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.
Fort Bragg’s “stereotypical” Black History Month menu: Does it make you angry or just hungry?
Gawker knocked Fort Bragg’s special Black History Month meal of fried chicken, pigs feet, ham hocks and collard greens, saying “all the stereotypical foods are represented.”
Many of the commenters on the original Gawker post did not seem outraged. Should they have been? Does offering soul food reinforce stereotypes or recognize a cultural contribution?
http://militarytimes.com/blogs/outside-the-wire/2012/02/16/fort-braggs-stereotypical-black-history-month-menu-does-it-make-you-angry-or-just-hungry/
From Gawker:
U.S. Army Base’s ‘Black History Heritage’ Meal: Malcolm X, Pig Feet
A tipster forwards us this “Black History Heritage Meal” menu from the US Army base in Ft. Bragg, NC: fried chicken, pig feet, ham hocks, collard greens... all the stereotypical foods are represented. The ol’ “comedically stereotypical Black History Month menu” is a pretty damn familiar trope of its own, at this point. I’m more impressed by the US Army’s open-minded photo montage.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
W.E.B. DUBOIS: “What do nations care about the cost of war, if by spending a few hundred millions in steel and gunpowder they can gain a thousand millions in diamonds and cocoa?”
MALCOLM X: “You show me a capitalist, and I’ll show you a bloodsucker.”
And of course the most famous Malcolm X quote of all, “Come enjoy some pork chops and pig feet!’
http://gawker.com/black-history-month/
“but is there an appropriate way to honor Black History Month?”
...yes. Abolish it and allow blacks back into American history. BHM does nothing more than tell blacks...”you’re not good enough for AH.”
While in line, I caused a lot of people (of diverse races) to bust out laughing when I looked at the fare and said, "Mac and Cheese, Fried Chicken, Corn Bread...I grew up on this stuff; I didn't know I was African American!"
I confess, this part made me LOL!
or giving out free tampons during Women’s History Month. You just don’t do it.
Is there any link which actually posts a legible menu?
I was OK with it until I saw “Short Order”. Filthy, racist swine.....
Someone enlighten me. What other ones are there and why were they created?
The menu images I posted were from the Gawker article. I haven’t found any others, but I presume this photo to be the menu at Fort Bragg.
It’s a bit hard to read because of the reflection, but I can read fried chicken, collard greens, pig’s feet, black eyed peas and rice and an assortment of other items. I’ve had much of these foods before (except for pig’s feet, ugghhh!) and they are quite good.
I was out with the boys Friday and Saturday. Friday night we had collard greens with some fat back, big dutch over full of cooked cabbage and pork chops, corm bread, pintos - and of course a splash of White Lightning.
No of us considered it ethnic food.
Well, maybe “Southeron”
Odd quote from a Muslim. Seems he'd be more likely to say, "come enjoy some lule kebab and tabouleh!"
Fried Chicken, Bottle of Ripple, Box of Gubment cheese, and Crack Cocaine. A heritage to be proud of.
lol!
***...fried chicken, pig feet, ham hocks, collard greens***
My favorite foods, except for the pig’s feet. At least they didn’t serve pork brains in milk gravy, polk sallet, or pickled pig lips and chitterlins.
I hated when the DFAC would call it “Soul Food” night. I would tell everyone it was just plain old Southern food. Then I’d pile my plate high and pig out.
In my classroom, the kids are learning about Neil deGrasse Tyson and John McWhorter for BHM. They already know all the grievance types and the sports & entertainment types.
and reading this makes me hungry
I’m still waiting for the outrage from the minority community over being given the shortest month for “Black History Month”.
Obama Fried Chicken
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