Griffin Speaks

CHITTERLINGS

Chitterlings or chit’lins are the intestines of a hog. This dish originated during slavery, when the slave master gave the hog’s intestines to the slaves to eat during the hog-slaughtering season. The slaves were very creative and seasoned the chitterlings as they did other unwanted parts of the hog such as the feet. Both dishes prepared correctly are something good to eat. 

I recently cleaned and cooked thirty pounds of chitterlings. They were on sale, five pounds for $4.99 pre-cleaned. They say that the chitterlings are pre-cleaned, but I still clean them. My house smelled horrible for about a day. My kids were very angry until I persuaded them to try my chitterlings. Greg Jr. and Alexis fell in love with the dish. Chris refused to eat any proclaiming that we all had lost our minds. My two dogs joined Chris in refusing to eat the chitterlings. 

Several years ago I persuaded my good friend and lunch buddy, Phillip Jauregui to experiment with a dish of chitterlings. Phillip a native of San Diego, California had never tasted chitterlings. I took him to Moses and Crawford restaurant when it was located on North Union Street. We sat down and ordered two large plates of chitterlings. Phillip raised a fork full of chitterlings into his mouth. He spit them out and shouted “this taste like somebody’s butt! He refused to consume the rest of his lunch. 

I often wonder if Phillip ever shared that experience with former Chief Justice Roy Moore. You see Phillip went on to become Chief Justice Roy Moore’s 2000 campaign manager. He was credited by many political analysts as the key to the Chief Justice’s victory. Phillip would later serve as one of Chief Justice Roy Moore’s attorneys in the ten-commandment case. 

Chitterlings are cooked in my house several times a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in addition to the “I’m in the mood for a pot of chit’lins days.” Every time I sit down and enjoy a bowl of chitterlings I am mindful of the creativity of my ancestors. Black folk throughout history have made a silk purse out of a hog’s ear!  

I no longer take chitterlings to office parties. Several years ago I took a pot to the Alabama Attorney General’s office. They were kicking with smell. You could smell them all the way in the lobby. Many of my co-workers were not pleased with the smell. So I decided to keep my chitterlings in the house to be enjoyed by family and close friends.

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com