General Discussion

Neoma

(10,039 posts)

178. Hanging around two (awesome) black women could get me in trouble someday either way I put things.

Mon Feb 10, 2014, 02:11 PM

Feb 2014

Me: Do people still use the word mulatto?
Best friend: No, someone decided it was offensive and that killed the word.
Me: Oh...
---
Me: I got in trouble on a political website.
Best friend: What'd you do?!
Me: I said the phrase "black accent."
Best friend: *cracks up laughing*
Me: No seriously, what the fuck do I call it?
Her boyfriend: Well you can call it Ebonics.
Best friend: No she can't! People take offense to that too...
Me: What can I call it then?
Best friend: You can't call it anything, people get offended at everything.
---
Me: Okay, so what do YOU call it?
Friend: "Well, you either call them hood rats or ghetto."
Me: "I can't say that!"
Friend: "Why not?"
Best friend: "No really, she really can't say that since she's white. WE can say it but..."
Friend: But I'm okay with it.
Best friend: That doesn't mean others are.
Friend: Yeah, I guess...
---

Those conversations made me believe that people choose to become offended at things in order to shut down serious discussion. I'm not saying that no one should be offended at the whole chicken and watermelon bullshit, but it has made me do double-takes at people who are offended.

Because people are either REALLY offended, or people just don't want to talk about it and leaves the topic hanging to the point that people claim they really want to get down and dirty and talk out stereotypes and differences with other members of society, but they actually don't and they try their best to shut the entire conversation down with the excuse of being offended. Because that is a good way to shut down an entire conversation that could have been really productive.

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Fried Chicken Is Soul Food & Should Be Honored And Embraced As Such [View all] KittyWampus Feb 2014 OP

I started to write several times the other night when Cha Feb 2014 #1

Chicken greens and cornbread... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #21

Everybody eats fried chicken.. I use to until I Cha Feb 2014 #50

That is why I said almost everyone... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #61

Exactly. The context was everything. merrily Feb 2014 #115

I think it's yet another symptom of Outrage Society. The_Commonist Feb 2014 #2

^^this^^ Puzzledtraveller Feb 2014 #186

I really don't know how I feel about this........... wandy Feb 2014 #3

And there are as many recipes for it as there are cooks Warpy Feb 2014 #10

Ahhhhh, so true......... wandy Feb 2014 #17

I "lost" that cook book somewhere! Lifelong Protester Feb 2014 #179

Is this more of how white people tell black people racism really isn't a problem? BainsBane Feb 2014 #4

You know, Soul Food is an interesting subject. Why close down that discussion? KittyWampus Feb 2014 #11

I do not claim to be an expert BainsBane Feb 2014 #13

I'll have to find MrScorpio's thread JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #30

I linked to it BainsBane Feb 2014 #48

I found it JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #120

Agreed. Sheldon Cooper Feb 2014 #32

Its political correctness run amok quinnox Feb 2014 #5

The outrage machine definitely is in full gear BainsBane Feb 2014 #6

A friend recently posted pictures of his friends at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in LA sweetloukillbot Feb 2014 #29

Did anyone anywhere say eating fried chicken is racist? gollygee Feb 2014 #33

Well, I attended an American festival here in Japan recently Art_from_Ark Feb 2014 #65

those foods are not used against americans in a bigoted way JI7 Feb 2014 #119

Are you sure? Art_from_Ark Feb 2014 #123

So would you agree that whopis01 Feb 2014 #156

I love it, too. Racist? Nope. 840high Feb 2014 #57

I think Whites need to back off the pseudo-"honoring" thing. WinkyDink Feb 2014 #7

Yeah, we just don't get it. Warpy Feb 2014 #9

So you think Mr. Miller only wants black people to buy or talk about his book KittyWampus Feb 2014 #16

I think you are diverting Mr. Scorpio's OP down an irrelevant alley. kwassa Feb 2014 #35

That can definitely backfire on you jmowreader Feb 2014 #94

... handmade34 Feb 2014 #127

It's one of the things my mother, who hated cooking, did well Warpy Feb 2014 #8

Here you go, from less than a month ago. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #12

