We Shall Overcome The Menu
I saw this menu floating around Twitter yesterday but since I had a lot of things to tend to I didn’t bother joining in the uproar. That and I saw no real reason to get in an uproar anyway. Maybe if this were a few years ago when I had a pick stuck in my head might I have gotten a wee bit sensitive about and joined in the chorus of jeers.
I did have a few potential ideas in my mind when I saw it, though. Like maybe this menu is the brainchild of some confused non-black person who wanted to pay “tribute” via food. As in, uh, what do Black people eat? Soul food, oh yeah, let’s serve everyone that. You know, good intentions that weren’t necessarily all the way thought out. A few people would get upset, but no big deal in the end.
And then there’s the other scenario that places some racist with a penchant for prejudice jokes turning the cafeteria into one indirect Klan rally where they get to prove white superiority by serving a bunch of bug eyed, sophomoric (in their bigoted minds) blacks some watermelon and fried chicken.
If that sounds stupid to you then good, that was my intention.
As unfortunate as the latter scenario would be, that’s not what’s keeping black men, women and children in peril. We have bigger catfish to fry.
But I forget how funny life is and no greater example of that point is this video that I stumbled along only a few minutes ago:
So there you have it. A black woman who has been trying for years to honor black history month and/or black culture in general in her own way finally got her opportunity to do so and thanks to one person’s smart phone and a lot of people’s sensitivity everyone’s ready to throw her own chicken grease at her.
I’m going to keep driving this point home until it finally sticks one day: People need to stop being so stuck on maintaining political correctness.
Do all black people eat soul food? No.
I don’t like black eyed peas, I’ve never had greens, and I have no idea what the hell jalapeno cornbread is.
I tend to only like chicken strips, wings, and sandwiches, which means no matter how cheap it is on Tuesday you won’t find me in the drive-thru line at Popeye’s for the two piece dark special.
I don’t eat pork, haven’t touched beef in almost eight years and wouldn’t eat ribs with your mouth.
And yet, I’m still very aware of these foods, will run for joy towards a catfish or shrimp po’boy and grew up in a house where every year folks would rush our way for chitlins on New Year’s Day.
Whether people like to acknowledge it or not you know damn well Soul Food is a part of black culture. Why are some pretending to be aloof to that? Black people are not a monolith. We get it. I don’t know why some people feel the need to profess this in every single instance. Say it when it counts as you only lessen the point letting it slip from your mouths and fingertips every other second.
Some people are so pressed with appearing a certain way to white people that they indirectly fall into that same line of thinking that says you ought to be ashamed of your culture.
Uh, no the hell any of us don’t. I don’t like watermelon, but I love my mama’s mac and cheese. As do the white people who probably want the recipe. I don’t eat scrapple, but rest assured if I did it doesn’t mean I’m any less intelligent.
Instead of bitching about this online why not go to the source (the chef, duh) and say, “Hey, maybe next year we can do a healthier option.”
Or: “How about some jambalaya and etoufee next year?”
Or: “Say, why not a chicken patty and cocoa bread (sorry, I miss this and HU)?”
Or whatever other foods derived from various sects of black culture you can think of.
That sounds a lot more productive than shouting “NBC TRYING TO PLAY US!”
The biggest irony of it all is not that a black woman is responsible for this but the fact that white people were probably geeked up about the menu. Whenever I do go to a soul food restaurant I see nothing but blue, blond, and happy.
Should they feel sorry for themselves, too? You know since this is so embarrassing.
If I thought like the lot of people I’d probably walk into a Thai restaurant and be petrified to order anything too hot. You know, wouldn’t want to set the race back perpetuating the stereotype that those Creoles (which is a cute way of saying Negro with a history of French owners and rapists) loves them some spicy food.
Media companies deserve a huge amount of scrutiny, but in this case maybe not so much.
Let’s please try and be a lil’ less sensitive, ya’ll. Clearly that woman’s feelings were hurt by the uproar. If she gets fired I hope the ramble rousers wake up smelling like pinto beans and shame on Monday.
In the meantime, I need to ask my mom for her cornbread recipe. Ain’t nothing like the real thing.
Mimi
February 5, 2010 at 3:28 am
i totally agree!!! i didnt find anything wrong with the whole soul food situation. I actually felt lost and odd because everybody else wad pissed off. There is no lie that soul food is more than likely an African American heritage type of thing. Its culture. Its like the mexicans get mad because someone served tacos for mexican heritage month, or rice and beans for puerto ricans. It was not even serious. There are bigger issues our community deals with. Food “soul fckn food” is the least of them. Its freaking food man you starving assholes
V
February 5, 2010 at 5:57 am
Soul food is not just more than likely part of African American heritage — it is part of it. And there is *absolutely* nothing to be ashamed about. All different cultures have foods associated with them. The Italians and the Chinese do not piss and moan trying not to be associated with the foods they have created. The controversy around soul food stems from the idea that anything black is inherently flawed, and when we protest it mindlessly, we validate that myth.
I have relatives who don’t want to be seen by white people eating watermelon. It’s a fruit. What could be more harmless?! And the white kids at my high school loved it when it was served. I WISH I would order my food to serve an image of myself I want to embed in white onlookers’ minds.
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong that menu. It’s all in the perception of the people dying to be offended by it.
