The Sporkful
Reheat: Hot Chicken Is Hot, But Who's Benefiting?
Feb 14, 2025
André Prince Jeffries, the owner of Prince's Hot Chicken, shares her family's 40-year legacy in Nashville’s hot chicken scene. She discusses how the dish rose to fame while highlighting its roots in the Black community that created it. The conversation tackles the troubling dynamics of appropriation, revealing how big chefs benefit from a dish steeped in cultural history. André also reflects on the challenges faced by family-run establishments in a landscape filled with imitators, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the dish's true origins.
30:59
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Quick takeaways
- Nashville hot chicken, with roots in the Black community, highlights the ongoing struggles of cultural appropriation amid rising popularity.
- The evolution of Prince's Hot Chicken from a local institution to a tourist phenomenon raises questions about equity and ownership in culinary trends.
Deep dives
The Origins of Hot Chicken
Nashville hot chicken originated from the Prince family in the 1930s, with Thornton Prince's infamous creation stemming from a vengeful act by a girlfriend who coated his fried chicken in spicy hot sauce. Rather than repelled, Prince became obsessed with the flavor and set out to recreate the recipe, leading to the establishment of the Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in 1945. Over the decades, the dish remained a cherished secret within Nashville's Black community, unknown to many outside until recently. This lack of recognition contributed to a cultural narrative that emphasizes the importance of preserving and honoring its Black roots.
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