So Americans shouldn't acknowledge, talk about or eat soul food? KittyWampus Feb 2014 #14

the history of how it's been used in a negative racist way should also be acknowledged JI7 Feb 2014 #18

Where in my OP do even vaguely suggest that negative shouldn't be acknowledged? KittyWampus Feb 2014 #151

This stupidest example hit the national newswire...no scouring was needed. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #20

You can eat it and talk about --just don't use it as a STEREOTYPE to LABEL African Americans tblue37 Feb 2014 #63

Thank you. liberalmuse Feb 2014 #83

You're missing the point Scootaloo Feb 2014 #116

So when Leslie Calhoun (the NBC cafeteria's African-American chef) tried to do such a menu KittyWampus Feb 2014 #153

"many lefties"? frwrfpos Feb 2014 #15

Noticed that too did you? Rex Feb 2014 #170

Not a fan of soul food. dilby Feb 2014 #19

they have a lot of vegetable dishes which are healthy JI7 Feb 2014 #24

I've come to the conclusion I'm the only person in the northwest who can cook Scootaloo Feb 2014 #117

Tartar sauce? bravenak Feb 2014 #125

Exactly deutsey Feb 2014 #140

and it's their damn fish! onpatrol98 Feb 2014 #190

Fuck it. I like fried chicken and when I go to a soul food restaurant I'll order it. lumberjack_jeff Feb 2014 #22

is anyone saying not to eat these foods ? JI7 Feb 2014 #25

No, but they are saying to not associate them with their inventors. lumberjack_jeff Feb 2014 #27

Nooooooo... "they" are saying, don't expect to not be called out on it when you serve a lunch of ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #36

If you have to ask... HipChick Feb 2014 #23

I think it was the overall stereotypical menu that got to people. WillowTree Feb 2014 #26

To be fair. A peak production (and harvesting) month for watermelons in Mexico is February. Luminous Animal Feb 2014 #192

Well there ya go. Learn something new every day. WillowTree Feb 2014 #193

I never really cared for fried chicken til my doctor told me that I should avoid it! TheDebbieDee Feb 2014 #28

If you're offending the people whose history and culture you're trying to honor, gollygee Feb 2014 #31

Hanging around two (awesome) black women could get me in trouble someday either way I put things. Neoma Feb 2014 #178

I grew up on soul food and love it. xfundy Feb 2014 #34

Giving up fried catfish Aerows Feb 2014 #111

There is no argument against including fried chicken as soul food! M0rpheus Feb 2014 #37

I have to say... ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #39

Jury Results: 5-1 leave. X_Digger Feb 2014 #38

Chicken 'n dumplins in a crockpot. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #40

I cheat- canned biscuits, 30 minutes before dinner time. X_Digger Feb 2014 #42

That's chicken 'n biscuits. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #43

I know, I know.. but it's soooo goood. (As I'm blowing on a forkful.) X_Digger Feb 2014 #44

Now I'm starving for some blackberries ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #45

Lovely soul food place near me Kurska Feb 2014 #41

What the hell is wrong with you people? M0rpheus Feb 2014 #46

Woah man Kurska Feb 2014 #53

Had there not been many many posts explaining the issue, I might be more conciliatory. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #56

First post I've ever made about this topic Kurska Feb 2014 #59

You may suggest it. Not that it makes it any better. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #60

DU is incredibly receptive to social justice issues Kurska Feb 2014 #64

LOL! We'll just let today be the example that I find very close to the norm... M0rpheus Feb 2014 #66

My 15-year-old son is more receptive to social justice issues than a lot ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #68

Perhaps if one lives in Alabama or Arizona BainsBane Feb 2014 #76

"pretending that serving chicken and watermelon wasn't an obvious racist insult." Kurska Feb 2014 #84

Oh, why don't you try doing a poll on affirmative action gollygee Feb 2014 #130

Um, we're comparing against the general population Kurska Feb 2014 #166

There might be a slight majority gollygee Feb 2014 #172

More conservative seemed to be the assertion I was responding to originally. Kurska Feb 2014 #185

I'm beginning to wonder if 'context' is a quite recent invention LanternWaste Feb 2014 #165

