Mayor Dean Grose of Los Alamitos, California has resigned after sending friends an e-mail picture depicting the White House lawn planted with watermelons under the title “No Easter egg hunt this year.” Not only is the picture strikingly unfunny and racist, Grose sent it to an African-American businesswoman among his “small group of friends”– a group that is decidedly smaller this week.
Local businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, demanded a public apology: I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes. I honestly don’t even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin’-mayor — come on.”
This is how our racism gets passed from one to another. It’s not done by KKK-type mass meetings or public displays of hatred and bigotry, it’s done subtly, quietly, below the radar. Despite public utterances to the contrary, it often gets passed along as dinner conversation, bar talk, barber shop chatter, jokes on the 4th tee box, emails to “like-minded” folks, etc. This happens on both sides of the black/white divide.
It can only stop when we individually speak up and say that we prefer not to participate in others spreading of hate and bigotry. Taking that stand is sometimes done at some risk to one’s relationships with those who choose to maintain these ugly feelings, but that’s the way to expose it to the light, marginalize it within one’s circle of acquaintances and verbally express one’s genuine desire to make a contribution to changing our society for the better one person at a time.
Sorry to say as a simple Belgian, I don’t have the linguïstic capacity to pick up the rascism in this email. Maybe someone wants to explain…
Not really professional.
Jericho:
trust me it was very racist and the mayor should have been shunned and voted out of office or resigned as he did.
We are experiencing the maturation of a nation.
Integrity trumps morality.
Thanks for expressing it so succinctly rcampbell.
rcampbell,
Well said.
rc,
Good show!
Jericho, you are entitled to an answer.
For many years, African Americans were portrayed in ways that were stereotypes. These were generalizations that demeaned them. They were portrayed as objects of amusement who spoke poorly, dressed poorly, and, among other things, ate watermelons.
This mayor was using the watermelons in a manner that reminded people of these demeaning stereotypes.
Jericho, this one’s for you and any others who want an historical perspective on this watermelon issue.
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/question/may08/
huggy, very good link. Thanks.
I do not have the time to write much now, but I have a question.
Would you be as up-in-arms if someone said of an Irish-American president that he was a’turnin’ the rose garden into a Irish potato patch?
How about a German-American “kraut” who is digging up the roses to plant a cabbage patch to cook up some sauerkraut?
Think of your own ethnic joke regarding any nationalities’ vegetables, fruits, etc.
Isn’t this free speech satire? Do you prefer to limit speech?
Full disclosure: I am mostly Irish-American.
Former Fed, I’m not up in arms, I just don’t like it. Few, if any, subjects generate the emotional response of black and white relations in America, for us Americans. Bottom line though – we don’t get to define what others find offensive. If you say you’re offended by something, anything, I can try to understand, but whether I do or don’t will not alter the fact you’re offended.
I don’t tell ethnic jokes. Ever. When someone says something that they know or should know is racially offensive to a lot of people, sure its their right to say it, but that is a lame response when they get called on it. Decorum demands better judgment and the lack of said judgment, in my mind, is indicative of something more sinister.
FFLEO:
You make a good point, and I know the Irish did not have an easy time of it when they first came here-”Irish Need Not Apply” signs were common.
What about the fact that this was a mayor and not an individual citizen, I think the mayor has a lower bar to cross than an individual. What do the lawyers think?
Anyway jokes go to sterotypes of races or individuals because of one or more traits that people find humurous. Although I am sure some of this type of humor is meant to sting.
I once ordered fried chicken for lunch with a black foreman and he gave me a hard time about it. But I love fried chicken and I coould not convince him otherwise. He thought I was playing to a stereotype and he ribbed me for a couple of days afterward about it, albeit good naturedly.
That story has something to do with this but I cant figure out what it is, any help is appreciated.
