Why is a Black Person with Fried Chicken or Watermelon Racist?

Posted By mr lim on June 22, 2009

I have absolutely nothing against black people or anyone else for that matter but I just can’t seem to figure out what’s the deal with black people with fried chicken or watermelons? Where did this stereotype originated from?

Google does nothing for me. Any help LazyWeb? :o

4 Comments so far

  1. Molly on June 22nd, 2009

    According to Wikipedia, “Racist caricatures may depict African Americans as being inordinately fond of watermelon.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon#Cultural_uses_and_references]

    As for fried chicken, it might have something to do with Kentucky (the state) and the history of slavery/certain stereotypes about blacks.

    Or the gif itself mocks the sensitivity with which people treat anything that might be interpreted as discriminatory.

  2. Molly on June 22nd, 2009

    http://blogs.suntimes.com/mitchell/2009/02/monkeys_watermelons_and_black.html

  3. mr lim on June 23rd, 2009

    My god Molly! You’re even better than Google! :D

  4. Molly on June 24th, 2009

    I used Google too. Sometimes you need to coax that little brat a little.

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