Recipes for Change: 12 Dishes Inspired by a Year in Black History

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

Teen chef and food justice advocate Michael Platt’s Recipes for Change “beautifully weaves together important Black history with delicious recipes” (Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard Award winner and Top Chef contestant)—featuring full-color illustrations by Alleanna Harris.

From the Montgomery bus boycott to the Black Lives Matter movement, food has played a vital role in strengthening and shaping Black empowerment. Join Michael Platt on a stunning visual journey as he retells moving and authentic accounts of 12 months in Black history. Featuring mouthwatering recipes accompanied by biographies of important figures, Recipes for Change will inspire leaders of the future with real stories of trailblazers who helped to change the world.

Recipes include:The Black Panther Party’s Creamy GritsThe Greensboro Sit-In’s Cherry Protest PieThe Selma March’s Carry-On CornbreadThe Underground Railroad’s Freedom FishThe Freedom Riders’ GumboJuneteenth’s Red Ice PopsBakers Against Racism’s Sweet Potato Hand PieMartin Luther King’s Favorite Pecan PiePaschal’s Fried ChickenThe Black Power Salute’s Olympic Gold CookiesThe Christmas Sacrifice’s Banana PuddingThe Montgomery Bus Boycott’s Pound Cake

About the Author

Michael Platt is a teen baker, social entrepreneur, and food justice advocate. He has been baking since he was nine years old but has been interested in racial inequality since he first learned about the historic March on Washington at the age of six. Platt began to ask questions about people being mistreated because of the color of their skin, and so set up a baking business in Maryland, Michael’s Desserts, with a one-for-one model. Platt appeared as one of the best kid bakers in the country in season 4 of Kids Baking Championship on the Food Network and has been covered by outlets such as the Capital Gazette, WUSA9 news, CBS, PGCTV news, TED Talks, Good Morning America, CNN, the Washington Post, People.com, Guideposts, the Rachael Ray Show, and more.

Alleanna Harris is an illustrator and artist from New Jersey. She has been drawing for as long as she can remember, and after graduating from the University of Arts, began illustrating children’s books. Harris uses her platform to tell stories—ranging from influential Black figures to important Black history milestones—as a way to inspire readers. In her work, she seeks to create images that are immersive, rich in color, and have a sense of warmth.