Warning: racist images follow:
Photo credit: Jeremy Thornhill
The watermelon stereotype is the White American belief that black people have a particular weakness for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), that it is one of the foods they like best.
The stereotype goes back at least 200 years to slave times. We have pictures of it that go back at least to the 1890s and continue all the way down to the present day (see above). You see it in the poetry of Carl Sandburg from 1918:
Why do I always think of niggers and buck-and-wing dancing whenever I see watermelon?
It also features in racist jokes. Still.
Some seem to accept it as fact. You see that in some of the pictures above, like the Shell ad and the last one, a serious stock photo.
Some say that stereotypes are based on the truth, however stretched and imperfect. So there must be some truth to it, right?
Here is the truth it is based on. Here is the amount of watermelon the average American ate in 1996:
- 5.9 kg: white
- 6.0 kg: black
- 8.1 kg: Hispanic
- 19.5 kg: other
Only 0.1 kilograms separates blacks from whites – that comes to less than one slice.
Yet if you look at the pictures above you would think whites barely touch the stuff, that blacks eat it way more than anyone else and everyone knows it.
Blacks do in fact eat more watermelon than whites: but only by 1 or 2% – not a difference anyone would notice. Not a difference that could begin to account for the pictures above as honest, innocent observation, as something anywhere close to objective reality.
It is not even a case of watermelon being a food that is most common in the American South or a cheap food most common among the poor: in America it is most commonly eaten in the west, in the suburbs and by the middle-class. Hispanics eat more of it than either blacks or whites and Asian Americans seem to eat it most of all. If that seems odd, consider that China grows more watermelon than anyone and has been growing it longer than Europe.
It is not even the case that watermelons came to America from West Africa along with slaves and okra: Europeans have known about watermelons since the 1200s, when the Moors of Spain brought them, along with oranges and algebra (neither of which are seen as a black thing).
The watermelon stereotype tells you nothing that is true about either black people or watermelons. All it tells you about is the way many white people think:
- They can believe in a stereotype that is not one bit true.
- They do not question what they are told about black people, not even the stuff that is easily googled.
- They think most black people are alike.
- They can take a seemingly innocent, harmless difference, such as liking watermelon – what in the world is wrong with liking watermelon? – and use it to put down black people and laugh at them, to make them seem like mindless creatures.
See also:
- Sources:
- The Cambridge History of Food: Cucumbers, Melon and Watermelon – the history, complete with scholarly sources
- The Jim Crow Museum: Question of the Month: Blacks and Watermelons
- USDA: Factors Affecting Watermelon Consumption in the United States (PDF)
- authentichistory.com: Chicken & Watermelon Themes – yet more pictures
- stereotypes
I never got the whole walermelon and chicken thing. It sounds so gross together. It’s okay, but I hate the seeds. Mangos pawn watermelon anyday. Japan loves walermelon, too. Also, what’s up with the first pic of blacks. What group of people actucally looks like that? Maybe, white were too high off of coke or something.
My aunts/mom would always buy, on average, three to five huge watermelons for each of their families. And the people working the till had these looks on their faces that Asians must really love watermelon. Strange, huh?
I always believed the stereotype came from the south, where Watermelon and Chicken very popular with blacks and whites. I believe it “stuck” because most people only use their hands to eat Watermelon and Chicken and racists made it seem black people were uncivilized since their “favorite” foods didn’t require them to use utensils.
This is one of those stereotypes that are mind-blogging.
Whites love it because they think it offends blacks to say they love watermelons. In fact, blacks hate this stereotype because it’s annoying. It makes no sense.
I seriously believe that many racist whites enjoy indulging in these racist stereotypes for no other reason than they can. They think it’s funny just because.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL omg there are actually words after the pictures! Hehe I’m dying of laughter right now. Lmao I swear, racism can be fun sometimes if you do it right.
Now time for me to actually read the post
**Black Man’s Fantasy Girl**
A blonde instead of an attractive black woman. Why does she have to be white? A stereotype that black men secretly lust after white women or that white women are prettier than black women?
I personally love the watermelon & chicken stereotypes. They are the dumbest things to me. The fact that this stereotype doesn’t have a shred of truth to it deeply confuses me. I also don’t understand why racist believe food is supposed to offend me. Like white folks don’t eat watermelon & chicken…
I swear racist food jokes are so basic. Lol How can you hate ppl for being hungry???
If black people love chicken so much, why is a picture of a white man on the KFC bucket?