SerenityLife
February 5, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Well said!!
By the way, Whole Foods sells FRESHLY baked Jalapeno Corn Bread !!! http://is.gd/7LIn4
missmajestic
February 5, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I did not find the menu offensive. I went to an HBCU and we would have soul food night. No one found that offensive, too busy smacking on that chicken…Foods like okra, yams, black eyed peas, have African roots, not just slave roots. It’s no different than eating Mexican, Italian, or Asian cuisine.
Britt
February 5, 2010 at 1:12 pm
*Whether people like to acknowledge it or not you know damn well Soul Food is a part of black culture. * Mikey you slay me!
A-0
February 5, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Great post. And you are absolutley right! To damn sensitive.
Lil' Creole Pimp
February 5, 2010 at 2:14 pm
What you mean you don’t like beef?!
sickwitit
February 5, 2010 at 2:30 pm
@Lil creole pimp
lmao, he caught one
but yes i totally agree with you michael, but they missin the baked mac & cheese…
JA
February 5, 2010 at 2:37 pm
PREACH!!! and this:
“those Creoles (which is a cute way of saying Negro with a history of French owners and rapists)”
YES.
Maybe not
February 5, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I’m not offended. But, I can kinda see why people would be a bit miffed.
What homegirl didn’t say: Whether or not she tried to get fried chicken, etc. on the menu for any day of the week outside of February. I know she was passionate about it, but I’m guessing the employees that use the NBC commissary have never lodged a complaint about not having soul food during February.
It fits in with the same mentality that we have to remind white folks once a year that we’re black. Can’t we celebrate black history all year? Or the same people who complain every single year about blacks not winning a Golden Globe before MLK Day. “DON’T THEY KNOW IT’S MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY?” If the Golden Globes were the week after, they still would’ve lost.
And yes, I know it’s the commissary in this case…. but it does seem like the de facto way for any employer to celebrate BHM is with food. The only other comparable thing I can think of is Mexican potlucks on Cinco de Mayo, and Susie from HR always brings in her half-assed attempt at guacamole with store brand tortilla chips. No ma’am.
Like, I know soul food is part of black history and I’m not ashamed of it, but it just seems kinda lazy at this point. It takes less effort to flour and fry up some wings and bring it to work for the monthly potluck than to do something actually worthwhile. It does diminish the culture to just being about what we eat and that’s where people might be concerned.
sunshyne84
February 6, 2010 at 12:19 am
Shit I wish we could have a soul food potluck at my job, but I work with too many men, they aint gon cook nothin.
J2201987
February 6, 2010 at 12:24 am
I don’t know why I thought NBC stood for “N*gga Black Counter.” I’ve been Reading Fresh’s blog too much.
Soul food is what we (our ancestors) cooked for “the man,” so it’s no surprise that everyone (of all ethnicities) would equate this with Black history. I swear Black people are the only ones hung up on their own damn problems, yet we still have the nerve to blame every other race for our own problems. My dad always said if he came back in the next lifetime he would NOT want to be black. And I tend to agree with more and more with each passing day
Sunset
February 6, 2010 at 3:18 pm
You are so on point. I hope the cook continues to be able to honor Black History Month. And I hope Questlove apologizes to her for his kneejerk reaction.
V
February 6, 2010 at 7:58 pm
>>Like, I know soul food is part of black history and I’m not ashamed of it, but it just seems kinda lazy at this >>point. It takes less effort to flour and fry up some wings and bring it to work for the monthly potluck than to >>do something actually worthwhile. It does diminish the culture to just being about what we eat and that’s >>where people might be concerned.
I disagree with this because it doesn’t mean that’s the only black history event going on at NBC or that it has to be. That was just the cafeteria’s contribution to it. Food is not the only part of culture, but it is part of it. I don’t see why it can’t or should not be included.
I also disagree with the notion that black history month means we can’t celebrate black history all year. It’s a time to put an extra emphasis on it. Christmas and Easter don’t mean Christians celebrate or think about Christ only at those times. I don’t think we focus enough on black history, but I don’t see black history as an impediment to that. Quite to the contrary.
Maybe not
February 6, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Hmm, maybe someone didn’t see the context of what I said. So maybe I’ll put it like this: Food is a lazy-ass way to celebrate Black History Month. It’s uncreative, uninspired, and doesn’t force anyone to come up with a more creative way to acknowledge our culture. The chef’s heart was in the right place, but she sent a message saying: “Look, don’t bother learning more about our history. Just fry some wings and these folks will be good.”
And let’s be real, NBC ain’t been about black history since A Different World went off the air, so this just makes it worse.
Laureli
February 7, 2010 at 1:04 pm
You’ve never had greens?! they’re not bad for you at all if you dont prep them with meat. Actually the darker the leafy greens are, the more polyphenols ( antioxidants of sorts) they have.
MzVirgo
February 9, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Mike, like you, I don’t eat collard greens, pig feet, chitlins. But I love catfish and macaroni and cheese. In moderation.
I also agree that there should be healthier options on the menu because sadly, the soul food is slowly killing us (diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension,etc.).
As for the NBC menu, it’s not like I’m eating there anytime soon. But to single out Black History Month as the reason to serve soul food, hmmm, I can see why it can raise a few eyebrows. Did they have this on the menu for the other 11 months out of the year?