Black-eyed Peas and Taylor!

With New Year's Day approaching, it's certainly time to share this story about Taylor's connection to the black-eyed peas tradition!

Longtime Taylorite, Elmore R. Torn, was a public relations man with a knack for storytelling—and a remarkable talent for turning humble black-eyed peas into symbols of New Year’s luck. A military veteran and agricultural promoter (and father of actor Rip Torn), he spent the mid-20th century doing what he did best: convincing people that Texas traditions were worth celebrating, sharing, and, in this case, eating. While the belief that black-eyed peas bring prosperity had been simmering in Southern and African American kitchens for generations, Torn stirred the pot in the 1940s and 1950s, helping the custom boil over into the national spotlight. Armed with press releases, mailed samples, and plenty of charm, he pitched the peas as a time-honored Southern ritual—and America happily grabbed a spoon.

At the height of this publicity push, Torn was living right here on Howard Street, dreaming up good-luck stories while rooted firmly in the community. He didn’t invent the tradition, but he gave it a megaphone—proving that with the right mix of folklore and flair, even a simple pea can promise prosperity. Read the attached article to find out more about Torn’s lucky legacy and how one Taylor resident helped shape a New Year’s tradition.

https://www.texasoutlawwriters.com/the-truth-about-black-eyed-peas-and-new-years-day/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPQmgZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNbDNKZDBMZGtHU05vSXNyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvDjWU212z0mE6kT8wKjqSo3B0QY2kskbpet3Xm6s6tf2SInNxfSjNC6gge2_aem__NtERLjS0xpj4hnZHRqxGQ