Kwadjo Boaitey

Capon Anyone?

In Plainclothesman on January 30, 2010 at 6:23 am

QUESTION: Hey Plainclothesman, I’ve been burning to ask you this….over the holidays…Thanksgiving to be exact, I waited til Thanksgiving morning to go shopping. The only fresh bird Kroger had left was a Capon, which I later learned was a neutered Rooster. Thank goodness I chose Salmon! Anyway, a friend of my Mom’s told me that  it actually tastes pretty good. Go figure. What can you tell me about Capon? Have you had it? Is it good?

Signed,

Capon For Thanksgiving 2010.

SCUTTLEBUTT: A well informed Arkansan who has lived in this state well over 50 years told Mrs. Plainclothesman that Governor Winthrop Rockefeller introduced Capon to Arkansas and had it imported here from New York.

For the skinny and more check out The Plainclothesman at The Sync Weekly.

Be a history detective

In Plainclothesman, Special projects on November 21, 2009 at 5:22 am

I asked Guy Lancaster, editor of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture why he was so interested in Sundown towns.  Sundown towns started in the late 19th century and were places in Arkansas and our nation that blacks were not welcome after dark.  In fact the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture notes that sundown towns didn’t reach their peak until the 1970’s.

“Many people will tell you that the reason there were no blacks in various places throughout Arkansas was simply because blacks didn’t want to be there,” says Mr. Lancaster.  He believes that if we understand that we created sundown towns then we might be more mindful of the ways in which we develop our communities in the future.

To read the rest of this article go to The Plainclothesman at Sync Weekly online.

Tamales, state food? Yes and No.

In Plainclothesman, Special projects on November 8, 2009 at 4:43 am

QUESTION: I was at Whole Foods Market the other day looking for a tasty prepared hot treat for dinner. Don’t do this all the time, but I love Whole Foods and have just got to have it. My eyes fell on what the clerk told me were Tamales.  The clerk says Tamales is a state food of Arkansas. Is that true? Thanks, Whole Foods Always

For the answer and more check out the plainclothesman at syncweeklyonline.