“We want to acknowledge some feedback received regarding our Juneteenth celebration,” Pezzuto said in his letter obtained by The North Carolina Beat. “Although our intent was to celebrate this nationally recognized day, some of you voiced your concerns regarding the associated food choices.”
In other words, we’re sorry you were offended.
Well slap my ass and tickle my fanny. Who would do such a thing?.. I’m off to jump down turn around and pick a bale of cotton y’all take care… For some perspective I’m an outback living 4th generation Australian and even i know about the fried chicken and watermelon thing
tickle my fanny
Y’all use the US or the UK version of that word?
Well slap my fanny and tickle my ass.
Racism will continue to exist so long as people continue to get offended by friggin food of all things.
Hey everyone! I don’t understand racism in the slightest but I’m sure going to tell everyone my opinions on it!
Fixed that for you.
Racism has very little to do with being offended. It goes much deeper than that. If all racism entailed were a few people being offended then we wouldn’t have a holiday based around the freeing of a enslaved people. If people continue to tell people to get over it, nothing will ever change because the healing can never begin.
The day commemorates the liberation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas in 1865, following the Civil War and President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation two years prior.
I mean, technically correct, but it wasn’t really about Galveston. It’s about how that was when the last of people heard the news. It represents how long it takes for actual rights and freedoms to be even told to people. I think it represents all yhag is wrong with the struggles of obtaining AND ENJOYING rights and freedoms. I feel like their summary was a bit too brief and simplifying.
Asking because I don’t know, please don’t read into it more than that…
What’s the problem with chicken and watermelon? Other than not been a fancy food, it seems a step up from the pizza lunches we normally get
I understand there is a link (not a negative one, as far as I know) between African American folks and fried chicken… But as a Venezuelan native I would not be offended if my work served me Arepas as a celebration of anything related to me or my culture
There is a long-standing history of using fried chicken and watermelon (among other foods) to negatively depict Black People in the United States. I agree that both foods are excellent (watermelon even being a popular summertime fruit that can feed a lot of people), but having them together on Juneteenth (a day of celebration for the freedom of Black People) is pretty on the nose.
Thanks for the answer and the link. I was unaware the link between Black people and fried chicken was derogatory… I assumed it was more cultural like Polish people and Perogies or British people with fish and chips
If it wasn’t for derogatory imaginary, it probably would fit the same cultural niche as Perogies or fish and chips for African Americans or at least the ones with family from the south.
Buying a whole chicken was a cheap source of protein for poor families and because refrigeration was nonexistence to rare for these families for a long time, deep frying chicken was an easy way to preserve the meat from spoilage for about a week. Long enough to finish it. Because of how frequently the same basic dish was served, families would come up with personal recipes and spice mixes.
It’d also likely not be seen as derogatory if it weren’t being served to them by their white corporate masters. I’m certain many black families enjoy these dishes to this day for juneteenth. However, some rich white people deciding to serve their workers that for a day celebrating the freeing of black Americans is a horrible look and there’s no way anyone assumes anything but stereotypes used to make fun of black people for decades.
I feel like I gotta derail for half-a-spell: Perogies are amazing and one of my comfort foods.
That is all
Yeah I can’t blame the Polish for loving perogies for the same way I can’t blame Mexicans for loving tamales. They’re just good-ass food.
I’m nether and love both… is that cultural appropriation or appreciation? Idk, I’m just kinda a fatty
Charlotte, NC has a long history of racism and played a huge role in the civil rights movement, so the location plays a large part in why this is such a big deal.
Is it possible they ask the employees what food they wished to be served on that day? And the ones who are complaining were a minority who didn’t want it?
It’s equally possible that they didn’t consult employees and just didn’t something that they thought was appropriate.
It’s not clear how it happened.
Reading the article, it seems like it may have been more of a case of poor judgement from management instead of intentional racism (maybe subconscious stereotyping, though). It’s a really stupid mistake. For any holiday, all you have to do is ask the team for input BEFORE making decisions and you can avoid most of this nonsense.
It was intentional, they served grape soda too.
The fact they even acknowledged it is … Surprising? Most big US companies seem to be opting for that awkward in-between space where they feel obligated to recognize it but sure as hell don’t want to give people the day off. The result is some execs admin assistant sends out a boilerplate email about how important the holiday is in our company culture, blah blah blah, also you don’t get the day off, get back to work peons, etc.
I know a few people who work for companies that acknowledge and give time off for Juneteenth. My company is not such a company, though.
Spectrum, even, treats Juneteenth like any other federal holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving. It’s basically a volunteer-first, lottery system for who gets time off and who has to work, but those that work get extra holiday pay and the call centers try and do something extra (like catering) for those that are working.
I’ve seen a number of companies where I live give holiday pay for employees working on Juneteenth
Feels racist but my work doesn’t even celebrate.
Racism or the food?
I think both
My company did it the right way — they gave us the day off.
We always get chicken at work
The topic is a mine field for a big company. I think lots of people do eat fried chicken on Juneteenth celebrations, and red foods in general are part of the theme, but the problem is that fried chicken and watermelon are among the stereotypes that have been applied to black folks for generations.
I’m an old white guy. If my boss gave me the responsibility of arranging food for a Juneteenth celebration, I would suggest that there’s too many ways the company could end up looking poorly, and would probably suggest a company poll/survey (which of these main dishes, which of these sides, etc.) to let the people decide. Better, since my company has a black employees association, I’d suggest that we have that group lead it and give them a budget.
My point is that a company should have the sense to make sure they approach sensitive situations carefully.
Didn’t this happen last year, too? Feels like this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this headline.
Back in the mid-2000’s the cafeteria at Capital One did this but it was for a day in February to honor Black History Month. I remember getting a good laugh out of it, mostly because it was clearly done on purpose, for what reason I can’t say.
North Carolina being North Carolina. I am sure it made perfect sense to them.
Our office didn’t even recognize it. IIRC we did the last 2 years, not this year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My company (quasi-government) changed Columbus Day being off to Juneteenth being off.