I’m as Irish as FFLEO (with just enough Blackfoot to be proud of it but just one generation shy of benefits) and I’ll say without restriction that I love fried chicken, greens and watermelon. I also love sushi and anything Japanese. Mexico doesn’t make a pepper too hot for me. I could eat my weight in corned beef, cabbage and potatoes too if I wasn’t concerned about cholesterol. Chinese food for any meal including breakfast is always appreciated. And nothing supports a hard night drinking like German or Russian food. If your looking to impress the ladies, a night in Tuscany or Sicilian dining is usually rewarding. But whatever it is, what grandma made is always the best.
Different culinary traditions are a wonderful way to gain understanding of a culture.
Did I mention tasty?
Huggy,
Great link.
FFLEO,
I don’t like any stereotyping whether it be at Irish, Scots, Italians, Hispanics, Hindu’s, Muslim’s, Christians, Native Americans,Jews, etc. It offends me deeply especially because it’s all such crap. Free speech though does give license and I’m not a fan of any laws that would ban it. However, public opprobrium is a valid way to oppose bigotry. This is especially true of public officials and of pundits. One can look back at the bigotry the Irish emigrants faced coming to America and part of what they had to break through was stereotyping.
Africans brought to America as slaves and Native Americans the victims of genocide and broken promises, deserve greater care in public discourse. From your writing I assume we are similar in age and so you are quite familiar with the cartoons we saw as children showing blacks as figures of ridicule, or Movies like the Charlie Chan series that were paragons of bigotry.
I genuinely believe that this mayor was stunned by the reaction he received. His understanding of the issues was so superficial that he was ignorant of the hurtful nature of his E Mail. His resignation is the price he had to pay for his ignorance. Many of us, including myself, have had to pay the price of ignorance in our lives.
I can remember now with shame, laughing at the claims of an Armenian friend in College talking about the Armenian Genocide. In my ignorance I derided his claims and disparaged the whole idea of Armenian ethnicity. That I as a proud Jew, acted with such ignorance of anothers ethnic pride and wounds is something I still regret even though it happened forty years ago. Hopefully, this Mayor will be able to make amends sooner and that process has now begun.
LEO
Yes I would and yes, I have. I find all these generalizations offensive. They are all examples of a majority population seeking to define a minority population in negative and derogatory terms in order to control that minority population’s acceptance and assimilation into the larger society. This is often done to instill fear in the larger society that the minority (the other) they will take away opportunities from the majority.
RCampbell:
that is what I think, racism is nothing more than the incorrect notion that the pie is only so big. What people forget is that the pie is infinitely expandable, the more people the more markets the bigger the pie becomes. Whites in the south missed a big opportunity for growth.
Ridiculous!!!! I would like to see CNN do a poll on those people who understood, before today, that there was some sort of connection between African Americans and Watermelons.
I saw that report and had NO idea what the fuss was about. I tried hard to imagine where the racism was in that joke and even asked a few friends on facebook. No one had ever recalled hearing African Americans being compared to watermelons or any other fruit.
I feel horrible for that Mayor who felt he needed to resign over it. I believe with all my heart he didn’t see it either. I think people are WAY to sensitive and blow this stuff way out of proportion. I think it is obvious to most of us that this was an honest mistake. CNN there must be actual “newsworthy” stories out there.
Monkey and the Whitehouse??? Didn’t get that connection either.
Tina,
If your serious then that is fantastic! But I don’t think we as a country have caught up to your level of awareness.
If your fading this in any way then we have farther to travel socially towards equality for all.
CCD,
You wouldn’t mind regaling us with a selection from the soundtrack to the musical “Hair” would you?
Tina…that’s the problem…you used facebook to ask a question!!
Just what were you expecting?
Get over it. You MUST have bigger issues to deal with. I would put money on the fact that 90% of the population didn’t see the connection.” We have come a long way” Don’t cha think?
As for my level of “awareness”, I am quite proud of it thank you. I guess along with the other 90% of the population I choose not to surround myself with the kind of people who have these attitudes and therefore use these words as a stereotype. So forgive me for not sharing in your fury over this foolishness. In my opinion it is the other 10% that keep these attitudes in the forefront by feeling the need to make it headline news.
