Gumbo is a dish that originated in southern Louisiana and is known as the official state dish. The dish is featured in movies such as “The Princess and the Frog” and “Forest Gump”. Gumbo’s origin can be traced back to West Africa and brought by African Americans to the U.S. in the 1700s.

Gumbo has multiple origins, one of which is from the Bambara language of West Africa, “Gumbo” meaning okra. Gumbo can be made in a variety of ways. Creole Gumbo is often associated with New Orleans, while Cajun Gumbo is more common in southwest Louisiana. 

“My Grandma is also the glue [of the family] so her specialty is Gumbo,” Audrey Ansley said “Every time we have a family gathering, doesn’t matter if we had a family argument, or if people have dropped out of the family, Gumbo brings everyone together. Doesn’t matter our differences.”

Gumbo is a family staple in many African American families because of its background. The recipe is from the south and is from Texas, where Ansley’s grandma is from. 

Ansley would go to her grandmother’s house for easter and that is when she would be invited to cook the Gumbo. “We just spent a couple of hours in the kitchen together laughing and cooking, and it was just a good morning with my grandma,” Ansley said

Gumbo is usually reserved for special occasions and the recipe is passed on in a secretive way. Ansley’s grandma got the recipe from her mother and has only passed it on to her two daughters. Even though Gumbo is a Southern classic, many families have their own unique and protected recipes. 

“[My great grandma’s] the one who kind of started the family gatherings because, before our family was separated,” Ansley said When she was married into the family, its [gatherings] were something that came along.” 

by ISABELLA GIMROTH AND NAVNEET THANDI