diggmcbadass
Member
I hope there's purple drank as well.
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School administrators apologize for menu of fried chicken, cornbread & watermelon
- Thread starter Tangeroo
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ThatNaiveCube
Banned
To be honest i wouldnt want a person that isnt of color to eat that food. They dont understand the history and never will. If anything it should be our Passover or what have you. Something sacred.
Cow Mengde
Banned
Get it yet?
I'm kind of baffled why black people are stereotyped as watermelon lovers. I'm not saying it's not offensive, I'm just scratching my head on how this stereotype came about. Just feels completely out of the left field. I didn't even know this was racists until a few years ago. Nor did I ever associate black people with watermelons either. It's just... weird.
ThatNaiveCube
Banned
You cant hope understand the minds of people who have been brainwashed from a young age by their forefathefs to disparage and hate entire races often times with little to no contact of said races. Pretty much the equivalent of a fundamentalist christian from the good ol bible belt. They make shit up and roll with it.
It's awesome food. Why is it a negative that black people love the best food on the planet?
Fuck political correctness in this instance. If we can't agree on fried chicken then there is no hope for this nation.
That looks good, I wish my school served food like that. Pizza, Hamburgers or Burritos were pretty much the only choices.
Muppet of a Man
Member
This. I am more inspired by people of African-American and Afro-Caribbean ancestry and their culture than just about any other people or culture because of their perseverance through the worst type of bullshit imaginable (much of which they still must endure to this very day), as well as the great things they've contributed to society with the very little that they've had to work with.
As brutal as that history was, to triumph in spite of the odds is something which everyone of all walks of life can (and should) appreciate.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
You're missing several important points.
Arguably, the most important point is that "honoring" black history month by serving foods that black people are supposed to love is superficial and lazy.
The chicken and cornbread is fucking fantastic. The watermelon is the problem, babe.
If you need to know why, check the many pics in the thread with black people eating watermelon.
The fruit itself isn't disgusting or anything (I love it), but in this situation it's implying racism.
Excuse me? I'm whiter than white and while I didn't grow up in the "south" my entire family is from Cape Girardeau, MO. It shocked me when I grew up to learn that these foods are "black people" foods since that was at least a once a week meal for us. You don't think that white people should eat soul food? You're out of your mind sir.
Apples to Oranges.
It's a dumb thing to consider racist considering how mind blowingly awesome fried chicken is.
Missed the point, dude. The food is ok, serving them specifically to celebrate Black History is absolutely not.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
If you're not going to read what I wrote, please don't quote it
The solution is not to take away delicious friend chicken, corn bread and watermelon from everyone. The solution is to take it away from the racists.The chicken and cornbread is fucking fantastic. The watermelon is the problem, babe.
If you need to know why, check the many pics in the thread with black people eating watermelon.
The fruit itself isn't disgusting or anything (I love it), but in this situation it's implying racism.
why? each cultural group has their own food, that makes the world diverse and interesting. I guess I must be missing something since I'm not from USA. I actually didn't know about the watermelon and grape juice stupidity before going to Miami a few years ago.
I love watermelon. We always ate and drank it at home when we were kids
Fried chicken on the other hand is awful
I am just joking but if we are being real this is not the right thing for the media and us to focus on because it is just something easy to complain about and fix and will get some hits on your site.
Poimandres
Member
If it was just for a regular lunch menu, well, I think this would be fine because those are all delicious food items.
For black history month?... What did they expect to happen?!
For black history month?... What did they expect to happen?!
I'm not trying to call you out but it's comments like these that make it important that we still have this conversation from time to time. It's why stories like these even exist. Whether you like it or not, historical context matters.
Get it yet?
Maybe people should move on, too.
I am pretty sure stories like this exist to get hits during black history month on something that is easy to fix and for everyone to agree upon.
Is he throwing up the W?
Lmao if so. Seen that gif many times but just noticed that. He might not be, but he very well could be.
Good grief.
MorisUkunRasik
Member
...go on...
Move on how? Stop being offended by things like this?
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
Guess who made the story happen
THAT'S RAIST!
Here we go...
