Yesterday, Questlove of The Roots Twitpic’d NBC’s cafeteria menu that was created in honor of Black History Month.
Supposedly, the menu has been taken down because there are some who felt that it had a racist and stereotypical tone.
Here is an interview conducted by TheGrio.com with the chef who created the menu:
Hmmmmm.
When I first saw the menu, I was up in arms. Now, after hearing the chef’s take on it, I’m not so sure anymore. She obviously takes pride in the menu she created and being able to represent where she comes from. If a Haitian History Month existed, I would want the menu to include: sweet plantains, black rice with shrimp, fried pork, conch and possibly, some cold Maltas.
See, now that is the true issue. Haitian is an ethnicity and due to slavery, many Haitian people originate from Haiti. While Black is a race that, due to slavery, includes many who live in all parts of this world. Does that menu represent what all Black people eat? Of course not. But for some, Black History Month is celebrated exclusively as a time to remember people and events that have had an impact on African-Americans and often, those people and events are connected to slavery and the civil rights era, which brings up the American South.
Do all African-Americans from the south eat fried chicken, collard greens and corn bread? Of course not but there are those who are from the south that do take pride in what is often referred to as “Soul Food”. Go to any Southern-style or Soul Food restaurant and those are the items that are usually on the menu.
Here is what Wanda Sykes had to say (if an ad shows up, click on “close” in the upper right hand corner):
I wonder who really finds NBC’s menu offensive? Is it Black people who aren’t from the southern region of the United States, who some may argue are always trying their hardest to distance themselves from slavery? Is it people who consider themselves Black by race but their ethnicity is something other than African-American? Is it Black people who have roots in the American South?
Also, would the menu be offensive if it was called something else, like “NBC’s Southern-style/Soul Food Menu”?
Thoughts?
UPDATED: ?uestlove releases a statement, and gives the chef flowers and a spa gift certificate. Click here
Comments
10 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Ill be brief…in essence there was nothing wrong with that menu, but we cannot continue to behave as if black people are a homogenous group of people.
Mmmm. Food for thought. Thanks for posting. Since Black encompasses such a wide range and diverse group of people, I think it is hard to find anything that we can say represents all of us. Either way, someone is going to be outraged and offended (it is just like the “Black in America” series – some may have identified with that and thought it represented their struggle. I sure didn’t). The question is, does that mean we don’t ever do anything? I don’t know. But I think one step is addressing the fact that we are a complex people and making a point to say that this is only ONE aspect of Black culture in this country. I just hate that we only see the same aspect of our culture represented over and over again. I would love to see more variety. That being said, I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for the mainstream media to catch on…
Also, I hate how when something offensive happens there is instant “outrage” yet it doesn’t usually result in a real discussion. If we aren’t able to talk about things and break down the issues, and not just amongst ourselves but cross culturally, we will never really make any progress.
I think the issue was how it was named. You are right if they called it NBC’s Southern-style/Soul Food Menu….it would’ve been a hit. All types of people LOVE a good southern cooked meal. I alos wonder if there would have been a different reaction if Fried Chicken was replaces with say..pork chops. Would that have made a difference? Some people on twitter where offended by the “chicken” part; so it varies. After seeing the video I do feel bad for the chef because it took them so long to be able to make soul food; and now it prob won’t ever get to be on the menu again. She took pride and was excited to share a meal that she cooks for her family with all of the NB staff. To have it shutdown in that manner would understandably hurt her feelings. NBC should let them make the southern style food on other days and not ONLY in February. I mean even Whole Foods has a soul food in their buffet but they just call it “comfort food”; which it is. Great comfort food.
Oops I just read the second half of your post. LOL. Yes, I think it should have been called NBC’s Southern-style/Soul Food Menu. AND they should have made a point to say it was created by chef ___ and maybe even put her picture. Because initially I was offended ‘cuz I thought it was some non-black chef at NBC tryna tell me what eat…And lord knows I ain’t had a piece of fried chicken since 1993 (I don’t think I have ever had a piece of smoked turkey in my life).
Ps. love the blog! keep the posts coming!
Here’s what I’ll say:
I completely understand someone who would not take offense to the menu. It is very true that historically and currently, those foods listed are part of southern African American culture. It is one part of the African American exitstence. This is what it is and cannot be denied.
I also understand someone who would take offense to the menu. AAs are a vast group of people and this would be another instance of pigeonholing them into one group, one idealogy or one practice.
The root of the problem is this however: it’s another instance of where, somehow, shame and discomfort has been created around things that are “black” or related to AAs. In the past and present, this sort of cuisine has been used to ridicule and mock AAs. Eventually, it’s positive siginificance and meaning has been stripped away and replaced with negativity and apprehension.
So in understanding the past and present social contexts, I completely see and understand how someone may shy away from that sort of representation or association.
Lastly, the comparison of AAs to any other group is incongruous. To compare a vast group of people with all sorts of differences whose relationship with their home-America- is none other than shaky TO Haitians – an ethnically homogenous and proud group of people does not match at all. I can go on and go about this, but i’ll just leave it at that.
Someone just sent me this:
“All I wanted to do was make a meal that everyone would enjoy — and that I eat myself. Questlove, who I serve every day and who enjoys my food, requested the neck bone [cooked in] the black-eyed peas and fried chicken, then got off the line, saying, ‘This is racist.
The next thing you know, people were taking pictures of the sign and asking all the other black people in the cafeteria if this was racist. They said that it wasn’t.”
http://perezhilton.com/#ixzz0egkXraYp
My heart goes out to the cook, for real. This is turning into a much bigger issue than it really is.
@ Everyone, thanks for commenting and I agree – as Black people, we aren’t a homogeneous group and that is part of our beauty.
@ Linda, I also agree if it was called something else that it wouldn’t have caused such a stir. When race is added on to anything, it often raises eyebrows because what would be a “White Menu”? If the menu was related to a region instead of a race/ethnicity, I doubt there would be an issue.
@ Lindsey, agreed, agreed. I mentioned what a menu for “Haitian History Month” would possibly look like as a way to show that I understand the chef’s sense of pride in being able to share with her co-workers what her definition of Black/African-American food is. I definitely agree that Haitians are more of an ethnically homogeneous group, so it would be easier to create a menu that the majority of us would feel represents our cuisine.
I have a huge problem with this menu. Aquafina is definitely not Black cuisine. If it was Hennessy, then fine.
I literally just busted out laughing at your comment! I’m guessing, you don’t take offense to the menu?
Listen – as long as the menu didn’t state “watermelon, quarter water and chitlins” i’m pretty much good with enjoying a nice well planned out soul food meal!
Black people need to stop allowing others to make fun of our culture and embrace it. Certain cuisines are indigenous to the black experience in America. I feel as if the chef’s meal was a valid representation.