First, before I forget, let me wish everyone a Happy Black Hysteria History Month. (I would have remembered it was that important time of the month the year), but the current administration’s pillaging of the U.S. Education Department’s “Educational Materials Fund” has left the el-hi publishing industry [my normal source of income] high and dry and so I haven’t done much textbook writing or editing in the past half year or so.)
Anyway, this is outrageous. I mean, bottled water? Blacks don’t drink bottled water!
This unforgivable breach, reported by Allahpundit at Hot Air, reminds me of a similar unforgivable breach last month when some school district served a similar menu to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, prompting a black mother (no wait — that doesn’t sound right; the mother of a black student) to get all wee-weed up over racial stereotyping.
Now in my world, stereotypes are over-generalizations about an ethnic group. For example, all Jews have big noses and are tight with a buck. Ahem!
Now, as a food cricket (of sorts), I am here to tell you that the above menu is a fairly accurate representation of soul food as it is practiced in 21st-century America. (I might prefer my collards done with ham hocks rather than smoked turkey, but that’s a personal matter.) If you compare this bill of fare with that offered by the nearly one hundred soul food restaurants in the New York City area, you will find that it describes a reasonable cross-section of the foods they offer.
Yet, the menu was deemed so offensive by certain parties at NBC that the disgraceful document was removed.
So where’s the beef?
Allahpundit posts a video of an interview with Leslie Calhoun, “the obviously racist/white supremacist chef” who devised this little dig at the black community. The only problem is that Calhoun is herself black.
I certainly hope that NBC comes to its senses and serves up instead a big mess of “flied lice,” prepared and plated by squinty-eyed people.
Comments 11
It was the white rice on the menu that really caused the trouble.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Should have just served haggis.
Then I’m thinking kimche for Hispanic Heritage Month, and some collation of bratwurst and strudel for Asian Heritage Month.
That price of $7.50 looks suspicious.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Why not just go for black food? I’m thinking black-eyed peas, blackened catfish, blackberries dipped in extra-dark chocolate, served with black coffee…
February 4th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Black Forest Cake — except that has to be served when we celebrate Asian Heritage.
At AP’s original post, I also proposed just setting out a plate of unleavened bread. It’s soul food they’re after, right?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
I guess that means no more corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day. And no beer!!! What will Guiness do with their ad budget?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
The Irish have to eat pasta and clams and drink limoncello on their day, JEM. It’s only right, after calling the Wo- the Italians all those unseemly names for so long.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
@ J.E. Dyer:
I’m not sure I understand your system. Perhaps it would be helpful if you could tell me whether I happen to be honoring someone with a steak, a zucchini, some bell pepper, steak fries from a frozen package, and a phony Irish beer (Killian’s)? The Eskimos, maybe?
February 4th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
No, no, it’s the French who are fated to endure such culinary honors. (The phony Irish beer is obligatory.) Eskimos get to eat menudo and dip churros.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I guess it’s silly to ask whether Eskimo’s would eat Eskimo pies. In terms of other observations, Indians could observe Indian summer, Chinese could play Chinese checkers, and Latinos could eat saltinos.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Where’s the grits?
Btw, I wonder what it takes at NBC to spike a news story.
February 5th, 2010 at 6:07 am
@ Howard Portnoy:
Well of course not – they will have to do the others.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:00 am
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