@Serpentus
“A stereotype that black men secretly lust after white women”
This stereotype is as old as time. In order to keep poor whites and blacks(default poor) from uniting for common economic interest, Southern Democratic white politicians would preach white supremacy and tell poor whites that every black man wanted to defile their pure white southern belles. They would also fill the Republican party with black politicians bc they knew whites weren’t going to vote for them. This was all in order to maintain political/economic power within Southern states(elites were in on it to).
I believe the stereotype goes back further than this, but it more than likely cemented itself into American society post Civil War.
Black Man’s Fantasy Girl is thin, not thick like most black men like. Mostly white men would be attracted to her. Also, she seems sort of plain.
“If black people love chicken so much, why is a picture of a white man on the KFC bucket?”
Co-signed.
http://www.southernfriedchickenrecipe.com/Fried-Chicken-Articles/history-of-fried-chicken.php
Fried chicken isn’t “black” food. the first people to fry food were the Chinese.
The fact that whites (the stupid ones) think that this stereotype is offensive to black folks is a testament to just how small minded they are. It’s like the insult version of Chinese Water Torture. “It doesn’t hurt, but the same thing over time eventually gets irritating.”
I’m not American, and neither black nor white, and I think this stereotype is disgusting. Those pictures make me feel sick that a group of people can be dehumanised to that extent.
To be honest, the last one seems like it’s been Photoshopped. But the quality is bad, so I might be mistaken.
The watermelon thing is one of those “WTF!?! Random!” things about the US. I mean, it’s completely random and makes no sense, at least not where I live.
We like watermelon. Well, not all the people, but it’s what many of us associate with summer. Once a week or so, your parents would ask: “would you like some watermelon!”, and you’d agree, excited. Then your father would go and first take a good look at watermelons, after which he’d do a mandatory test to determine whether it’s ripe. Then he’d take it home, and you’d be so happy… It just one of those simple, small things that makes life beautiful.
So I had no idea, up to a year ago, that there’s a racist stereotype about black people liking watermelons, as the opposite of whites.
Being from the Southern U.S., this stereotype is mostly annoying. It goes with other stuff like the musty n-word, laziness, and history=slavery. Nevermind the other side of things going on…o_O
Like with Civil War issues, this is just another slice of the scapegoat archetype lobbed at African-Americans…sort of indirectly applies to the “do as we say, not as we do” motto in regards to whites and their actions.
It reminds me of a song I heard as a teenager. It’s titled “Watermelon Crawl” by Tracy Byrd. I mainly only noticed it due to the sexual nature (women dancing around in watermelon) and as a male, nature usually wins…;}
Maybe it was a coming of age sort of deal, but that pretty much sealed it in regards to being offended (not one black person in the video?!). It’s the type of stuff that should(n’t) be relegated to grade school banter, except it’s grown-ups doing it…the rest is pretty simple.
Grab a peak if you like…
I have never understood where this stereotype comes from. What are the origins? Seems like there are any number of souther foods that might have stuck instead. weird… anyone know the specific history?
wow, those pics. What those pictures say to me actually has very little to do with watermelon. the message seems to be quite simply that blacks are inferior/ugly and watermelon is just used as a vehicle to drive that point home.
As for fried chicken, that one always confused me. Fried chicken is like the best food ever invented. If it wasn’t so bad for you I would eat it all the time. So I never understood why saying someone likes chicken would be an insult but these pics kind of show you why.
Fried chicken is like the best food ever invented.
I agree. I don’t generally eat meat, but I can’t resist fried chicken.
I think these stereotypes are confusing because they seem very random, and it looks like they seem random even to Americans. I mean, they are stereotypes and therefore harmful, but I can’t think of a reason why they formed. I mean, watermelons and fried chicken? Don’t most people like these? And even if they don’t, why would it be watermelons and fried chicken and not something else?
Color me nauseous…
I’ve seen quite a few of these images before, because I used to have a big collection of WWII-era LIFE magazines, and those ads were commonplace.
I also have a VHS tape of Weird Cartoons, which has a Little Black Sambo clip in it, as well as some ‘musical number’ called ‘Scrub Me Mama With a Boogie Beat” – the picture above, just underneath the watermelon car, is from that piece of nonsense.
After I posted I went and ate a bunch of fried chicken for lunch. While so doing I took note of my privilege to slam on fried chicken without fear of reaffirming any stereotypes about my race.
