[Sheri R.]

Well Matt… I don’t profess to know it all about why watermelons are so offensive but I can tell you my opinion. I think they are offensive and considered a negative stereotype because they fit into the whole idea about blacks being these uneducated, singing, dancing happy to be in poverty stereotypes. What are the blacks doing in that image with the singing, dancing, so-called carefree life…eating watermelon. There’s also this image that blacks just love the stuff…we cant’ get enough watermelon so if you want to soothe some annoyed blacks, just give them watermelon. Yes, everyone in the South eats it but blacks are the ones who are associated with it as a negative stereotype. Maybe you have never seen the image of the little black kid with nappy hair, huge lips, huge eyes and a face full of watermelon. It’s a hurtful image and meant to promote an ugly stereotype. Fried chicken is another one, which is why that comment from the golfer regarding Tiger Woods wanting fried chicken at the Master’s Tournament dinner was so insulting. I think these foods are targeted and others aren’t because these foods were used in advertisements featuring negative images of blacks.

User Detail :  

Name : Sheri R., Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 41, City : san francisco, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,