EdibleKnife
Member
I'm sure they expected something like this-
Grateful black student: "Wow! Fried chicken! Watermelon! Cornbread!! All my favorite things! You know what school admins, I thought you were ignorant to all the struggles my race has endured. But it turns out...you...you understood us more than even we did...Bless you! *cries*"
Lonewolf_92
Member
The trope of watermelon being loved by African Americans has its roots in American slavery. According to David Pilgrim, the curator of the Jim Crow Museum, defenders of slavery used the watermelon as a symbol of simplicity. African Americans, the argument went, were happy as slaves. They didn't need the complicated responsibilities of freedom; they just needed some shade and a cool, delicious treat. Sociological Images did a pretty good write up of it.
fuzzyreactor
Banned
Who did black people ever become associated with watermelon anyway?
Okay i guess the above explains it but still, why watermelon? Why not apples or oranges....
Okay i guess the above explains it but still, why watermelon? Why not apples or oranges....
White man's lunch food burden.
BertramCooper
Banned
Dat sho duz sound mightah tastah.
Spring-Loaded
Member
Is your username misspelled?
who knows. whatever the reason, it was likely just some instance of someone seeing (the only) black people (they're ever met) eating watermelon and assuming all black people like it.
It used to give my grandmother bladder infections, and it makes me physically ill to eat for some reason.
Kitschkraft
Member
This is pretty much how I feel. I mean, I'm not going to defend the school as other posters have given evidence that this was done with foul intentions, but....is there not a way to honor black American cooking traditions without condescension?
I think it's a bad idea by the school regardless, it's a fucking minefield and they should have been smarter. Maybe they are just poking fun. But I still don't understand why I should be ashamed of my own heritage food.
I mean, if they were celebrating black music, and played blues or something, would that also be worthy of critique?
MorisUkunRasik
Member
BWAhaha
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
The thought process....
School Admin 1: I watched Soul Food on Netflix last night, and I'll tell you what, Hunter-the plight of those blacks moved me so! And the food Big Mother made to keep the family together looked so delicious! We should bring some of that spirit to our school and celebrate Black History Month with our very own soul food!
School Admin 2: I have no aversion to that, Rhonda.
School Admin 3: Can we do it cheaply?
School Admin 4: Was there watermelon in that movie?
School Admin 5: Nothing too spicy though, I have IBS.
We're discussing the issue and are willing to listen. Try to educate me rather than label me as ignorant and insensitive. I simply said that I didn't really understand the negativity behind the stereotype.
What exactly is the issue here? That black history month boils down to a simple soul food meal? Yeah, I can completely see that as being disrespectful. Obviously the food is superficial and black history month should be used to educate about past events related to black history. Honoring black history with a single meal is completely insensitive and disrespectful.
Going back to the food. Soul food. Ackee and saltfish. Rotti. Plantain. Cremas. Why is it that out of all of these foods, soul food is seen as the stereotypical and insensitive food? Why do you consider Jamaica and Haiti to have unique cultures and ignore African America? To me, they seem like very distinct cultures with very similar historical roots.
It's just... the watermelon.
Our food is great. Don't worry about that. Your attention should be on the watermelon and the above images as to why that's ignorant to do for BHM.
The trope of watermelon being loved by African Americans has its roots in American slavery. According to David Pilgrim, the curator of the Jim Crow Museum, defenders of slavery used the watermelon as a symbol of simplicity. African Americans, the argument went, were happy as slaves. They didn't need the complicated responsibilities of freedom; they just needed some shade and a cool, delicious treat. Sociological Images did a pretty good write up of it.
Now that definitely shines a light on the watermelon stereotype and why it should be considered unacceptable in this context. Thanks for sharing.
who, should move on to what?
I understand how the stereotypes being evoked here are problematic.
What should they have served instead for a Black History lunch? Or is the whole idea inherently problematic?
The Smoking Bun
Banned
I went through the site and HOLY HELL! It's like a White Power fantasy parody you would see on South Park! The members must be neo-Nazi's, sick stuff in there!
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Fried chicken is racist in that context too.
Orbis Tabula
Member
My college always had theme meals for certain holidays. Black History Month's meal was fried chicked, corn bread, watermelon, collard greens, etc. But no one complained because 1. The staff was almost entirely black, so people weren't even sure if you could call them racist, and 2. The food was damn delicious.
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