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Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook. Cooking is a simultaneous form of challenge and relaxation for me: a retreat from the melancholy of the day and a studio to practice art in an artless world.
I became acquainted with good food from a very young age. My mother, a commanding force in the kitchen, exposed my brothers and me to good, clean, flavorful foods. This, I attribute in large part, is a reason why I find comfort and solace in the confines of my kitchen.
Having moved out of the freshman year dorms and into an apartment with a full kitchen, I have experimented with all different kinds of food and flavors this year. Living with some of my best friends, I have relished the opportunity to cook for them and enjoy some “semi” home-cooked meals. While I have enjoyed the breadth of dishes that I have been able to put together in the kitchen, I have enjoyed the conversations I have had there even more.
This year, our kitchen has transformed into an arena of debate, ideas, and dialogue. Often, my roommate and I will begin talking about what happened during the day, what our plans for the weekend are, and we will end up talking about the profound injustices facing certain minority groups by institutions that rule our lives. These conversations are never planned, and they always end up lasting far into the early hours of the morning. Discussing topics such as the criminal justice system’s flaws, how LGBTQ+ individuals are taken advantage of in the healthcare setting, and institutions of racism that face African Americans every day are all things we can be found discussing on a random Tuesday night.
I knew that I would be living with some very intellectually formidable people when I signed my lease last year. However, I did not fully realize how my thinking and perceptions on significant societal issues would be put to the test every day. One particular discussion that took place on a Monday night earlier this year stuck with me and impacted my career outlook.
I had arrived home from a long day of classes, and I was starving. I began cooking some risotto when Paighton came out of her room. We are both taking the same constitutional law class this semester, and we began griping about the case that had been assigned: Korematsu v. United States. We started talking about the blatant racism of the majority opinion that sanctioned the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two. The conversation eventually led to a discussion of the current institutional racism that was at play in the United States today. We discussed the many ways that racism is such a pervasive issue in all facets of society and how those not directly affected by racism can still be allies. The conversation then delved into the treatment of women of color in healthcare and how there are so many significant institutional flaws with the way that medicine is delivered in the United States. This topic is one that I have thoroughly discussed in my Feminist Medical Ethics class and is a large reason why I am considering medical malpractice law as a career. This conversation explored so many dynamics of intersectionality and how people of diverse backgrounds are underserved. Moreover, these dialogues always lead us to theorize ways, however impractical, to solve the issues plaguing society.
Conversations like these are always intense and profound, yet for our kitchen, they are nothing new. I did not foresee that my living situation this year would help me become such a sharp, well-informed, and worldly person. I am so fortunate to be able to tackle difficult, sensitive issues with such an intelligent and thought-provoking friend. We have enjoyed many nights watching movies, hanging out with friends, and going out, yet my favorite part of living where I live is the discussions in the kitchen.
Whether it’s apple crisp, discussions of race law, sweet potato gnocchi, or the long-term effects of mass incarceration, this semester has redefined what can be made in the kitchen.
Caleb Aridano is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2024. He is studying political science and English at the University of Louisville.