I read an article about a school serving an "insensitive" lunch. I don't get it. It's a food. I hope I'm misunderstanding something.
Probably coz I still don’t get it
Well the school in PA served fried chicken and watermelon as part of Black History month..
The backstory on why watermelon has a "racist" stigma, is because freed slaves used to sell them and it was very profitable for them.. Well not everyone in the south liked seeing this, so smear campaigns in ads, depicted blacks and watermelon in a very racist and negative light, that ended up hurting their business..
There are racially charged tropes associated with certain foods in US history, but I would need to know more context before I say serving watermelon in this specific incident is racist.
But I do wonder if this was timed to serve it during Black History Month which is this month.
It’s not racist to eat watermelon, and nobody has tried to say so. The problem, as others have noted, is that there are racially charged stereotypes including around food. This meal was not simply serving watermelon. It was serving a number of foods which carry racial stereotypes on the first day of Black History Month, reinforcing those stereotypes in the minds of children and educators.
@natickben - Children don't understand racial stereotypes. They just understand food that taste good.
This will probably clarify
There is a history and context to these things. In decades past it was extremely common to use watermelon in racist images of black people, portraying black people as liking watermelon due to their supposed simple or ignorant nature. Like this:
https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/12/26/slavery-and-the-watermelon/
And even today watermelon is still used as a trope to denigrate black people. If you ever see racist trolls online, it's pretty common for them to being up watermelon, or other foods like chicken or Kool-Aid.
Now does that mean people can never eat or serve watermelon? Of course not. But given that history, it shouldn't be surprising that there is some level of sensitivity around the idea of serving watermelon to black people or for an event celebrating black people.
@Mike403 children do understand stereotypes well they believe them to be accurate. The reason watermelon is considered racist is based on propaganda that was presented when Africans in America used the fruit to make money. Even though everyone ate them people made it a negative trope. Like fried chicken.
Was the instance insensitive? Possibly. But i find it difficult to believe you don’t understand why people may feel that way. Maybe they shouldn’t but that is a trauma people deal with throughout life.
Edit: by the time I finished writing this, a bunch of folks had chimed in. Sorry for the redundancy.
I think I read the article you are referring to --- out of Nyack, New York? Some context: It was the first day of Black History Month. The food served was fried chicken and waffles with watermelon for dessert. Fried chicken and watermelon both have rather stereotypical negative associations with black folks, especially in the rural south (though maybe not so much metropolitan NYC). No one suggested that eating any particular food could be racist. Some people no doubt thought the timing of this menu was suspect; hence the allegations of "insensitivity." Was it just an accident of timing, or some kind of snarky statement? The article does point out that the vendor (Aramark) had a published menu advertising that Philly cheesesteak, broccoli, and fresh fruit would be served that day, but inexplicably veered from that menu to go with the fried chicken and watermelon. That makes it a bit suspicious to me. On any other date, no one would have cared. Are there people petty and small-minded enough to make the menu change as a kind of black history mockery? Yes. Are there people who never pass up an opportunity to feel disrespected and offended? Yes again. I think the principal was right/wise to get out in front of this. And if Aramark can figure out who ordered the change of menu, some kind of disciplinary action may be in order.
@Mike403:
Children don't understand racial stereotypes. They just understand food that taste good.
That’s just not accurate. Kids are taught racial stereotypes. And on this day, they were taught that fried chicken and watermelon are tied to Black history. That’s the lesson they learned.
Here’s some data about kids and race: https://inclusions.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Children-are-Not-Colorblind.pdf
Oh i missed the part about black history month, yes it’s racially charged and insensitive. In fact it’s irresponsible and someone should be fired.
It was stupid of the school do do this, especially in this day and age. This isn’t the first time that something like this happened and whomever signed off on this should have known that. There’s no shortage of attorneys due to the fact that there’s no shortage of people making dumb decisions
Yeah I find the suggestion that one does not know the racist undertones of it disingenuous as well. I also wince when a white person tries to lay claim to what a black child may or may not know about stereotypes or other things racist. I went to a predominantly black high school in Virginia and most of my friends were black, but I knew what areas I just shouldn’t offer my two cents in. A history of enslavement and atrocities does affect modern relationships and healing is still on-going. I think it better to listen and learn a bit than question why something is offensive to a group that was victimized.
@Mike403
Children don't understand racial stereotypes.
This comment has zero connection to reality.
Ask a child to describe a person they don’t know, what sort of descriptors do you think they will use? Remove your feelings of race or nationality, it’s all stereotypes.
@CuddleWho - I never thought about blacks(or any race) when I was served chicken or watermelon for lunch.
These days, people will find a way to be offended if they want to be offended. Making everything a race issue only makes things worse.
SMH. No one is making everything a race issue. We are talking about a specific incident. How does one extrapolate “making everything a race issue” from one specific incident?
I never thought about blacks(or any race) when I was served chicken or watermelon for lunch.
Then again, you are not black, are you?
Congratulations. Doesn't change the fact that plenty of kids are racist little assholes. Plus, it's actually irrelevant to the point. The issue is whether it was racially insensitive to serve this food in this context. If it was, it doesn't really matter whether the meaning registered with the kids or not.
Whomever changed the menu on this date obviously was relating these foods to black people intentionally. Very insensitive and irresponsible.
@FunCartel i assume you don’t watch the news very much? That’s ok, innocence is bliss
@Mike403, that is the very definition of white privilege. Because of your race, you don’t need to think about the racial stereotypes associated with food served to you nor do you have to feel paranoia, suspicion, anger, or humiliation towards the adults who intentionally sought to make you feel less than. For you (and me), food can just be food, not a symbol of hatefulness.
I have never in my life been able to walk in the world and not be totally completely aware that i m black. It is a constant state of my existence in this country.
What an undeniable privilege it would be to watch my 15 yo 110 lb sun walk out the house and not be terrified of how the world is going to remind him he’s black, and nearly never be a positive experience.
We can’t even talk about our experiences without someone reminding me I’m wrong for feeling how i feel. Nevermind why i feel like that it’s all about how the world feels about my feelings.
Response proves my point
Taco Tuesday and turkey thursday is taken. Is watermelon served on every wednesday? Or just during February? Have a mutton monday and everybody's favorite pizza friday. The fact that a school would do this means school aged and younger children are subjected to and understand bias. The better question is should biased adults be allowed to teach children?
l i assume you don’t watch the news very much? That’s ok, innocence is bliss
@justwanthugs Yes I do and cringe when white dudes are offended by other races being offended by the things white dudes have done instead of learning from it. So black people are not supposed to be offended because it’s just too much for you? That’s entitlement.
@BashfulLoner
I’m really sorry. I see you.
@FunCartel
Yes I do and cringe when white dudes are offended by other races being offended by the things white dudes have done instead of learning
Same
That statement says it all. I hope a day comes when more people have a bit more empathy to this reality and you and your son can just be human. Ditto what @natickben said.