+1 cyberswede Feb 2014 #167

So tell me Kurska Feb 2014 #168

It is perfectly in keeping with your posts on other issues having to do with diversity BainsBane Feb 2014 #74

You don't know a thing about me. Kurska Feb 2014 #88

You don't understand the historical context, and you don't care that you don't know. kwassa Feb 2014 #77

Actually as a Jewish person I completely understand food being used to denigrate people. Kurska Feb 2014 #81

Racial stereotypes don't dictate our culturul culinary traditions. kwassa Feb 2014 #188

Some of it is deliberately disrespectful BainsBane Feb 2014 #73

I know this, and 99 days out of 100 I avoid the bait. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #78

How do I access the breakdown of DUers by race? (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #85

Do you doubt the veracity of his claim that there are very few AA DUers? bravenak Feb 2014 #89

Don't even bother with that one. He's just trolling. nt M0rpheus Feb 2014 #99

I know. bravenak Feb 2014 #104

"It's like a tea party rally around here demographically." More than just "demographically" Number23 Feb 2014 #108

I try to be funny so I don't cry. bravenak Feb 2014 #109

I suppose it would be surprising to you to know that there's an AA group. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #91

Ironic that you referred to me as "boy" (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #93

Knowing your history, I could call you much worse. M0rpheus Feb 2014 #95

Back atcha! Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #96

Or maybe not ironic at all. merrily Feb 2014 #114

You were right to challenge it BainsBane Feb 2014 #90

This message was self-deleted by its author Ecumenist Feb 2014 #121

M0rpheus Number23 Feb 2014 #98

Sigh... M0rpheus Feb 2014 #100

It's going to be all right. Just be damn glad you don't have to live with these people Number23 Feb 2014 #102

I'm fairly certain that would result in a loss of freedom for me... M0rpheus Feb 2014 #105

"Fairly certain that would result in a loss of freedom for me...." Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #134

So, since he's black a loss of freedom must mean he's going to commit a violent felony?? bravenak Feb 2014 #136

Well, what do you think he meant by the "loss of freedom" comment? Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #137

There are many types of freedom as you know very well I think. bravenak Feb 2014 #142

OK, but when someone talks about "losing their freedom", without any qualifier, Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #143

Did you ask for a clarification? bravenak Feb 2014 #144

Actually I did. The first sentence of that post was a question. Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #145

No it wasn't a request for clarification. bravenak Feb 2014 #146

"I'm a nose-breaking pro". Nye Bevan Feb 2014 #147

Yep. It sad that all you got from my post. Pitiful, really. bravenak Feb 2014 #154

"The choice is not between violence and nonviolence but between nonviolence and nonexistence."-MLK M0rpheus Feb 2014 #183

You are absolutely ridiculous. Number23 Feb 2014 #191

Someone thinks that when you said loss of freedom you meant you would commit a violent felony. bravenak Feb 2014 #159

'Twas a specifically crafted sentence... M0rpheus Feb 2014 #162

I know. bravenak Feb 2014 #163

We celebrate all kinds of ethnic cuisines. Why not soul food? badtoworse Feb 2014 #47

You completely miss the point. kwassa Feb 2014 #49

Yes, and????? So we shouldn't talk about Soul Food, because of the ignorant? KittyWampus Feb 2014 #51

You are busy denying the racist connection. kwassa Feb 2014 #54

It would be better not to assume any particular food item has any particular meaning for struggle4progress Feb 2014 #52

Adrien Miller talks about the Sunday Chicken- it being reserved for Sundays and best pieces of meat KittyWampus Feb 2014 #55

Personally, I prefer Seoul food DBoon Feb 2014 #58

Well, bless your heart. scarletwoman Feb 2014 #62

I'm not quite certain I understand the point you wish to make. Jenoch Feb 2014 #67

Sometimes fried chicken is just fried chicken FarCenter Feb 2014 #69

No thank you!! bravenak Feb 2014 #70

Thank you! ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #71

You're welcome. bravenak Feb 2014 #72

Soulfood is delicious Kurska Feb 2014 #92

Good for you. bravenak Feb 2014 #97

I'm saying it, because I don't think it should ruin it for you. Kurska Feb 2014 #103