A good example? Congrats! Now we ALL educated in the “Watermelon, African American” stereotype, as are my children. Good job
Tina wrote:
>In my opinion it is the other 10% that keep these attitudes in >the forefront by feeling the need to make it headline news.
That may or not be true for whites, but I can guarantee the percentage of blacks who fully understand the postcard’s intended insult is quite a bit higher. It’s also much larger for folks over 40 on both sides of the racism issue. There is no doubt the Mayor knew full well the intent. Why else would he send out this kind of trash? Would he send this to his mailing list because it’s a good picture of the White House? Why watermelons instead of lettuce or squash or tomatoes? Do you really think watermelons were chosen arbitrarily?
Your personal lack of understanding of the depth of the insult is gratifying if it’s because you’re part of the younger generation for whom color is far less a divisive issue. It could also be ascribed to simple naivete’ and a sheltered unbringing. This would also be a positive. The worst case scenario would be for you to be in denial or so twisted by right wing politics as to defend this disgusting behavior. Resignation by the Mayor was completely appropriate. There is NO excuse for this kind of insensitivity to the feelings of others.
if a man passes on an insult he is just as guilty as the originator of the insult.
I think that is what Tina is trying to say. By making this a news story we are all repeating the insult.
Tina,
1) You’d lose that bet. And I’m betting you’ve never been to the South much less lived there or you’d know your bet was pure garbage. Go in to any black owned establishment in the South and start mouthing off about watermelon and fried chicken. Unless they know you and know you are joking, you’re liable to walk out of the place horizontally – as in on a stretcher. Do you even know any blacks? Other than in a cursory way? I kinda doubt it based on your statements. But there are people of all colors in Vegas right now willing to take your money.
2) As to your awareness, one cannot educate on a topic one does not understand. This includes the history of a topic, not just perceived current state of affairs. The demonstrated deficiency of knowledge is yours. Just because one does not understand a slight does not mean one has not been committed.
3) Your “fury” is your business but your angry replies are the only anger being expressed here. “Get over it. You MUST have bigger issues to deal with.” – Ad homeniem and hostile, neither of which is a winning strategy with this group.
4) Your “education” came about because you at least had the gumption to research a topic of demonstrated ignorance. You don’t have to thank us. You did all the work. If you don’t like what you found, change your name to Pollyanna or deal with the facts of history. Those are the two options available. No one here made the history, they just relayed the information. Your denial is your issue.
RCampbell:
I know a lot of right wingers who are not racists and I know a good number that are democrats. I dont think it is a left or right issue it is an ignorance issue.
Who said about left wingers they engage in “the soft racism of low expectations”
Most conservatives I know think blacks are more than capable of succeeding in this society and they do and they excel at about everything they do, acting, tennis, bass fishing (there is a black guy that is a top money earner on the circuit), sports, music, art, literature, medicine, politics, you name it. We dont think they need any help just a level playing field which the constitution guarantees to all of us anyway.
I would be a little hesitant to talk about right wing politics like that considering the civil rights act had a bunch of republicans signing on to it and a bunch of southern democrats against it. I dont know what kind of conservatives you know but they arent my kind nor are they the kind that my friends are.
rc,
I have to agree with Bron. Racism is about education, not political party or leanings. And having a degree is not insulation against making the error. People of all races and level of education can make the mistake if they’ve never had the proper lessons. It’s easy to get educated in an insulated environment. It’s just not easy to get well educated in an insulated environment. That’s why I oppose all black schools as much as I’d oppose all white schools. Segregation, even self-imposed, does not make unity – this applies to higher education too. It makes more segregation. What humans have in common far outweighs what we have as differences. The differences we do have are also more often cultural than biological.
“Ridiculous!!!! I would like to see CNN do a poll on those people who understood, before today, that there was some sort of connection between African Americans and Watermelons.”
