A rudimentary variety of bread made from cornmeal, which was initially a staple food of Native Americans. There is no consensus among experts regarding the name’s origin, recipe, or even the color of the cornmeal employed. Some argue that it is an adulteration of “Shawnee,” the tribe that supposedly imparted the recipe to early settlers. Conversely, others insist that the true progenitor was a “Journey Cake,” fashioned by circuit riders and other long-distance travelers. Meanwhile, inhabitants of Rhode Island contend that johnnycakes are fashioned exclusively with white cornmeal.