California School Honors Black History Month with Fried Chicken and Water Melon Lunch

[chucky2]

What's amatter, pal? I thought we were laughing?

Why would we laugh at something accurate like southern food choices? You don't even make sense...

 

[MagickMan]

I like fried chicken, kool-aid, and watermelon... also black-eyed peas, hog jowls, and turnip greens. That's some tasty food.

 

[Spungo]

On the one hand, the school should have known better.

We'll celebrate Chinese history month by wearing coke bottle glasses and saying things like "flied lice" then we'll act shocked when Chinese people are angered by this.

 

[Mursilis]

On the other hand, fried chicken and watermelon is delicious,

Yes it is.

and it's a shame that such a good meal has been tarnished with the associations of racism.

Or associations of heart disease/high cholesterol (at least the fried chicken). :'( These days, I can't eat fried chicken without feeling tremendously guilty, so I rarely do, which is a shame. Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss!

I'm looking out my window right now at a restaurant called "The Soul Cafe" serving a bunch of those same foods and run by a black man. I wonder if the owner knows how racist he's being?

 

[nehalem256]

I'm looking out my window right now at a restaurant called "The Soul Cafe" serving a bunch of those same foods and run by a black man. I wonder if the owner knows how racist he's being?

Well put. What could perpetuate black stereotypes better than a black person acting out those stereotypes?:hmm:

 

[Mursilis]

Now that I think about it, in the past we've sent the kids to school with Asian food to share on "Multiculturalism Day"!

I hang my head in shame.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Yeah, I don't see what the big deal is about this.

It IS American South food. And, the American South has "defined" the culture of the Afican American. Also, notice how quickly the African culture movement died in the 90s.

So, this is African American.

 

[Atreus21]

Fried Chicken is delicious. Watermelon is delicious.

I've never eaten Collard Greens.

 

[MiniDoom]

my grocery store sells corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day, that's so racist!

 

[Fayd]

Controversy Surrounds Lunch Menu

If I understand it correctly, the menu included fried chicken, water melon, collard greens, and corn bread. According to the article "students and parents were outraged and offended."


If I LOLed when I read about this, would that make me a bad man?

Uno

I never understood why fried chicken and watermelon are so much associated with black people exclusively. it's a southern thing, not a southern black thing.

that said, fried chicken is delicious. watermelon is delicious. fried chicken + watermelon + collared greens is a very southern meal.

 

[Orignal Earl]

I never understood why fried chicken and watermelon are so much associated with black people exclusively. it's a southern thing, not a southern black thing.

that said, fried chicken is delicious. watermelon is delicious. fried chicken + watermelon + collared greens is a very southern meal.

Watch Birth of a Nation for part of the story

 

[Thebobo]

I hope they follow it up with Redneck History Month. A month chock full of moonshine, meth-smoking, chaw-chewin' and sister banging....

\big toothless smiles, y'aw!:biggrin:

That would be the White family

You need to watch The Wonderful Whites of West Virginia.

 

[Fern]

I think the person from that school sending the announcement was just trolling us all.

No way you can suggest that menu for BHM and not expect a fuss.

Fern

 

[SheHateMe]

I find it a little disappointing that this stereotype of fried chicken and watermelon is overused.

You know, if you really wanted to celebrate "black" eats, there are tons of other things the school could have served without looking like assholes. Things such as Pecan Pie, German Chocolate Cake, smothered chicken or pork chops, Black eyed peas, green beans and potatoes, Collard or Mustard greens, fried catfish, salmon patties, dirty rice, beans and rice, etc. Most of my family is from the deep south, I can't say I've eaten just fried chicken and watermelon when staying with them...their palate is a bit more sophisticated than that. Watermelon sucks anyway. My Grandmother always served us Kiwi and Honeydew, anyways.

People have every right to be annoyed, just as someone who is latino should be when Tacos and Nachos are considered staple latin foods. That couldn't be farther from the truth.


Its not all about watermelon and chicken. For a private school that prides itself on educating children...perhaps the person who came up with this menu needs to educate themselves a little. Just a tad.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I find it a little disappointing that this stereotype of fried chicken and watermelon is overused.

You know, if you really wanted to celebrate "black" eats, there are tons of other things the school could have served without looking like assholes. Things such as Pecan Pie, German Chocolate Cake, smothered chicken or pork chops, Black eyed peas, green beans and potatoes, Collard or Mustard greens, fried catfish, salmon patties, dirty rice, beans and rice, etc. Most of my family is from the deep south, I can't say I've eaten just fried chicken and watermelon when staying with them...their palate is a bit more sophisticated than that. Watermelon sucks anyway. My Grandmother always served us Kiwi and Honeydew, anyways.

