Posted on 04/04/2009 5:50:25 AM PDT by Zakeet
To the list of lofty names that glamorize the city’s fried chicken stands, like Crown, Royal and Kennedy, one Brooklyn restaurant owner decided to add another: Obama.
From the restaurant’s perspective, the name change grew out of pride in the new president and a keen sense of commerce. From other perspectives, it was tone-deaf at best, and racist at worst. When the restaurant, Royal Fried Chicken on Rutland Road in Brownsville, changed its name last week to Obama Fried Chicken, the reaction was swift.
“Community leaders came. They told us we have to change the name,” said Mohammad Jabbar, 33, the manager. “They said if you don’t change it they will take action.”
It was the latest outbreak of commercial enthusiasm for President Obama and his family. An Illinois company tried to sell dolls that looked like the president’s daughters, and a Brooklyn brewery, Sixpoint Craft Ales, named a beer Hop Obama in honor of the community organizer in chief.
A few minutes’ drive from Obama Fried Chicken, Obama Beauty Supply opened its doors several months ago. Its owner, Mohammed Seraji, said he was inspired by his children’s enthusiasm for the president, along with Mr. Obama’s popularity in the neighborhood. A Michelle Obama wig he sells, for $49.99, is emerging as a popular item.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I must be a Negro, because I love fried chicken and Watermelon. OH well, just change it to Obama Hummus and all will be well.
“Mohammad Jabbar, 33, the manager... Its owner, Mohammed Seraji, “
I’m seeing a pattern.
NYC fried chicken joints under fire for Obama name
By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer
Friday, April 3, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/03/national/a093523D04.DTL
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"City Councilman Charles Barron said Friday that he will organize a demonstration next week outside Obama Fried Chicken in his Brooklyn district. Organizers said they may also target Obama Fried Chicken & Pizza in Harlem.
"People from the community were calling me and saying they were outraged by this racist connection to Barack Obama and fried chicken," Barron said."
That's "ex"-Black Panther Charles Barron...
Charles Barron: My immediate response is "take off the ex," because I’m still a Panther at heart. And I’m proud to be a Panther because the Black Panther Party fed children breakfast. It had a clothing drive for struggling people in our communities. It led the research drive around sickle cell anemia, a rare blood disease peculiar to black people. As far as the guns and the actions with the police, that wasn’t even a major part of our program. That was for self-defense against police brutality.
http://www.brooklynrail.org/2003/06/local/barron
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From the Maoist Internationist Movement:
[1960s/original] Black Panther Party [BPP] Archives
From the article: REVOLUTIONARY HEROES
"On May 1st, May Day [1969], the day of the gigantic Free Huey rally, two of Alioto's top executioners vamped on the brothers from the Brown Community who were attending to their own affairs. These brothers, who are endowed with the revolutionary spirit of the Black Panther Party defended themselves from the racist pig gestapo.
Pig Joseph Brodnik received his just reward with a big hole in the chest. Pig Paul McGoran got his in the mouth which was not quite enough to off him.
The revolutionary brothers escaped the huge swarm of pigs with dogs, mace, tanks and helicopters, proving once again that "the spirit of the people is greater than the man's technology."
To these brothers the revolutionary people of racist America want to say, by your revolutionary deed you are heroes, and that you are always welcome to our camp."
Source: Maoist Internationist Movement
Article: REVOLUTIONARY HEROS (May 11, 1969):
http://web.archive.org/web/20060717050055/http://www.etext.org/Politics/MIM/bpp/index.html
..and doubles as a cat deterrent
maybe all NYC or area FREEPERS should go and Send a MESSAGE to those BIGOTS and buy some.!!!
““They said if you don’t change it they will take action.”
What’ are they gonna do? Picket? Protest march? Nothin’ illegal ‘bout the name!
How much are the Michelle Obama ass pads?
Do you want to super-size your Colt 45?
Yeah, and whassup with naming all these churches after Rahm Emmanuel, who’s only the President’s Chief of Staff, instead of naming them after Obama, hisself? Needs to get some spray paint and do some name changin”.
Unless, of course, Charles Barron somehow finds the history of gastric evacuation to be insensitive due to its stereotyping of blacks.
Mr. niteowl77
Perhaps he should have named it ‘The Presidents Chicken Diner’?...(smirk)
These stores are likely all owned and operated by blacks, Jamaicans and others.
“I wonder if the community leaders would have any issue with this..” No, but I guess the FR moderators did! LOL!
There was a joint in Arkansas called Slick Willie’s during the Clinton years and no one minded.
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