frican Methodist Episcopal) Zion church. Unlike JJ Alexs faith, Michelles does not limit the foods she can eat. Michelle eats a lot of what most other teens her age eat. She is of course a fast food fanatic and also an occasional junk food eater but a lot the other foods she eats is saturated with family traditions and old wise tales. Like most, she enjoys the Thanksgiving Day feast that includes the customary food of a southerner. In addition to JJ Alex, her Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey and dressing (stuffing to most) and collard greens. In her case, she receives her collard greens right out of the family garden. They also have pork ribs, sweet potato pie, and many other foods. And for Christmas dinner, she indulges in the same but it is not until New Years and Easter where superstition influences what her family eats. It is said to bring you good luck if you prepare and eat black-eyed peas on New Years Day. I dont know why, but thats what my grandma told me, says Michelle. For Easter holiday, her family always prepares a ham. For what reason, she does not know that either. After Michelle, I decided to ask questions of a good friend of mine, Ray. Ray is 32 years old and is what I like to call a born Jamerican. He is a first generation American his parents being from the Caribbean island of Jamaica. I found his menu of Jamaican foods quite interesting. Although Ray was born and raised in New York, he still loves to cook in the Jamaican way. Just as JJ Alex and Michelle have shown their holiday traditions, Ray certainly has his. Like most, his family has the big Thanksgiving Day dinner. There is one difference thoughat his house the turkey is very spicy. It is what you call jerked. Jerk is just a very peppery seasoning that is used on meat and sometimes vegetables. Jerk chicken is a delicious Jamaican dish that Ray enjoys on a regular basis. They also include a dish of rice and peas. Fried plantains (banana-...
