Negro Election Day (election of black Kings and governors) in New England was the best known African American festival during the colonial period. The event included northern blacks dressed in fine apparel, enjoying music, dancing, and selling and consuming of food and beverages. An Election Day event in 1760 Boston included feasting on large amounts of Election Day cake, gingerbread and beer. As in the south, northern blacks slaves endured food deserts from white masters seeking to reduce their expenses. Thus holidays and special occasions like Election Day provided enslaved Africans food in abundance several times a year. Here are recipes and more on the history of Election Day cakes and a link to my series Stumping and Eating with Related Recipes.
