Deah Berry Mitchell is a historian, speaker, author, and entrepreneur dedicated to preserving Black cultural heritage. She contributes to the New York Times and writes a regular column, "The Dish, with Deah," for the Fort Worth Report. Deah authored "Cornbread & Collard Greens: How West African Cuisine & Slavery Influenced Soul Food" in 2019.
She serves on the Dallas County Historical Commission and has been appointed the City of Dallas’ Historian in Residence. In this role, she is developing the Freedom Trail app, which uses augmented reality to highlight African American historical sites. Deah also runs the Soul of DFW bus tours, educating the community on Black culture through cuisine and local history. A fifth-generation Texan, she is deeply rooted in her heritage.
Deah is a PhD student in history and a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas, focusing on American Historical Foodways. Deah was chosen as a Kingsford Preserve the Pit Fellow for 2023 due to her work to preserve Black cultural heritage and amplify the voices of Black-owned restaurants. She has been awarded the 2023-2024 Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy & the Culinary Arts Fellowship in Food History. Additionally, she is a board member of the National Juneteenth Museum.
Book Deah Berry Mitchell as a speaker to inspire your team with her profound knowledge of Black cultural heritage and history. Her engaging storytelling, backed by contributions to the New York Times and pioneering work with the Freedom Trail app, will captivate and educate your audience. Elevate your event with insights from a distinguished historian and entrepreneur dedicated to preserving and celebrating Black culture.