Before the world knew Julia Child or Martha Stewart, there was Lena Richard—the first Black woman in America to host her own cooking television show.
In the 1940s, when discrimination severely limited opportunities for Black professionals, Lena broke barriers and built a remarkable career.
She not only appeared on television, but also owned two restaurants, launched a frozen food business, wrote a nationally distributed cookbook, and even opened her own culinary school to train aspiring Black chefs in cooking and home economics.
Lena Richard was a true pioneer—yet her story has largely been forgotten. She deserves a documentary or biopic every bit as much as Julia Child.
Credit to the original owner