Another funny thing – I thought that watermelon was extremely popular in Japan; so much so, that some enterprising individual developed ‘square’ melons – easier to stack for display at open market!
http://articles.cnn.com/2001-06-15/world/square.watermelon_1_seedless-melons-watermelon-lovers-round-watermelon?_s=PM:asiapcf
(old article, obviously)
This is really weird. I think I didn’t realise how much of a nasty stereotype this is despite several years living in the USA. I do remember people giggling when they saw me eating watermelon at work but I would think it’s because “those foreigners eat strange things at work”. I could never make a connection to a very weird form of bigotry.
As an outsider, if you only saw the first and the last picture you would think, so what, it looks innocent. Then everything in between is really creepy.
As Mira said, it was the same for us when we were kids. Pastèque was a feast, a nice alternative to ice lolly in summer.
When the first KFC opened in Paris aux Halles I went there with my brothers and we thought, this is nice. But gran’s poulet DG is better, made from live chicken slaughtered at home…
I still like to go for a Church’s when I’m in the US. Fried okra and gizzards. Nice.
I think this is a lot closer to an average black man’s fantasy girl: http://looseneck.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/mford2.jpg
That is if I can judge by the centerfolds in black men’s magazines.
I’ve always hated watermelon. It tastes nasty to me. I’ve given an honest try on many occasions and I cannot eat the stuff. I just don’t like the taste.
I like fried chicken, but who doesn’t? I can’t eat it like I used to because all the grease and breading upsets my stomach. Eating KFC will leave me nauseated for hours even though I like the taste.
@Olefemi
U think ppl were giggling at you 4 eating watermelon? Do u black/off-black? I remember you saying you were three-fourths European. I imagined you looking something like this
http://audiblevitamins.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/veloso.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-gy2opNa7D8/TBqHKM66xQI/AAAAAAAABAY/V1p_9SDdS-o/S1600-R/Caetano%2BVeloso%2B-%2BBicho%2B(1977)-BACK-image004.jpg
Those are pics of a Brazilian singer, Caetano Veloso, in case ur wondering.
Was that last photo (the stock photo) altered by someone (not Abagond)? The hands and watermelon seem slightly out of focus
Oh yea and I must confess. I love watermelon. It’s funny bc my friends and two of my siblings absolutely hate the taste of it. Lol they always exploit their aversion to it by jokingly referring to me as “coon” for reflecting on its juicy sweetness at cookouts. I just laugh about it. Again, this stereotype is so dumb to me, I can’t take it seriously.
Chicken? Eh… it’s okay. I don’t die for it. To me it’s just food *shrugs*
@ The Cynic
I honestly don’t know why they were giggling. It might as well be as I thought, I was foreign to them.
Interesting, I’ve never heard of Caetano Veloso. He looks more like my cousin. I was told that, in my thirties, I used to look like Adel Benchérif now.
http://bit.ly/gOdgWb
Unfortunately time was not so kind on me and took most of my hair in the meantime…
@Serpentus
“A stereotype that black men secretly lust after white women”
I call it projecting. It’s actually white men that are secretly lusting after black women in my experience.
A picture of a red-boned video vixen with long hair, light eyes and an azz you can saddle up and ride on would be closer to the truth. LOL.
I feel like these particular stereotypes probably came out of the minstrel era. Two common southern foods in a play and clownish representations of blacks in a popular entertainment medium for whites probably just got merged and blown out of all proportion. Just like the stereotype that all blacks come from the ghetto that has been perpetrated by gangsta movies and rap.
I’m a black man and I HATE watermelon. I can’t stand the smell of them when someone slices one up.
In my town oh Hampton we celebrate watermelons by having a festival every Summer. Two years ago during the parade, on one truck there was a monkey with a noose around it. Some black folks got offended and started the Stop Racism in Hampton County group on Facebook.
I hate mushy, ugly, fat watermelons. If a fruit is going to be that big and ugly it should at least taste good! But watermelons fail in every way.
My mother buys them occasionally in the summer but our famliy never eats them, I wish she would just stop buying the damn things and buy pineapples instead.
Anyway, this ever-present stereotype does nothing but make (usually white) people look stupid. “Look at those nasty blacks eating MELONS!” Wow, ouch, burn, how intelligent of you. And so what if we did all eat watermelons? What of it? I don’t even see how the act of eating a watermelon became something to be ashamed of. I guess in Amerika anything that can be associated with black people—even if the association is arbitrary— is worthy of shame and embarassment until it can be redeemed by the masses (i.e. white people because everybody else is not worth counting)
or maybe I’ll just buy pineapples.