Tina,
In the spirit of good will I’d be willing to believe that you had no idea of the use of the watermelon as a disparagement of Black people. However, I must say that where this stretches credibility is then why would the Mayor decide to put a watermelon patch on the WH lawn? Tina, if not racism why would you surmise he chose that image at all? What would Obama have to do with watermelons that would make it funny to see a watermelon patch on the WH lawn?
“Monkey and the Whitehouse??? Didn’t get that connection either.”
You’re correct in part here. There was no logical connection between monkeys and the WH. Yet somehow the cartoon was about shooting a monkey and getting rid of the Stimulus Bill’s author. Now someone could say that because the Stim Bill is bad (in their opinion), it was so bad it could have been written by a monkey. But as you said you didn’t get the connection. There was no connection except that of the age old stereotype that Blacks are like monkeys.
You profess ignorance of both stereotypes and perhaps that is so. If that is the case though you are quite lacking in your knowledge of the history of the treatment of black people in this country, or of any other minorities/newcomers. Ignorance of that history is nothing to be proud of, nor is it something to be hidden from your children.
One of the things Black people have to face in this country is the supposedly non-prejudiced Whites, who tell them that racism is a thing of the past so get over it. Sadly, it is not of the past, but still present today. There are sites all over the Web and broadcasters/telecasters who tell black people “to get over it in one sentence and spout racism in another.” The amount of racist comment spewed in this past election against Obama was considerable. The fact that he won despite it does say good things for our country.
Racism and bigotry though are far from issues of the past in our country and perhaps you are unaware of it. However, in my experience for every person who thinks as you purport to think there are an equal amount that in their hearts see certain groups as inferior and hateful. My fear about that is often those believers, having dehumanized certain people in their minds, feel free to visit violence and harm upon them.
Buddha, RC and Bron,
What gives lie to the narrative that the concepts of racism are unknown to many youth is that in my experience racist parents and grandparents speak openly about it to their children and grandchildren. Most bigots I’ve ever met were loud and proud of their bigotry. So for their progeny to be completely unaware of the stereotypes is not credible. Then to many comedians like Eddie Murphy (before he became a movie star), Chris Rock, Margaret Cho and the ones of all backgrounds who are hip today use stereotypes for satire. I’m suspicious of those who claim unawareness.
Now its’ true that I’m of the over “55 set” but I’ve met people similarly situated who are blatant in their bigotry. While I can not tolerate them as friends or acquaintances, usually proceeded by my telling them off, I’m positive that they have shared these views over and over with their families.
MikeS:
I grew up in a racist household, it was pretty bad. I will tell you though that reading Ayn Rands works cured me of any delusion I had about race.
here is a sample of her thoughts on racism:
“I’d advocate the repeal of any law that attempts to legislate morality or that discriminates against men on any grounds whatever. If you want to solve the problem, set men free. In a free country, prejudice vanishes, and such prejudice as might remain does so only among the lunatic fringe or the kind of people who’d be afraid to admit it openly-and who cares to associate with them? Leave them to their bigotry. But when government power supports prejudice-when it enforces segregation or integration-then all you get is more racial prejudice,with each racial group growing closer together and further apart from every other”
“I dont try to appeal to certain ethnic groups. I’m interested only in human beings and their minds”
Bron,
I’m sure growing up that way wasn’t easy for you. It is a compliment to you that you have let yourself evolve, most people don’t have the guts to change. My argument with Rand was not on her take on human rights, where she was actually ahead of her time in both sex, race and ethnicity.
I believe her political schemes work badly. There is much about Libertarians that I agree with too. In some ways I like Ron Paul, for instance, but his opposition to abortion seems not to conform with his keeping government out of our lives philosophy.
MikeS:
No one can be right 100% of the time, if we were we would be gods and that would be too much repsonsibility for me.
On AR, I was not trying to change your mind just showing an example of at least one good work her writings accomplished.