Racial attack at SFPD? (Aisan woman delivers watermelons to black Chief of Police)

The Examiner ^ | 08/08/2002 | RICHARD BYRNE REILLY

[Michael2001]

What's the big deal? As I see it the guy got three free watermelons.

I love watermelons. I'd be happy if someone did that to me. "I don't like your race or you, here's three watermelons as a sign of how much I hate you". I'd just hope they were seedless. Ever since I've tried seedless watermelons I can't go back :)

[Cleburne]

I assume this is sarcasm, right? Right?

[smoking camels]

Yeah... give'em to me.

What is the insult anyway? I am not to naive here but am in the dark on this one.

[RippleFire]

Watermelons have been used since the 19th century as racist tools against black Americans.

What's a racist tool?

[Dakmar]

Just to quell any curiosity, this is fmr chief Fred Lau:

ps: You're an idiot if you don't understand how a Black person could be offended by such a "kind" offering.

[DoughtyOne]

It's an old euphamism regarding ignorant N's hanging out in the watermellon patch. I realize that this is likely an instigated insult, but I think it's much smarter to ignore things like this and demonstrate that you have more class that the fool that sent the insult.

I'd be leary of eating them since someone could inject something into them. Some will disagree and say that you could see if something had punctured the skin, but I wouldn't want to take a chance.

This story reveals that it got to some people and that's what the perp wanted. I'd have acted like I really enjoyed the melons and left the person scratching their heads in anger.

[Moonmad27]

Where's the Onion credit for this unbelievable article? That reminded me of a hospital I once worked at in Texas where the vast majority of the employees were black. One time, watermelon was the special dessert served in honor of Juneteenth in the cafeteria by the manager of the cafeteria who was also black. I (one of the few white employees) was the one who was embarassed, not them - they loved it!

[Mensch]

Somebody sends me a loaf of white bread, I'm gonna slather it with mayonaise, throw on a couple slices of ham, and the media will never be the wiser.

[mamelukesabre]

A cop had better have a little thicker skin than that. If you have such thin skin that a few watermelons would cause you injury, maybe you better try another line of work.

[PoorMuttly]

Can Muttly get some brutal and offensive watermelons too? Muttly like watermelons, but is suspicious of unsolicited gifts from S.F., on general principles.

[AM2000]

"Brutal, absolutely brutal."

Watermelons are brutal?

[bluefish]

"Racist tool?"

Prejudicial, ignorant and offensive, sure. But "racist tool?"

Some on the force got it right. Blow it off. Don't even give it the dignity of a response. Others appear to want to scream and bluster and holler until what, more watermellons make their way to the new chief because of the publicity? Those reacting are as silly as those who pulled the stupid prank. That is, unless they are thinking about contacting Jesse Jackson or a trial lawyer to initiate a law suit watermellon growers or something.

[cinFLA]

Ever since I've tried seedless watermelons I can't go back :)

You obviously were never into the spittin' contests?

[JoeFromCA]

When I was a dirt poor (white) kid growing up in the south, we grew watermelons in the open spaces between the stalks in the corn field. My mama would drive around the countryside with us three kids and sell watermelons out of the trunk of the car for 50 cents each--about the only cash money we had during the summer.

Good thing there wasn't a politically correct movement then, or I guess we would have been really poor.

[Chad Fairbanks]

What is a racist tool?

Black and Decker?????

[ErnBatavia]

watermelon was the special dessert served in honor of Juneteenth in the cafeteria

It would have been another story, had it been Freaknik.......

[doug from upland]

Would someone please deliver to me some Irish whiskey? I won't take offense.

[rightofrush]

...am in the dark on this one.

And you say you're "not too nieve?

[mamelukesabre]

I wonder what his reaction would be if someone sent him fried chicken, black eyed peas, ham hocks, and sweet potato pies?

LOL

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

Watermelons have been used since the 19th century as racist tools against black Americans.

Sure, you drill a little hole, and then fill them with acetone and peroxide. Wait, that was the exploding light bulb topic...