Disciplines
Arts and Humanities
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Our research group did a study concentrating on the food culture of the Latinx community in Cobb County, Georgia. Research of three different food sources such as supermercados, food establishments, and different cultural festivals, revealed that food portrays a sense of community, safety, and family within the local Latinx community. The first phase of our research began with questions we had about the Latinx community in general, categorizing them based on topics into framing questions, and deciding to narrow our research into the food category. We asked questions such as, “What are key cultural foods? Where can they be found? What is the bigger picture when it pertains to food representing the community as a whole? Why are these food sources critical to the community?” Our starting point was utilizing KSU archives and branching out of the sources we located there. We visited a Cobb County supermercado and found that it was more tailored to the specific cultural foods the community consumes as opposed to a general supermarket. In addition, the supermercado entailed home baked goods, merchandise for all age groups, a thrift shop, and a butcher shop. We also discovered local Latin restaurants as well as taco trucks whose mission was the bring a sense of community to Latinos in Cobb County. The Latinx community is underrepresented and does not have an extensive recorded history, therefore a part of our project was to record our findings, compile information, and help the Marietta Museum of History establish an archive for the Latinx community. Our research can also be a place where not only individuals from the Latinx descent can find information, but other groups can learn about the community as well. We hope our findings can aid future researchers and preserve the history of the Latinx people.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Rochelle Harris Cox
Included in
Taste of Community: A Local Look at Latinx Cuisine
Our research group did a study concentrating on the food culture of the Latinx community in Cobb County, Georgia. Research of three different food sources such as supermercados, food establishments, and different cultural festivals, revealed that food portrays a sense of community, safety, and family within the local Latinx community. The first phase of our research began with questions we had about the Latinx community in general, categorizing them based on topics into framing questions, and deciding to narrow our research into the food category. We asked questions such as, “What are key cultural foods? Where can they be found? What is the bigger picture when it pertains to food representing the community as a whole? Why are these food sources critical to the community?” Our starting point was utilizing KSU archives and branching out of the sources we located there. We visited a Cobb County supermercado and found that it was more tailored to the specific cultural foods the community consumes as opposed to a general supermarket. In addition, the supermercado entailed home baked goods, merchandise for all age groups, a thrift shop, and a butcher shop. We also discovered local Latin restaurants as well as taco trucks whose mission was the bring a sense of community to Latinos in Cobb County. The Latinx community is underrepresented and does not have an extensive recorded history, therefore a part of our project was to record our findings, compile information, and help the Marietta Museum of History establish an archive for the Latinx community. Our research can also be a place where not only individuals from the Latinx descent can find information, but other groups can learn about the community as well. We hope our findings can aid future researchers and preserve the history of the Latinx people.