Collard Greens Are More Than a Side Dish — They’re a Story. Collard greens have been on our tables for generations — but their roots run much deeper. During slavery, collards were one of the only foods enslaved Africans were allowed to plant and eat. From hardship, they created nourishment, culture and community. Those greens became a symbol of strength, survival and prosperity — and they still feed our spirit today. But collards aren’t just history …They are health . Packe