“I call it projecting. It’s actually white men that are secretly lusting after black women in my experience”
Co-signed
“I like fried chicken, but who doesn’t? I can’t eat it like I used to because all the grease and breading upsets my stomach. Eating KFC will leave me nauseated for hours even though I like the taste”
Baked or roasted chicken is way taster and healthier.My mum’s a health nut, so we eat it fried every once in a while. I don’t ever like chicken that much. It’s good maybe 2 times out the week, but I couldn’t stand to eat everyday. Popeye’s pawns KFC anyday of the week. But the best fried chicken ever is Harold’s. And people serve Chruch’s in hell.
A lot of people think that these stereotypes are funny. They understand that they are harmful, yet they keep making them up and laughing.
Abagond: didn’t you mean to post that in “Stereotypes about Americans” post?
When it comes to this thread, I am interested in the last photo. You said it was real. But it does seem fake to me. Where did you find it and what makes you think it’s real?
Mira:
Oops, wrong thread. I moved the comment. Thanks.
The last picture comes from a website of stock photos:
http://www.123rf.com/photo_6011908_little-girl-eating-watermelon-with-her-mother.html
This is probably completely wrong but the picture with the white couple watching black people clamor for watermelon at their feet confirmed my guess as to where the stereotype originated.
I tend to think that watermelon was given to slaves instead of actually keeping them properly hydrated during their labor. Or maybe it has something to do with slaves finding some relief in quenching thirst via eating watermelon. It was clearly a crop, and I wonder if it wasn’t uncommon to be allowed a break and the overseer would give them the damaged cracked-open watermelons instead of actual water. Or maybe slaves would be desperate enough to break one “accidentally” so they might be allowed to have some.
I can just see white people thinking how crazy black people are for watermelon when it was probably because they were so thirsty and dehydrated that it could possibly cause what looked like a frenzy.
The fried chicken stereotype: I agree with Redman1000. Try cutting fried chicken with a fork. Illogical. Nonsense. But white people were still big on European standards of etiquette then.
Further, what scraps were slaves given after the master and his family ate choice pieces? Organs, backs, necks. How do you make something taste better? Fry it.
Victoria said:
Of all the reasons I have heard this makes the most sense. First, because the stereotype goes back to when blacks were slaves. Second, because black regard for watermelons is shown as one of ecstasy and reverence. When whites are shown with watermelons, it is pictured simply as one of the joys of summer, not as some kind of peak experience:
http://ingoodfeather.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/eating-watermelon.jpg
This has always confused me. Who wouldn’t like watermelon?
Abagond, exactly. If white people find it refreshing on a hot summer day…why wouldn’t black people also find it refreshing? I think it has always been what kept people from feeling the discomforts of dehydration.
Plus, to carry the watermelon stereotype forward in time, after slaves were freed, watermelon was a crop that they were masters of maintaining by then, so they probably planted plenty around their homes. And it provided the same relief, particularly for their children who would be thirsty and hungry and for moms who want to keep kids out of the house and from complaining of their hunger and thirst between meals. It just makes sense. I’m sure that poor, southern whites did the same thing. But the black-people-all-a-frenzy over watermelon image, to me, comes from a need for fluids, not a black lust for watermelon.
I mean, really – why are only African Americans associated with watermelon? Why not Afro Caribbean people? Because on the islands coconuts and their water and pulp provided the abundant liquid relief before the days of indoor plumbing and running water. But no one makes fun of them for enjoying coconut water. It just makes sense that human beings who need lots of water enjoy these watery fruits.
OMG Victoria That is what I always said when someone brings up the watermelon sterotype. I said it on this blog too.
I mean slaves would work hard all day and any scrap of food that they got they were glad so you know they didn’t die of dehydration. White people saw this and thought how funny. It was really another way to dehumanize Black people and make light of slavery.
See in some of the photos how they are slaves lying down, sleeping and eating. The one that says “You can plainly see how miserable I am.” and the one that says ” Don’t wake the babies” Pro-slavery propaganda.
I used to like watermelon until I got really really sick when I was 14 or something and never ate them again.
It’s really unfortunate because watermelon is delicious and it’s a healthy way to hydrate after a long hard workout on a hot day. I call it “God’s sport drink,” because in addition to water it supplies a gentle dose of minerals and fructose. I’m certain that I personally consume many times the average figures cited in this post.
I do think the stereotype arose many years ago in the agricultural south, where watermelon was inexpensive and plentiful. It is refreshing to anybody who has been working hard in the hot sun, which was often the case for African Americans in the south.
Victoria says,
Abagond, exactly. If white people find it refreshing on a hot summer day…why wouldn’t black people also find it refreshing? I think it has always been what kept people from feeling the discomforts of dehydration.
