimiter in Shenzhen, China. According to O’donnell’s article, The Cultural Politics of Eating in Shenzhen, food can be used to differentiate people within regions and generations. The south and the north parts in China show very different eating habits. Based on environmental and historical reasons, people in south areas like to eat rice, whereas people in north areas prefer to eat noodles. Planting rice cultivates southerner’s an ability to be self-reliant; thus, they always work harder than northerners, whom enjoy more supporting from the government. O’donnell also points out the difference between old Shenzheners and new Shenzheners. For instance, old Shenzheners always like to eat food they used to eat in the tough time, whereas new Shenzheners prefer to try different cuisines from all over the world. To most old Shenzheners, food embodies the meaning of nostalgia. Even though the elderly and the youth living in the same community, food becomes a sign to differentiate their time of growing up. Food is an obvious label to define different regions and generations in China.

Even though the two communities are totally different, food has become a symbol to define people’s characters and lifestyles in the two articles. Through my eyes, the most interesting part I find is the making process of “spread” in prisons. I have never heard anything about food in jails before I read Cate’s article. Also, I am very impressive about the scene when inmates are willing to share their food with others regardless of nationalities and complexions. I used to think about what kind of role food plays in our lives. However, after reading Cate and O’doneell’s article, I believe that food is an important tool we define us and contact with others in a community.