Posted on 02/19/2012 7:45:45 AM PST by DogByte6RER
Commentary: You’re Going to Celebrate BHM With Fried Chicken, Really?
Is Black History Month turning into a stereotypical holiday?
I love Black History Month because it serves as a time to acknowledge the contributions of little-known Black inventors, learn the struggles of Black ancestors and celebrate the victories of how far Black people have come as a whole.
Companies, schools, churches and organizations across the country organize events to pay tribute, but is there an appropriate way to honor Black History Month?
After recent reports in the news, I’m thinking the answer to that question may be "yes." In a recent Gawker article, a tipster told the blog that the Ft. Bragg Army base was celebrating Black History Month with a “Black History Heritage Meal.” This wouldn’t sound bad if it was a presentation about slave cooks, how they had to make ends meet and a sampling of the types of food they had to eat were given, or recipes from famous African-American chefs.
Instead, it was a celebration of stereotypical foods with a menu consisting of fried chicken, pig feet, ham hocks, collard greens and any other food you’d expect to see being eaten at a minstrel show.
Now while this report may or may not be true, it isn’t the only report of “ignorant” ways Black History Month is being celebrated. The New York Times Café has marked the month with a spread including watermelon slices and cornbread, and a previous newspaper ad for the Family Dollar stores suggested to “celebrate Black History Month” by relaxing your hair, as it pictured photos of Luster’s Pink Relaxer, Dark & Lovely, Motions and Ultra Sheen relaxer kits on sale.
Stories like these make me wonder if we’ve forgotten why Black History Month, or any other cultural history day or month, was created. Featuring watermelons as a means to celebrate BHM is like praising Chipotle during Hispanic Heritage Month or giving out free tampons during Women’s History Month. You just don’t do it.
While chicken and relaxers may be products African-Americans have bought, they don’t define Black people as a whole and the contributions they have made to society.
I think it’s time to be a bit more creative.
Ever notice how George Washington Carver is seldom mentioned as a role model during Black History Month?
“And of course the most famous Malcolm X quote of all, “Come enjoy some pork chops and pig feet!”
He must have been referring to meat from a rare species of pig that’s halal-friendly.
They forgot the traditional looting of the shoe stores.
I once made a post that mentioned the big green-on-the-outside red-on-the-inside watery summer melon-type fruit and KFC in the same post.
You can’t do that.
It got pulled.
lol
Excellent.
You might be able to get away with mentioning Sen. Barbara “Waters” and “melons” in the same post...
I've been hearing that complaint for years, where have you been?
Does Michelle know the military is serving fried foods?
nully still waiting for the coffee to kick in...
Oh ... you mean watermelon?
I just added it to this thread as a keyword!
These are SOUTHERN dishes. There is nothing particularly black about these dishes.
Fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas, and cornbread with banana pudding for desert was a typical meal for me growing up in Georgia.
An oh yea, in season, we had watermelon at least once a week.
My mom didn’t serve pigs feet (although I did have cousins that ate it), buy everything else on that list was part of my regular diet growing up. And, as an adult some 40 years later, they are still some of my favorite foods.
These are SOUTHERN dishes. There is nothing particularly black about these dishes.
Fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas, and cornbread with banana pudding for desert was a typical meal for me growing up in Georgia.
An oh yea, in season, we had watermelon at least once a week.
My mom didn’t serve pigs feet (although I did have cousins that ate it), buy everything else on that list was part of my regular diet growing up. And, as an adult some 40 years later, they are still some of my favorite foods.
I’ve heretofore tended to label Tyson as somewhat of a liberal because he worships at the altar of Science.
However, these comments from Tyson EXACTLY mirror my own rants! His comments about the debating team are the same reaction I had when I first went to a Debating Team meeting in high school.
“This is crazy”, I said as I walked out of the meeting. “You want me to debate something and you will arbitrarily assign me a side to take? What about TRUTH and Right or Wrong?”
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Lawyers in Congress.
http://www.wimp.com/lawyerscongress/
Excellent!
Evidently, these comments were made on the Bill Maher show. Astonishingly, the audience applauds!
Things that should really annoy black Americans.
Giving away a Planned Parenthood coupon that offers “$5 back for killing your baby”.
Pre-filled out ballots for Obama “vote for him just because he’s black. Nothing else matters.”
Democrat party logo plastic ankle “welfare slave chains”.
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