Why not serve fried chicken on Juneteenth? How is it different from serving corned beef on St. Patrick’s day?

just_ducky_in_NH@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 267 points –
old.lemmy.world

Disclaimer: I am not trolling, I am an autistic person who doesn’t understand so many social nuances. Also I am from New Hampshire (97% white), so I just don’t have any close African-American friends that I am willing to risk asking such a loaded question.

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I don't understand that, though...

Fried chicken is fuckin delicious.

That's part of the cruelty. Almost everybody loves fried chicken. But growing up in the deep south, they were mocked for it in nasty ways I witnessed (but don't feel comfortable describing).

I think part of the disconnect is that you don't see that same mockery in the north.

Yes absolutely. I went to high school in the north from 02-06 and took an elective class that was African American history for the first half of the school year and Vietnam War history the second half. My teacher for both was a black woman and the first day of class she asked the class what some stereotypes they have heard of black people were, and of course people mentioned all of them. Whe fried chicken was mentioned she said, and I quote, "No we actually don't like fried chicken, WE LOVE IT!". So yeah I mean in the north there's a lot less hate behind it and it's more seen as just a "funny observation". And not to take away from any true hate or racism but the idea of liking fried chicken being a bad thing is so ridiculous to me because fried chicke is fucking amazing.

This really does nail it. In the north, we do have the stereotype that black people like fried chicken. However, that is seen as neutral or positive. Fried chicken is delicious and black people tend to make great fried chicken. What's not to like?

Yeah I don't think anyone I'm friends with or close to that is white views it as a negative stereotype at all up here in NY. However if you drive out to small towns in NY there still uneducated racists flying confederate flags on their front porch, unfortunately.

Everyone ate it too. The mockery was because

  • they were messy to eat
  • they were staples commonly eaten
  • they were made and sold by black people early in their steps of economic independence following slavery.
  • racism doesn't have to make sense.

If you hate someone, anything they do can be something you use to express your hate, even if you do it to.

If you hate someone, anything they do can be something you use to express your hate, even if you do it to.

Yeah I think this is the big kicker right here.