The country is getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend. For some, it’s a time to remember the birth of our nation. But let’s face it, for Black folks, it’s the perfect excuse to get together with family and friends and eat, drink and laugh at your Uncle Tony when he tries to dance after having a few too many dranks. But before your guests arrive...

If you’re planning a cookout this holiday, these things are absolute musts.

Nothing can ruin a cookout like running out of liquor, so make sure your bar stocked before you guests arrive. You can’t go wrong by offering some kind of brown liquor (Hennessy, Southern Comfort or Crown Royal are all acceptable options), Tito’s and Patrón. And of course, you need sweet tea, lemonade or Kool-Aid for the kids and the adults who don’t imbibe.

Black folks take our cards seriously. So you can pretty much guarantee that a card game will break out at your Fourth of July cookout. Make sure you have a deck of cards (or two) for your guests. And then get out of the way and let them play.

Whether it’s peach cobbler, pound cake or red velvet, having something sweet on your table is an absolute must. The Fourth of July is not the time to be counting your calories. So if you can’t decide what to have, why not have all three?

A cookout ain’t a cookout without good music, so make sure you put just as much effort into your playlist as your peach cobbler. A good mix of old school R&B and hip-hop is always a safe bet. And it wouldn’t hurt to have a Cha Cha Slide, Wobble or Electric Slide to get everyone on their feet. Check out our cookout playlist if you need a little inspiration.

Potato salad is a must at any Black cookout. But if you’re responsible for making it, you’ve got to get it right. That means it must have eggs, sweet relish and be seasoned properly. And please, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT under any circumstances add raisins. As a matter of fact, if you don’t know what you’re doing, delegate the responsibility to an auntie or grandma who does.

Although sides are an important part of your cookout menu, you already know that everybody is coming for the main course. So make sure the person on the grill knows what they’re doing, from the right seasonings to use to the perfect time to add the sauce. Consider yourself warned – dry ass ribs are a no-no.

Deviled eggs are a must-have side dish on your cookout table. If you don’t have your own recipe, this one from Divas Can Cook is pretty good.

If you’re spending the holiday at someone else’s house, hopefully the food will be so good you’ll want to take some home. And if that’s the case, you’re going to want to bring your own to-go container. Otherwise, you’ll have to create a makeshift container with two paper plates and foil.

I’m all about healthy eating most of the year. But on the Fourth of July, all bets are off, which means cornbread is an absolute must. My favorite is sweet with a cake-like texture. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing as too much butter (on this day, at least).