Juba (food) facts for kids

Juba was a special kind of food eaten long ago by enslaved people in the United States. These people were forced to work on large farms called plantations. Juba was often made from leftover food cooked together in a big pot. It was usually given to those who worked hard in the fields.

What Was Juba?

Juba was a simple meal. It was made from whatever food was available. People often called it "slop" because the ingredients were mixed together. It was hard to tell what was in it. This food was very important for enslaved people. It helped them survive.

Making Juba

Juba was not a fancy dish. It was made from leftovers. These leftovers often came from the plantation owners' kitchens. Sometimes, they were scraps from the enslaved people's own small food portions. All the ingredients were cooked together in a large pot. This made a thick stew or porridge.

The Juba Song

To make eating this simple food a bit easier, enslaved people created a song. This song sounded cheerful to their masters. But it held a secret, deeper meaning for the enslaved people themselves. The song often talked about the unfairness of their lives.

Here are some common lines from the Juba song: "Juba dis and juba dat, and juba killed da yellow cat, You sift the meal and ya gimme the husk, you bake the bread and ya gimme the crust, you eat the meat and ya gimme the skin, and that’s the way, my mama’s troubles begin."

There were many different versions of the song. However, the first two lines almost always stayed the same. The song was a way to share feelings and stories. It showed how people found strength even in hard times.