"The Cookout is a joyous event that celebrates advancements, growth, and kinship within the Black community. It is characterized by its music, traditions, and cuisine, deeply rooted in Black American history, particularly Southern comfort food influenced by the history of colonial slavery and the antebellum era." - Andrea Byrd Andrea Byrd Andrea Byrd is a writer, poet, screenwriter, and storyteller based in the Midwest. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, CNBC Select, and PBS’s Rewire. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