It's killing us. It tastes delicious. Eaten every day it will kill you. bravenak Feb 2014 #107

Well, the author cited in the OP differentiates between three different "periods" in the making of KittyWampus Feb 2014 #150

Oh, am I not allowed to chime in on 'your' thread? bravenak Feb 2014 #155

Fried Chicken is Southern Cooking. Skip Intro Feb 2014 #75

Yeah, that's what I thought. Trillo Feb 2014 #110

Grits, too. Trillo Feb 2014 #112

There's many regional variants there... Scootaloo Feb 2014 #118

It's *also* fodder for offensive stereotypes, and should be addressed and critiqued as such. fishwax Feb 2014 #79

!!!!! M0rpheus Feb 2014 #80

Thank you.NT bravenak Feb 2014 #87

"It's *also* fodder for offensive stereotypes, and should be addressed and critiqued as such" etherealtruth Feb 2014 #126

Yes. Very well said, ty. n/t MerryBlooms Feb 2014 #132

And yet how many DU'ers repeatedly "hammer" those offensive stereotypes and totally IGNORE KittyWampus Feb 2014 #148

But fried chicken AND WATERMELON is just an ugly stereotype. Gormy Cuss Feb 2014 #82

NBC also had to apologize for a menu that included fried chicken and collard greens Major Nikon Feb 2014 #106

It wasn't the menu, it was the sign that caused the stir. Gormy Cuss Feb 2014 #173

The controversy started with a tweet Major Nikon Feb 2014 #187

Sure, it should be... TreasonousBastard Feb 2014 #86

Is it racist to serve Tacos and Tamales to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? demosincebirth Feb 2014 #101

depends on how it's done, but it hasn't been used in the bigoted way against mexicans JI7 Feb 2014 #122

First, not all African Americans have their roots in the old US South. merrily Feb 2014 #113

Anyone of any heritage who has trouble seeing that just doesn't get it. etherealtruth Feb 2014 #124

"Anyone...who has trouble seeing that just doesn't get it" handmade34 Feb 2014 #129

I fear they actually "get it" etherealtruth Feb 2014 #189

Irregardless if it is called soul food or not, I love fried chicken liberal N proud Feb 2014 #128

The problem I see with honoring black history month with the meal they chose Arcanetrance Feb 2014 #131

I can't stand much of what passes for soul food myself MrScorpio Feb 2014 #139

All I know is CFLDem Feb 2014 #133

Well Fiddle Dee! JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #135

When racist whites stop using soul food as a negative stereotype against blacks... MrScorpio Feb 2014 #138

Throw the mic MrScorpio! JustAnotherGen Feb 2014 #157

So, people were just honoring Obama's heritage with this image? Capt. Obvious Feb 2014 #141

I love soul food, but it doesn't love me. chrisa Feb 2014 #149

What I think people are missing is that when this recently happened, the Black Student Union at stevenleser Feb 2014 #152

This guy I worked with, would go to a place he calls soul food. Xyzse Feb 2014 #158

Yay racial stereotypes! Vashta Nerada Feb 2014 #160

This is probably one of the more disgusting titles I've seen on DU Oilwellian Feb 2014 #161

kickin for Chicken and soul food! Puzzledtraveller Feb 2014 #164

Fried chicken for the soul Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #169

As a white man Rex Feb 2014 #171

What do you think about White Food Historians or Anthropologists? el_bryanto Feb 2014 #175

Yes I was thinking a cultural anthropologist might have some legitimacy to discuss it. Rex Feb 2014 #176

Planet Taco - A Global History of Mexican Food by Jeffrey M. Pilcher el_bryanto Feb 2014 #174

I'm going to be as brief as I can and spell it out... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #177

I like your idea about it being used as a teaching moment. Quantess Feb 2014 #181

Yeah, something like that... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #182

Learn something new every day! I did not know that. Quantess Feb 2014 #184

I never thought of it as anything different. Arkana Feb 2014 #180

I think the Soul Food argument is misplaced, imho cinnabonbon Feb 2014 #194