In creating this blog, I’ve come to a crossroads. A list of things that black people like or love is an invitation to controversy. I knew this at the beginning. One of the things that keeps getting mentioned to me is that if I post things like Fried Chicken, Chitterlings, or Rap Music…it’s going to be perceived as racist.
I’m an African American Woman and racism is nothing new to me.
What I don’t understand is why Black people would say that the concept that we love fried chicken is simply negative? We do LOVE Fried Chicken!!! What is racist about that? What is so wrong with Chitterlings? These foods are part of our history, our entire history. When did they become demonized? Does your grandmother feel bad that she can make some delicious fried chicken? Was your great grandfather ashamed at all of the pork in his family’s diet? Are we now ashamed??? Do we think that our love of fried food is a secret? I don’t see a whole lot of Vegan or Thai resturants in Black communities. Do you?
Black People, what are our likes and dislikes, and what can a discussion about these things tell us about US? Can we take long hard look at ourselves? Are we just into popular culture, music, material things, hair care, gossip, and the lives of notable African Americans? If you use the internet and popular media as your ruler, that might be true. Would it be completely accurate to say any of the following:
Black People Love Black People
Black People Love Giving Back to their Communities
Black People Love Saving Money
Black People Love Sending their Children to Private School
Black People Love Investing
Black People Love Politics
Black People Love Healthy Food
Sure many Black People love all of these things, but there are quite a few who don’t. Each point could all be explained away or reinforced. However, none of these descriptions would be seen as racist. If we are really honest, some would say that most of these points are not true of the vast majority of Blacks.
I’m sure you have all seen the StuffWhitePeopleLike.org site (great site) and want to see something that mirrors that. Well, I’ve come to the conclusion in the short time that I’ve launched this blog that it’s impoossible to do that without offending some people or presenting a list that would not be much different. The uniqueness of SWPL, the thing that makes it interesting, is it’s authenticity. When you read it, you think of white people you know and the interactions you’ve had with White folk. StuffBlackPeopleLove.com would not be authentic without making note of things that some might feel are stereotypical or racist. Ask yourself, “When I think of things that Black People love, what do I think of?” I’m sure you’ll smile, but I’m also sure that some of the things that come to mind might not be the more positive aspects of our culture.
SO…I’m going back into the lab. I want to create something that ultimately helps Black people see ourselves in a different light and helps the world at large understand how complex and beautiful our culture is. I want SBPL to be an experiment in cultural exploration, healing, and debate.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Janks Morton // Feb 18, 2008 at 7:33 pm
nice blog title…we’ll be watching! g/l
2 Inkognegro // Feb 18, 2008 at 11:03 pm
You inspired me with the first incarnation of this post. I addressed it (rather haphazardly) on my own blog.
It is Ok for Black people to love whatever we want. I will support this endeavor to the Nth degree.
3 Bruce A. // Feb 24, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Nothing wrong with loving fried chicken. Are there people, of any color, who DON’T love fried chicken?
(There are some who avoid it, for health or philosophical reasons. But people who actually DON’T LIKE THE TASTE? I think those people must really be deep-cover spies for a forthcoming Martian invasion, whose goal will be to conquer Earth, herd us all onto rocketships, and take us back to Mars as supplies for a chain of fried people restauarants.)
It might be a bit racist to claim that the best fried chicken only comes from Black cooks. (Although, in my experience, this is true.)
4 Gary // Feb 25, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I am white. When I was a kid and people would make fun of black people for liking fried chicken and/or watermelon I could never understand it, because I love fried chicken and watermelon too! Who doesn’t!? I want to know the best place to go to get good fried chicken! Love the blog, came here from SWPL, and I can’t wait to read this.
Take care - keep it up!
5 Benjamin Jancewicz // Feb 27, 2008 at 12:12 am
I’m not sure on the accuracy of black people and fried chicken. I think it’s more of an american thing. Maybe an African American thing, but definitely not black.
Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:KFC_world_map1.png
6 Allison // Mar 14, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Dont you love how people take away from joke/satire of your blog by saying irrelevant things like “hey everyone does it!” No shit, Sherlock. That’s not the point.
Anywho, nice blog.
7 A. // Mar 14, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Fried chicken’s a Southern thang, and, well, there’re lots of black folk down there, so I spose it’s natural they’d love it. Me? I’m just a poor ex-Southern cracker, and I LOVE me some fried chicken. Fried chicken. Watermelon. Hoppin’ john. Gumbo. Holy crap, you’re making me hungry.
8 King Tut // Mar 28, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Of course everybody loves fried chicken… its FUCKING delicious. Yeah, that’s right, I said the F word. Thats how serious I am, and yes I’m black. I’ll take it one step further: anyone who doesn’t like fried chicken is a communist!!
9 GirlGriot // Mar 28, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I love fried chicken, but I don’t so much want to be defined by that fact. I’d guess that most people — black, white, whatever — love friend chicken.
Funny, I just posted about black people and fried chicken today.
And while I’m at it, I LOVE watermelon, and I don’t care who knows it. It is the first of the three ‘fruit proofs’ of the existence of God (mango and pomegranate, in that order). What’s not to love.
10 downt town taylor // Aug 10, 2008 at 8:52 pm
So when did the racist term start and what does watermellon have to do with black ppl.. and yes i am a black person.
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