I love watermelon — preferably old-school WITH SEEDS!! ( special shoutout to some of the Black watermelon growers and vendors who make that still possible! 🙌🏾🙌🏾)… like the BLACK SEED watermelon sellers who set up camp each Sunday here in Park Slope Brooklyn (on the corner of 5th Ave & 4th street)...

Today may be #watermelonDay but it’s #watermelonMONTH all August long

These are just a few of the myriad ways i've photo documented enjoying this versatile fruit — that’s originally from AfrIca, cultivated, revered and widely utilized by our shared ancestors, who introduced it to other cultures and continents over the centuries. It nutrates (yup i just made up that word) AND hydrates at the same time... A real watermelon (old-school with seeds) is satisfyingly delicious whether served up at room temp, cold, hot or grilled, in a salad or spaced out on an hors d'oeuvres tray with a drizzle of honey and a toothpick in each sweet bite-sized square. Or perhaps served up more savory with a touch of #realsalt or a spritz of soy sauce, or just sliced up (naturally!) sweet and fresh... and yes of course, puréed or cubed and soaked in a good quality spirit of your choice and converted to a creative cocktail 🍹🍉🍹 🍉

You can see i have a lot to say and share about the oft overlooked significance of watermelon, just one of the mother continent’s countless gifts to the world. Its ancient African history, the critical role it played in both the enslaved and emancipated communities here in America and throughout the New World. And yes — the horrific ways it was appropriated and whitewashed, with enduring repercussions to this day…

Check out the overview and highlights from a recent watermelon talk and tasting i did at the Lefferts Historic House: