quote Originally posted by cliffw: Like dredging up age old connotations to suggest it happens today ?

It was Black History celebrations. A celebration of the past. Not a celebration of today. Black people, having been mostly in the southern part of the country in their past history, certainly must have eaten a lot of cornbread, seeing as how it was a southern staple. Sometimes they probably added some crackling's to the bread. They probably drank a lot of buttermilk and ate chitlins, too.

Chicken has long been a popular food with the black community. It provided good nourishment, was easy and fast to produce, and served multiple purposes around the living quarters. It consumed a huge amount of insect, it was a garbage disposal for table scraps, it provided eggs for the breakfast table and for cooking other dishes, and provided the flock was populous enough, it also provided a very tasty main course on the dinner table.

The origin of watermelon is Africa. David Livingston discovered it during his missionary work, growing wild in large numbers in central Africa. It was revered by the natives as food and also was good source of water during times of drought. So, yes, Black History has a strong tie to watermelon, too.

Those food items are also tied to the white populace of the south. Having black servants as cooks, wouldn't you think that those dishes made it to the Massuh's
dining table? I know that in my youth, all were common fare on both sides of my family tree. Still are, today, but with a little less frequency.

If I were invited to dine with a northerner or Canadian and they served cornbread, buttermilk, fried chicken, turnip salad, corn on the cob and watermelon, I'd be asking them to adopt me instead of being offended.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: It was Black History celebrations. A celebration of the past. Not a celebration of today. Black people, having been mostly in the southern part of the country in their past history, certainly must have eaten a lot of cornbread, seeing as how it was a southern staple. Sometimes they probably added some crackling's to the bread. They probably drank a lot of buttermilk and ate chitlins, too. Chicken has long been a popular food with the black community. It provided good nourishment, was easy and fast to produce, and served multiple purposes around the living quarters. It consumed a huge amount of insect, it was a garbage disposal for table scraps, it provided eggs for the breakfast table and for cooking other dishes, and provided the flock was populous enough, it also provided a very tasty main course on the dinner table.

I guess during hispanic history month (, what ? There is none ?) if they suggested serving beans, rice, and tortillas, it would be considered racist.

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 02-10-2014).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: It's more of a Quebec dish. We don't eat that greasy stuff out here on the west coast. Just looking at it can harden your arteries.

LOL! depends what part of Canada you are in. In NB, this is a poutine: (a salty potato stuffed with pork)



But a real poutine with beef gravy that has been simmering for what must be a week, ST-Albert cheese curds and aged potatoes cut and fried.. yuuuumy!

Hybrid:


Grilled Catfish
with Corn and Black Bean Salsa Salad

quote Originally posted by spark1: Hybrid: Grilled Catfish with Corn and Black Bean Salsa Salad

I'm in!

quote Originally posted by Purple86GT: LOL! depends what part of Canada you are in. In NB, this is a poutine: (a salty potato stuffed with pork)

I've never seen or heard of that before. Kinda looks rather bland.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I've never seen or heard of that before. Kinda looks rather bland.

I heard it was salty as hell! I would not mind trying it just to say I did however.

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: For one, I said nowhere that this "is so simple"? See how you got that, I do not? Sometimes you really stretch **** . And, to answer your question... How the hell would I know what "food was appropriately representative of Black History Month"? Loaded question.

Hahahaa great answer.

"a chicken in every pot!"

There was a time when chicken was only eaten by the well to do. It at the time was one of the most expensive foods you could shove in your cake hole, far exceeding steaks or lobster.

quote So, no, a slice of watermelon isn't racist in and of itself. But when people talk about black people loving watermelon, they're talking about a lot more than food. They're talking about a stereotype with a lot of racist history — history still embraced by some of the worst people on the internet. History is important — any Black History Month celebration that ignores the experiences and portrayals of black people in this country is shallow at best. If you want to acknowledge black history this month, learn it.

http://www.thewire.com/cult...lunch-racist/357814/

Though interesting, not sure what that has to with my post, and or why you quoted me like it was a reply.

I think the entire thing is ridiculous. People spend too much time looking for reasons to be offended, and even if it is/was/will be, so what. I think weak people are thin skinned, the rest of us just move on.

quote Originally posted by newf: ... it's why I think an idiot (black or white) thought this lunch choice would be a good idea to represent Black History Month.

What would you have suggested ? Tacos ?

What the hell has lunch got to do with Black history month anyway? If you want to talk food and Blacks in America then talk about George Washington Carver. He did more with peanuts and sweet potatoes than anyone. Serve that on a lunch plate.

quote Originally posted by cliffw: I guess during hispanic history month (, what ? There is none ?) if they suggested serving beans, rice, and tortillas, it would be considered racist.

I'm sure that some would be waving the banner of racism. Nothing I wrote should be considered as portraying the black race as sterotypical. I was simply pointing out that those food items were a major part of the history of black peoples in the US and are still. They had nothing to do with suppression or slavery, nor does the burrito, beans, rice or enchiladas of the Mexican community.

Meals of today often are of a variety that we relate to certain celebrations. Christmas ham, Thanksgiving turkey, Independence Day burgers and dogs. My wife and I have the traditional New Years Day meal of Collard Greens and Black Eye Peas, both seaoned with hog jawl and Cornbread.

I guess I would wonder what they expected to be served.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 02-10-2014).]

gen. robt. e. lee was very fond of cornbread and fried chicken. i've never seen him mention watermelon, but i suspect he ate it. thing is, corn bread, fried chicken and watermelon are very commonly eaten by the people of the southern US, many of whom happen to be of recent (since 1492) african descent. although often not on a footing of social or legal equality, diet was, and still is, determined more by economics than by race. so cornbread, fried chicken and watermelon are southern american poor or middle class people's food, just like okra, scrapple and poke, rather than belonging to a particular race. the stereotype may have developed because of the connection of watermelon to africa and the high probability of poverty among aforementioned people of african descent, and been spread outside the south by the black diaspora, in which freed slaves went north looking for work during and after reconstruction, taking their cuisine with them. (cue jim crow laws discusion in 3, 2, 1...)

yes, there's that ugly stereotype, but so what? what are we supposed to eat during black history month? pizza? chicken chow mein? (neither of which are italian or chinese, strictly speaking)

quote Originally posted by Red88FF: I think the entire thing is ridiculous. People spend too much time looking for reasons to be offended, and even if it is/was/will be, so what. I think weak people are thin skinned, the rest of us just move on.

EXACTLY! Look hard enough, you'll find it.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: Nothing I wrote should be considered as portraying the black race as sterotypical. I was simply pointing out that those food items were a major part of the history of black peoples in the US and are still. They had nothing to do with suppression or slavery, nor does the burrito, beans, rice or enchiladas of the Mexican community.

I did not think you portrayed any thing, except the facts.

I Always thought it was funny when I was a kid that the same family members that made fun of black people for fried chicken and watermelon would tear it up when they were served at a cook out lol people have been trained by society to get so butt hurt at the slightest thing.

quote Originally posted by firstfiero: I Always thought it was funny when I was a kid that the same family members that made fun of black people for fried chicken and watermelon would tear it up when they were served at a cook out lol people have been trained by society to get so butt hurt at the slightest thing.

So I guess it's an obvious and know negative stereotype if you had people in your family that make fun of black people for it?

I agree there are way bigger things to get upset about than some idiots idea for a lunch but then again who am I to judge what others are offended by? Personally I think that the fact that the school apologized etc. is enough.

[This message has been edited by newf (edited 02-11-2014).]

quote Originally posted by newf: I think that the fact that the school apologized etc. is enough.

I think they should have defended the choice. What are we teaching kids these days ?

I have no idea what your first paragraph means. I was a kid more then 30 years a go when I would hear relatives make jokes about it. I didn't say it wasn't a stereo type. I said I thought it was funny because the same people making racist jokes about black people loving chicken also loved chicken. So to me (a child) it seemed funny in a way that didn't make sense. Are you with me now ? In case your unaware I've heard black people make fun of me for the stuff white people do and eat. We have a good laugh and move on.

quote Originally posted by newf: So I guess it's an obvious and know negative stereotype if you had people in your family that make fun of black people for it? I agree there are way bigger things to get upset about than some idiots idea for a lunch but then again who am I to judge what others are offended by? Personally I think that the fact that the school apologized etc. is enough.