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'A Taste of Struggle' is set for Saturday at Willow Hill
Willow Hill
Dressed out in period attire, storyteller/re-enactor Bruce Ingram, seated and Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center president Dr. Alvin Jackson encourage Salim Jaskson to join in as they perform a version of "This Little Light of Mine" as it would have been sung in the times of slavery during the 2024 "A Taste of Struggle" event. The 2025 Taste of Struggle is set for this Saturday. - photo by SCOTT BRYANT/file

The Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center will mark the 151st anniversary of the opening of the historic Willow Hill School with a celebration on Saturday. 

On April 26, the museum will host "A Taste of Struggle" – an event offering a deep dive into the culinary traditions of the Willow Hill Community. Food historians, including the renowned Pitmaster John “Bobbie” Robinson, will prepare authentic meals showcasing techniques from the era of slavery. Pitmaster Robinson, who inherited his skills from a long line of pitmasters, will demonstrate the art of slow-cooked, flavor-rich meats prepared in hand-dug pits.

The event gets underway at 8 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m.

Cincinnati restaurateurs Jelani and Danielle Jackson, owners of Richie’s Chicken and Soul, will provide historical context linking food traditions from the slavery era to contemporary soul food. As descendants of the Willow Hill community, they will also highlight the impact of the Great Migration, during which many families from the region settled in cities like Cincinnati.

Throughout the day, visitors may tour the museum, observe live outdoor cooking and interact with guides in period attire who will bring the past to life through storytelling and interpretation. 

Special guests include Sirdeepy Fraizer and Jamal Toure of Savannah, Bruce Ingram of Myrtle Beach, SC, Gregory Grant, Gospel singer Jeffery Williams, Lisa Mincey of Portal and local farmer Roy Mosely, who will showcase his innovative rice-growing techniques.

The event will conclude with a communal meal, allowing guests to savor the dishes crafted throughout the day. 

While daytime events are free, the evening meal serves as a fundraiser to support ongoing museum programs. 

For more information and ticket purchases, go to www.willowhillheritage.org

Willow Hill School, founded in 1874 by the Donaldson, Riggs, Hall, and Parrish families – formerly enslaved individuals – remained operational until 1999, making it the longest-running school in Bulloch County. The school's legacy continues through the Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center, established in 2005 by descendants of the original founders, serving as a museum, cultural hub and historic site.