People have every right to be annoyed, just as someone who is latino should be when Tacos and Nachos are considered staple latin foods. That couldn't be farther from the truth.


Its not all about watermelon and chicken. For a private school that prides itself on educating children...perhaps the person who came up with this menu needs to educate themselves a little. Just a tad.

Food can not be racist period. People talking about it can be racist but, no evidence of that is apparent. What is apparent, is that there seems to be a few vocal pinheads who for whatever misguided reason want to make an issue where none exists. One wonders what their motivation is.

 

[Agent11]

German chocolate cake is an african american food?

 

[compuwiz1]

German chocolate cake is an african american food?

Only for the ones from Germany!

I'd say German chocolate cake is everyone food. Think I'll have some tonight with some French vanilla ice cream.

 

[SheHateMe]

German chocolate cake is an african american food?

1) The name of the person who mixed the chocolate used to make this cake has the last name "German"
2) I think you missed the part where I said "black" eats.

Anyway, I see German Chocolate Cake a lot in Southern cooking. Its just a chocolate cake with coconut & pecan frosting.

Food can not be racist period. People talking about it can be racist but, no evidence of that is apparent. What is apparent, is that there seems to be a few vocal pinheads who for whatever misguided reason want to make an issue where none exists. One wonders what their motivation is.

And where do I make the claim that food is racist? Serving Chicken and Watermelon in honor of black history month is very off-putting because it plays into a historically demeaning (and trollish internet) stereotype of blacks. I simply stated that there are other foods they could have served instead without looking like idiots.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Why exactly is pointing out that a large group of people share a history of enjoying certain foods racist? Is it racist to have egg rolls or rice for Asian History Month? Frying chicken is a pretty big West African tradition as well.

 

[Lanyap]

I have lived my entire life in the South. Fried chicken, greens and cornbread have been a staple on Sunday in the Southeast forever for everyone.

At the cafeteria at work Thursday is fried chicken day with greens and cornbread. When watermelon is available it is on the fruit bar.

It's a southern culture.

 

[fskimospy]

1) The name of the person who mixed the chocolate used to make this cake has the last name "German"

The minute I read that part of your post I knew someone was going to be stupid enough to say "BUT GERMANS AREN'T BLACK". Glad to see they didn't disappoint.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

1) The name of the person who mixed the chocolate used to make this cake has the last name "German"
2) I think you missed the part where I said "black" eats.

Anyway, I see German Chocolate Cake a lot in Southern cooking. Its just a chocolate cake with coconut & pecan frosting.




And where do I make the claim that food is racist? Serving Chicken and Watermelon in honor of black history month is very off-putting because it plays into a historically demeaning (and trollish internet) stereotype of blacks. I simply stated that there are other foods they could have served instead without looking like idiots.

I was saying the "off - putting, demeaning and, trollish " stereotype of foods people eat can not possibly be racist. This is 'politically correct ' absurdity. I grew up in a Scandinavian household. Anyone suggesting the common tradition of 'how many shades of white can you put on a plate ' was a racist stereotype would get laughed at. I've served similar menus as in the op for MLK day and no one made any negative comments. I serve Spanish rice and refritos (retried beans) to Hispanic heritage celebrations and many Hispanic weddings with nary a negative comment. The school and the folks who created the menu are not "idiots " except in the silliness of yielding and apologies to idiots (and possibly racists themselves) who complained about the menu.

 

[Victorian Gray]

I was saying the "off - putting, demeaning and, trollish " stereotype of foods people eat can not possibly be racist. This is 'politically correct ' absurdity. I grew up in a Scandinavian household. Anyone suggesting the common tradition of 'how many shades of white can you put on a plate ' was a racist stereotype would get laughed at. I've served similar menus as in the op for MLK day and no one made any negative comments. I serve Spanish rice and refritos (retried beans) to Hispanic heritage celebrations and many Hispanic weddings with nary a negative comment. The school and the folks who created the menu are not "idiots " except in the silliness of yielding and apologies to idiots (and possibly racists themselves) who complained about the menu.

It's all about context.

This is why some people see it as perpetuating a racist stereotype:

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I never understood why fried chicken and watermelon are so much associated with black people exclusively. it's a southern thing, not a southern black thing.

that said, fried chicken is delicious. watermelon is delicious. fried chicken + watermelon + collared greens is a very southern meal.

Me neither. When I was growing up a picnic basket normally consisted of fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, and watermelon.

 

[schmuckley]

I am absolutely outraged and offended that this meal does not include grape drank!

LOL :awe:

My mama made fried chicken every Sunday.