Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., hosted their annual Soul Food Sunday at the Arkansas State University Pavilion. This event allowed A-State students to come together for a free meal, take part in fellowship and listen to a motivational speech. 

DeAnna Jones, Alpha Kappa Alpha president, said the event served as a welcoming place for all students to get to know each other better and meet new people.

“It’s a way of connecting the campus community and local community while indulging in delicious food,” Jones said. “It serves as an opportunity for us to serve others and be a blessing to someone who may just miss a good home-cooked meal.”

Additionally, she said this traditional event has occurred in the Eta Upsilon Chapter for several years. She said this event was a unique way to uplift and create companionship, while also providing powerful words of encouragement.

Soul food is traditionally associated with African Americans of the southern United States, created to help bring their families closely together to share memories and love.

Bryson Brown, a sophomore biotechnology major from Memphis, said soul food is a common meal in his everyday life, especially on Sundays.

“It’s always been that kind of staple to where it’s good for your soul,” Brown said. “I feel like that food gets you closer to family and gets your entire family closer to God.”

Brown said he felt that soul food could help the community in many ways that people may have never thought of, through community engagement and trust.

“Seeing how the recent climate is changing economically and socially, it’s good for us to know that we are here for each other, and to be able to have a space where we can gather and talk to each other about certain things,” Brown said.

Jonathan McElroy, a senior computer science major from West Memphis, Arkansas, said soul food can have great benefits in people’s lives. 

“I think everybody will benefit from it,” McElroy said. “Soul Food is known for hitting the spot, it’s good for your soul. It’s in the name.”

Amaya Kindle, a first-year communication disorders major from Sherwood, Arkansas, said she was excited to attend Soul Food Sunday.

“I think this event will impact me positively,” Kindle said. “Getting to meet new people and experience a new culture that I have not been a part of before is something that I’m excited about.”

Kelsey Garrison, a first-year hospitality management major from Flippin, Arkansas, said she encourages people to try soul food.

“People who have never thought about it before would benefit a lot,” Garrison said. “It is something that comes out from the whole world and soul food is not just something that you could just pick up on the side of the road.”

Shunqetta Cunningham, CEO and lead strategist of Kharis Group Consulting, was the event’s motivational speaker. She is a nonprofit consultant, social entrepreneur and professional public speaker. 

Cunningham said she encourages everyone to show compassion and respect valuing the moments of fellowship, soul food and community.

“Each and every day is an opportunity to be compassionate. You may not always like the person that’s speaking in front of you, but you can still be respectful,” Cunningham said. 

During her speech, Cunningham spoke about the importance of unity and remaining positive in response to the country’s current social climate. She said if so many people can come together to advocate to keep TikTok, they can also come together to combat other social issues.

“Americans were walking and having this social media temper tantrum and warning to go and shut down the government,” Cunningham said. “I needed that same energy.”

Additionally, she said social media was desensitizing people’s compassion.

“You may not always like the person that’s speaking in front of you, but you can still be respectful,” Cunningham said.

Jones said soul food can impact people’s lives spiritually, connecting people for years, which is why they continue to host this event. 

“The idea of soul food is more of a feeling, an emotion, it’s a way of showing that food can be more than nourishment, but it can paint a beautiful picture of love, history and pride,” Jones said. 

Categories: News