With Labor Day underway, there’s no better time to throw something on the grill. Actress Gail Bean—known for her standout roles in Insecure, Snowfall, P-Valley, and more—has teamed up with Kingsford to celebrate the legacy of the Black cookout.

Whether you refer to the occasion as a cookout or a barbecue, one thing remains consistent: the amount of love that is reflected when Black folks gather together to throw something on the grill. This is why Kingsford, the brand synonymous with American barbecue, has unveiled Pass The Tongs, an initiative created to shine a light on Black grilling traditions while simultaneously empowering the next generation of grillers through culture, education, and connection.

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Since 2021, the company has invested more than $355,000 in the barbecue community through its Preserve the Pit Initiative, providing mentorship to 15 barbecue entrepreneurs along with grants and resources to 35 barbecue businesses nationwide. Moreover, Kingsford continues its commitment by extending partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and local community organizations through the new Pass the Tongs program.

And if you can’t make it to a cookout yourself, aspireTV brings the heat straight to your screen with Hustle Sizzle & Smoke, the ultimate grilling competition show where pitmasters go head-to-head in the name of flavor and fire. Stream seasons one and two hosted by Chef G Garvin on aspireTV+ anytime!

 

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“At Kingsford,Gail Bean on Joy, Community, and Passing It On grilling is more than just a craft; it’s a tradition that connects generations and communities,” said Mitch O’Furey, Marketing Director at Kingsford. “With Pass The Tongs, we’re not just celebrating the past—we’re fueling the future by empowering emerging innovators and storytellers who carry this legacy forward.”

Joy, Community, and Passing It On

The company has even tapped actress Gail Bean, who many fans recognize from her breakout role in Snowfall, to join Morehouse student and HBCU Buzz 2025 HBCU Host of the Year, Isaiah Evans, for a powerful fireside chat about the legacy of the Black cookout at the Atlanta college.

 

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“When I think of the legacy of the cookout, the first thing that comes to mind, honestly, is just celebration, joy, happiness… even when you think of statements like ‘laugh through my pain,’ a good cookout or barbecue is a feel-good [moment],” Bean told aspireTV in a virtual interview following the event. “And I’m not gonna lie, I like grilled food at the house, the tailgate, or the cookout way better than restaurant food, to be honest.”

She added, “We will find any reason to have a cookout. I wake up and will be like, ‘Oh, there’s breath in my body. It’s a Sunday. It’s a Tuesday. It’s Labor Day.’”

As part of a generation stepping into roles as tradition-keepers, Bean understands the significance of preserving the legacy of the Black cookout by passing down knowledge and an understanding of where we come from.

“In so many households, on so many college campuses, in so many dorm rooms, cooking was becoming a lost art. So, just really trying to push the culture forward—preserving the barbecue culture, preserving that gathering—because we’re coming off the back of COVID, right? A lot of people in college now were in high school during the times when school was at home, and they were isolated and away from people,” the Harlem actress explained. “So bringing back the community and the gatherings that we’ve had for so long, where we help get through the hard times—the weather, the climate that we’re in now—just being able to stick together and being able to find reasons and things to celebrate, whether it’s just living the next day, being in school, graduating, making it to college, getting a new job, starting a new venture, or buying a new car. Just having a reason to pass the tongs, pass the AUX, pass the joy.”

When it comes to the legacy and evolution of the Black cookout, Bean says she sees herself in every part of it.

“Whether it’s at the center, being the reason for the celebration, or on the outskirts, being someone who shows up to champion whomever is being celebrated and enjoying that time with friends, family, and community, I’m here for it all,” Bean concluded. “Whether it’s dropping education or dropping smiles, I’m just happy to be a part. At one point, I was the person to whom the tongs were passed, so now to be the person actually holding the tongs and able to pass the joy, the culture, and the heritage forward to the next person is a role and a responsibility in an area that I don’t take lightly.”

Celebrating What’s Next for Pass the Tongs

Taste of Soul Atlanta on August 30 will feature an elevated culinary tasting trail at the Home Depot Backyard. Here, regional barbecue styles will be on full display, alongside the celebration of rich culinary traditions through expertly curated flavors and memorable tasting moments.

The live events will conclude with Morehouse’s Homecoming on October 18, when Kingsford’s Pass the Tongs initiative will host an immersive cookout experience featuring hands-on grilling stations, trivia, and other special moments designed to honor legacies while empowering future leaders. Celebrity pitmaster and Preserve the Pit alum Pat Neely is also expected to make a special appearance.