Plus, to carry the watermelon stereotype forward in time, after slaves were freed, watermelon was a crop that they were masters of maintaining by then, so they probably planted plenty around their homes. And it provided the same relief, particularly for their children who would be thirsty and hungry and for moms who want to keep kids out of the house and from complaining of their hunger and thirst between meals. It just makes sense. I’m sure that poor, southern whites did the same thing. But the black-people-all-a-frenzy over watermelon image, to me, comes from a need for fluids, not a black lust for watermelon.
I mean, really – why are only African Americans associated with watermelon? Why not Afro Caribbean people? Because on the islands coconuts and their water and pulp provided the abundant liquid relief before the days of indoor plumbing and running water. But no one makes fun of them for enjoying coconut water. It just makes sense that human beings who need lots of water enjoy these watery fruits.
laromana says,
EXCELLENT comment Victoria. Unfortunately, ANTI-BLACK RACISM (all RACISM) is IRRATIONAL so there’s no LOGIC to explain continuing RACIST/ANTI-BLACK watermelon stereotypes.
I’m another Black person who cannot STAND watermelon! Just the the thought of that nasty, squishy fruit with those horrible seeds makes me want to gag! I will tear some chicken up in a New York minute! LOL! KFC. El Pollo Loco. Juan Pollo. Chicken chop suey. Chicken cacciatore. Baked chicken. Roasted chicken. Barbecue chicken. Stater Bros. chicken. Chicken has been mighty good to me. :^)
Hey Abagond, you forgot about the 40 ounce stereotype. Or maybe that was just around when I was in high school. You know, so we can pour it out on the graves of our dead gang banging homies!
@Mochasister
LOL. I know that is right!!! I hate watermelon!!! The thing I hate the most about watermelon is all the seeds!!!! It takes 1 hour to eat one slice because you are always spitting the seeds out of your mouth. Or picking the seeds from the slice with your hands. Who wants to go through so much just to eat a piece of fruit!! But like you, I love chicken. I used to hate it when I was younger because it seemed like all my family hate was chicken!!! We ate fried chicken, broiled chicken, bbq chicken etc. I began to hate chicken because it seemed that was all we ate!!! But I love chicken now. It is amazing how your taste changes when you get older. And the comment about the 40 ounce was hilarious!!!! LOL.
@Abagond
And I agree with you. If we black folk did love watermelon, what is so strange about that??? The way that stereotyped was developed and used to make black people seem childlike and dumb seems strange to me. Suddenly, we are inferior to white people because we like watermelon!!! What is so inferior about liking a piece of fruit???
@as0nburns
“wow, those pics. What those pictures say to me actually has very little to do with watermelon. the message seems to be quite simply that blacks are inferior/ugly and watermelon is just used as a vehicle to drive that point home.”
I strongly disagree on the first pic. That girl is tottaly hot, a 9 or 10. I could easy paid a month sallary to grease her all in with wathermelon juice and chicken fat, and lick her all clean again.
@Abagond
Is it automaticly wrong to take pictures of blacks with watermelons, becouse of this steriotype? The last pic is nice if you dont know about it. Steriotypes like this is made to make black look stupid, and the main gold is to make blacks feel stupid and less worth, or at least make “them” pist of.
The last one seams to work, and may the other as well. If you get regular white people to acept this jokes, and black people to feel provoked and bad, you have more or less succeed as racist.
Nothing bad about wathermelons, in fact is helthy and good. Make a wathermelon festival, make all black americans love wathermelons and be proud about it, and you have more or less disarmed the racist argument.
so there’s no LOGIC to explain continuing RACIST/ANTI-BLACK watermelon stereotypes.
Agreed. I hope that you are not implying that I am “explaining continuing” a stereotype. I’ve been giving my *opinion* about the origin of the stereotype, not professing that it should be ok to keep it. I hope that I’m being clear. I absolutely do not agree with continuing a stereotype in any fashion.
Blacks were provided and could only afford inferior food like pigs feet and pig intestions. White people saw Black people eating watermelon to washout the toxins from the inferior food and thats why the started trying to make Black people feel embarrased about eating watermelons. White people are a mess everyday.
@jasmine: “Blacks were provided and could only afford inferior food like pigs feet and pig intestions. White people saw Black people eating watermelon to washout the toxins from the inferior food and thats why the started trying to make Black people feel embarrased about eating watermelons.”
