Albany, Georgia Movement
Martin Luther King Jr. and Albany Georgia Police Chief Laurie Pritchett, Courtesy of Digital Public Library of America
Have you heard about the new National Geographic's Genius anthology series coming out on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK)? This week we’ve turned to our archives to share stories about both historic figures looking at them through the lens of food. Today’s Story is about Dr. King. In 1961, Albany Georgia Police Chief Laurie Pritchett restrained his forces from using violence on civil rights protesters. Instead he ordered their wholesale arrest of and incarceration in separate holding places in neighboring hamlets thus keeping his jails from getting overcrowded. Pritchett held Abernathy, MLK, and other leaders of the movement in Albany proper in horrid conditions including withholding food. Local black women heard about the conditions and began feeding those in jail with some good down home cooking. “Not only did the women bring hot dishes that evening, but they also baked pies, cakes, and cookies; and somebody even churned a couple of quarts of homemade ice cream for us,” says Ralph Abernathy. He adds, “Just when we had finished off one delivery, a woman would come in with a new basket and we would start eating all over again.” Here is a recipe for pecan pie, which some say was one of MLK’s favorite desserts.
Aunt Nancy’s Pecan Pie Recipe (with a translation for vegans)
3 eggs slightly beaten (or egg substitute)
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo (light) syrup
2 tbsp melted butter (substitute a vegan margarine, there are some great ones out there)
1 tsp vanilla
1 & ¼ cup pecan halves
Method
Stir list ingredients together, and then mix in pecans. Pour into 9 inch pie crust and bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate before serving.