I think you are into something here. I mean, what is inferior in pigs feet and intestines? Check out the french kitchen, they use everything in a pig but I see nobody saying that they are somehow less human. They eat pigs cheeks too. Pigs skin is delicasy in many countries.
What I have noticed many times is that americans have for some reason unhealthy suspicion on some foods, like liver. Liver is not only good food but can be also delicious. Take fresh liver, fry in a pan with hot butter just like stake, put some pepper and salt on it and WHOAH! Yummu…
Heart is also full meat and can be done very well also. Cows tongue is excellent meat, just boilt it as a whole and slice it, put some salt ja pepper on top and some sauce and voilá! You can also use it instead of sausage or cold cuts, except in tongue there is none of the mystery ingredients that exists in sausages!
Kidneys are also excellent, kidneys and rice is one my favorites! Fried kidneys, kidney stew, mmmmm…
Haven’t eaten brains, though.
I’m not American so maybe that’s why I’ve never heard of this stereotype. It’s really bizarre.
Oh and I’m white and I think watermelon is wonderful.
@jasmine, think you into something, but I disagree that pigsfeet are bad food or toxid. but you have a very good point that can be an reasonable explanation. Chickens are maybe the world most importaint source to proteines for people, becouse they cheap and easy to keep. That along with the fact that you eat chicken with your hands, fits also well in your theory.
I hate these sorts of stereotypes. I’m black and hate watermelon, actually. It’s too watery, I always avoid it in fruit salad. And w/ the “blacks like chicken” thing, MOST PEOPLE LIKE CHICKEN! Most people love watermelon, too. So stupid. Some people believe this shit is true, too. That’s the sad part.
The picture of the research science girl really disgusts me. This young lady is not a model or actress. Some racist went on a university website and looked for pictures of students (high school or undergraduates) perhaps doing a summer science internship and posted this in their racist poster. Just goes to show you that racists/white supremacists will degrade the best, smartest and most productive black people they can find as well. That really made me sick to my stomach to see that.
These images are loathsome. Count me in as one black person who hardly ever eats watermelon. I only eat watermelon at those odd and rare times when I really do have a taste for it, otherwise I really do not like the texture of the fruit, the amount of seeds, and the aftertaste that it leaves.
I do eat watermelon once in a while. And you know what? I’m not ashamed of that.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying fried chicken or watermelon, no matter what some racist dickwad says.
It never ceases to amaze me just how deplorable most white people can be and have been! I love reading your blog. It helps me combat residual ignorance I have with regard to black people. Thank you for your and your readers insight.
i still don’t get it, i also don’t get how its a bad thing to like watermelon, its like solid flavored water, not ice, but it is like, 70% water? or am i getting mixed up between us and a watermelon?
Some more for your collection:
http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/measuring-human-rights-24-measuring-racism-ctd/
http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/racist-stereotypes-a-collection-of-images/
Wow a valid argument,but you yourself stereotype whites in the end depicting us as horrible people,by using things such as THEY will believe anything you tell them even if it is not true,I am not racist,saying that I am based off of me being white makes you racist, and you particularly are acting as if I owe you for other peoples actions,also this country is dominated by whites,hating us won’t help, also these are jokes which are to be taken lightly,this coming from a thirteen-year-old i think you should make sure you are not guilty of the crime you are accusing others of,to remove the thorn from your brothers eye,you must remove the plank from your own.
How did you come to that conclusion?
“hating us won’t help”
But hating us will? Why not complain to the white supremacists?
You don’t owe black people a thing, but don’t expect them to give you a cookie if you can’t treat them with basic respect.
Pink flesh carrying Black seeds rimmed by a White lining inside of a hard Green skin.
Somehow this description is reminiscent of something or someone, I just can’t quite put a finger on it.
A slice of watermelon?…I’ve lost my appetite.
@ citizen
I said MANY whites not ALL whites or even MOST whites. I was very careful about that. If MANY whites did not believe it then there would be no stereotype and the jokes would not be funny – they would just seem kind of strange. Like watermelon jokes about white people.
If what I say does not fit you, then I am not talking about you. I know that not all white people are alike.
Also: racist jokes push racist stereotypes and strengthens racism, which makes them wrong.
Millions of people the world over enjoy eating all kinds of normal foods, delicacies and strange foods. This is their business,
Why make a BIG DEAL about what people like or do not like to eat?
Some black people like watermelon, some don’t. Just like some Chinese people like rice and some don’t, some white people like potato and some don’t.
Just another ridiculous stereotype.
Now it seems Disney’s Black Princess is selling WATERMELON CANDY!
http://www.theroot.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/large-image/princess-tiana-watermelon-candy-400-3512_tr.jpeg
Disney is an American cultural institution, an empire worth many million, beloved by young and old – and goes in for one of the stupid and pervasive of black racial stereotypes.
Isn’t it bad enough that the Black Princess portrayed a maid, the Haitian medicine man in the feature wears an African mask and dabbles in Voodoo and the mammylike fairy godmother!
And we mustn’t forget that Princess spends most of her time on-screen not as a black princess, but as a frog.
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@abagond apologies i misread, also,i do agree that racist jokes can be harmful,but among my friends (some black) they are taken lightly,my opinion on this stereotype is it is only a joke based off of it’s absurdity and inability to be valid in an argument,I rest my case.
So, the watermelon stereotype looks like a metaphor for Oreos or Mulatto (mixed race) people and/or their way of life/ ideas. I’ve read that the flesh of the watermelon can range from red to yellow. This corrresponds with the skin tone classifications of American Blacks. Hence, the phrases, ‘Red Bone’ and ‘High Yellow’.
The black seeds of the watermelon could represent pro-black ideas and/or actual black products of reproduction (ie:Black Children).
The White rind of the watermelon which encasses or rims the flesh is symbolic of the indigestable rule of White supremecy among the negros (Blacks).
The hard green skin of the watermelon is a symbol of cash, money, and/or the depravity of wealth and/or land/ power – which the Blacks desire.
It seems as though, American mythology hinges upon the domination and mastery of it’s former slaves. It’s apparent that American history is only truly taught by the majority through the stigmata of others, namely Black slaves.
[...] The watermelon stereotype « Abagond [...]
The first picture makes me want to eat watermeloin, chicken and drink grape soda together with that girl!
mmmmm…I love watermelon! I like to cut it up and freeze it…then put it in the blender for watermelon slushies!
I’m black, and I hate the stereotype. With that said, I completely broke out in laughter when I saw the picture with the truck hitting the cart.
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The way MANY white people think?? Talk about stereotypes and generalizations. Each person is unique and an individual no matter what color they are. It’s sad to see that there is racism in every ethnicity and culture. The reality is that the whites don’t have a monopoly in that area. Ignorance comes in every race.
The watermelon stereotype dates back to the days of American slavery when it was thought that slaves would steal Massa’s food. Growing watermelons and raising chickens are something we take for granted in this day and age, but anyone who’s ever read a “Little House on the Prairie” book should know that it took a lot of time and effort to raise enough food to live on in the present and also put enough by to get through the winter. To raise a flock of chickens where you could actually have some extra to fry was no small feat.
The racist image of blacks eating watermelon presents blacks as eating a treat that they really have no right to but they are being indulged by their whitr masters. Especially that picture of the whites looking on calmly while the darkies gloat over the watermelon.
That image is complete and utter bullshit of course. Slaves were severely punished for eating any food that Massa & Missy specifically didn’t say they could have and Massa and Missy carefully rationed what their slaves ate much the same way they did with their other livestock.
Thus the stereotype remains even today: that black people love fried chicken and watermelon more than anything else – valuable delicacies that were meant for Massa’s table only and so tempting that blacks couldn’t help but revert to their true nature and steal them. Because blacks will always steal what they don’t “earn”. Despite the fact that they did all the damned work.
White folks make me tired sometimes.
Thanks for the post. I have long wondered why this stereotype exists. FWIW, I am white, and I like watermelon and fried chicken. I don’t find the last picture above racist (or at least, it shouldn’t be, if we didn’t have this stupid stereotype). A mom and daughter enjoying a healthy snack together — what could be wrong with that?
What’s bizarre about this is how much explanation and background knowledge it requires before an up-and-coming racist can understand how to use it. Or before a non-racist can understand the need to be sensitive about it. It’s just so absurdly stupid that I don’t know how to even explain it to my 12-yr old.
Wow. A lot of open unapologetic resentment and projection about “white” people in these comments. Pretty damn hypocritical if you ask me.
As a stereotype the watermelon one seems to be about as weak as you can get. There’s no real negativity. I can understand if people are associated with something like crime and violence, it can tag individuals within the group as unfairly associated with it. But watermelon is a real “so what?” Also it seems more historical than current and is probably fading as we speak. Want to keep it alive? Then by all means complain and draw attention to it, giving it power.
Ironic how in the first photo, there is also grape soda which is another black sterotype.
Objection, I ask that you scroll up a bit and read my comment. Then you will see that what you see as having “no real negativity” is actually a commentary on what many white people still see as the supposed base nature of black people even if they have no idea of the historic context behind these stereotypes.
Lol niggers, dey luh dat wadamens. Finna get sum righ naw
These pictures and statements tell how stupid so-called white Americans(United States) are. With all the education and money this country is pitiful and so far behind other countries. How can the United States be a leader.
[...] Anyway, after the moderator had left with those mysterious questions I asked Mr. Grose to explain how a watermelon field in the White House Lawn of America’s first African-American President could be funny without being a reference to a demeaning racial stereotype. [...]
Very interesting! I always wondered where this watermelon thing came from.
After reading the comments though I think many of you take this WAY too serious! It may originated back in the days where slavery and the oppression of black people was normal. But things have changed. I myself never believed this watermelon/KFC love to be based on truth – Not even the tiniest bit. Still I think it is very funny. This is not racism It is just a meme like insanity wolf or fbf. First time you see it it makes no sense. But after a time it becomes a kind of running gag and then its funny. (that basketball picture is just hilarious)
Everyone offended by this should lose their “they-are-only-doing-this-because-i’m-black” attitude and stand over it. I would’nt mind if anyone cerated a similar thing about white people and potatos or whatever. It is really too silly to be offended by it. And when it goes viral i will laugh at it anyways.
sorry to say but i do believe that black men in general prefer woman that have attributes that white women have. long hair (a major plus if it’s real). light eyes ( a major plus if it’s real). light skin (major plus if it’s real). red bones use to be the thang but now society is changing and they can have “other than black”. the real conscious brother may get a latino instead of white chick. if that wasn’t the case, than we wouldn’t be wearing straight weave, contacts, too light foundation, or skin lightening cream. too many of us wear it like we were born that way and are disgusted to be ourselves.
and the watermelon deal just may come from the fact that it is easy to grow. during slavery, we made a feast out of scraps, so if we were given watermelon seeds, all you have to do is really just plant them, and the watermelon sprouts out. one melon can feed a family. i have actually seen my friend who is from the country plant them in her yard.
furthermore, u know how we eat greens, well the greens were the throwaway food. so was a lot of soul food-the scraps that we made tastey. maybe since it was introduced by the slaves, they also laughed at us sayin, dem poor nigga love some hocakes, okra, chittlins, greens, and watermelon- all things that are scraps, or goards (things uppity whites wouldnt eat)
and the poor white irish started that fried chix thing, but they fried it without the batter (and no, black women HATE to tell people what makes their fried chix taste so good, oddly enough, my white friends ask me to fix soulfood and west indian food for them often
[...] under a cardboard box intended to trap the President is not racist, I invite you to peruse this link. To disagree with a President’s policies is inherently American but to poke fun at his [...]
This just goes to show how ignorant and stupid racism is. I am African American and can’t stand the smell of watermelon. I don’t eat it .
[...] The Watermelon Stereotype (abagond.wordpress.com) [...]
For the longest time I couldn’t eat watermelon. I feel so embrassed I couldn’t enjoy it that much. Fast Foward after 12 years living in Japan I like suika or better known in English as Watermelon. I can’t imagine I bothered to let the stereotype get to me.
Hahaha, oh gosh this is hilarious.
This whole food stereotype thing is so silly. As far as the old paintings/ pics go, I like to think that that’s old and this unintelligent, baseless stereotype doesn’t exist to such an extent, and that the whites find it as hilarious (and feel slightly ashame of their ancestors) as the black community. The last pic may have been a statistical outliar or just a coincidence. But what I personally disliked the most was the white girl wt the watermelon. EXCUSE them. What makes them think that white women are a black man’s cup of tea?? The usual stereotype is that its the white women dying for an african man’s attention. Psshhht that picture is absurd and baseless.
Secondly, as a South Asian woman, the amount of fried chicken I eat is insane- I should be banned from Popeyes for the chickens’ sakes. So honestly, thank you to the CHINESE community for the fried food, and the AFRICAN community for the delicious Popeyes Lousiana flavoured chicken, and the SOUTH ASIAN community for owning the most popeyes stores in Canada and being their most regular customers.
The food an individual eats has nothing to do wt his/ her race- its about the culture he/ she grew up with. I was raised in China so like chinese food more than South Asian food- that aint so bad.
This relationship between watermelons and the black community is just another reminder of the ignorance of the Whites back in the day. If anyone still believes in these stereotypes, they need to get out of their lil caves and see the world. And eat Popeyes cuz its damn good.
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