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NBC Confused About Black History Month

Posted 24 months ago|20 comments|521 views
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It seems that the other day one of the members of the house band for ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ was taking a break from a long day of rehearsals. He headed to the NBC commissary at 30 Rock headquarters in New York and noticed that they were celebrating Black History Month with a special menu.

The menu is pictured at the left for those who cannot read it; the “special menu” consisted of:
Fried Chicken
Collared Greens
Smoked Turkey
White Rice and Black Eyed Peas
And Jalapeno Cornbread

Many are questioning how in the world NBC let this one get away. Obviously, the menu was pulled as soon as questions were asked and NBC executives were quick to defend the mistake. They tweeted a response and even interviewed the commissary cook to get his take on his menu choices.

The cook who is African American was quoted as saying, "I don't understand at all," she said. "It's not trying to offend anybody and it's not trying to suggest that that's all that African-Americans eat. It's just a good meal," she said, adding, "I thought it would go over well."

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COMMENTS
24 months ago: That is a soul food menu. The only thing missing is candied yams. You would see the same type of menu at Sylvia's in Harlem - NYC.

I love soul food.

If the menu offended anyone it was not a black person, but some stuffed white shirt that somehow saw potential litigation. From who or what, I don't know.

The establishment at NBC is loaded with jerks. But we knew that already.
24 months ago: I would normally agree, however it was an African American who brought this to the attention of NBC human resources in the beginning. I think this is more of a scratch your head and wonder kind of situation...
24 months ago: Ever hear the term "House Negro?"

The House Negro on the plantation would always report back to the master any "questionable" goings on with the Field Negro that he thought would get brownie points or further establish or promote him in the house.

The House Negro was the "good" Negro that helped the master keep all of the Field Negroes in check.

Obviously this is still a prevalent practice today.
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: Some people, black or white, or red or yellow, don't like being put in a box. For this instance, while they may extol the virtues of greens and fatback, they don't want some stuffed shirt at NBC caricaturizing(?) them as such.

They probably didn't know that a black woman had done the menu, and pictured their own stereotype of the NBC fat cat sitting down, condescendingly making a soul food menu.
24 months ago: Then they needed to check it out. I have zero tolerance for House Negroes. They turn my stomach.

BTW - "Fatback" was not on the menu.

Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago:
"I have zero tolerance for House Negroes. They turn my stomach. "

Yeah I know what you mean. We just call them brown nosers, a term derived from the condition of anyone's nose, white person, black person, or rainbow colored, that is constantly up the rear end of his "superiors".

One of the funniest bits I have seen a comedian do, and I wish I could remember his name, involved fried chicken and watermelon, and his desire to eat it conflicting with his aversion to being stereotyped.

People should just relax and feel free to be who they are.
Siempre Solo
Siempre Solo
Auburn, NY
24 months ago: Huey I believe you hit the nail on the head on all points. That is a soulful menu that is worthy of culinary respect! That a black woman prepared it makes it all the more authentic, sort of like eating Mexican food fixed by a Mexican. If NBC had a Mexican woman cooking and she had fixed Mexican food on, “Cinco de Mayo” it would have been a grand ole “fiesta” celebration by one and all. The soul food menu didn’t go off well because some one with a “house negro” mentality wanted to make something that was culturally acceptable look culturally unacceptable.

I also blame the white NBC executives for pulling the menu because chances are they have no clue what the difference is between a derogatory racially offensive action and one that celebrates a people’s culinary history. They took no chances and decided to pull the plug on what would have most likely been a hit. They need to familiarize themselves with that part of American history.

Most non African Americans don’t go any deeper than MLK Jr. when it comes to black history because they don’t see it as their history but black history is American history and that menu is not much different then any southern menu in a white southern household, the point being that what they found offensive was not the menu itself but their lack of knowledge as to how it relates to black folks and that my friend is what I call ignorance and the root of the problem!
everthecynic
everthecynic
24 months ago: I agree with SS, and I've always found that if you go off looking for something wrong you will find it.
24 months ago: If chittlins was on the menu that really would have thrown them in a tizzy.
everthecynic
everthecynic
24 months ago: That is assuming they even know what they are.
Siempre Solo
Siempre Solo
Auburn, NY
24 months ago: If chittlins were on the menu, I WOULD’VE been in a tizzy. That stuff is down right nasty! Y’all heard me? Nasty!
Siempre Solo
Siempre Solo
Auburn, NY
24 months ago: Now pickled eggs is a whole other story, yum!
24 months ago: SS - I knew that would get you! My wife hates them too.

As far as nasty, keep vinegar and ketchup away from my eggs. Ick!
Siempre Solo
Siempre Solo
Auburn, NY
24 months ago: It’s an acquired taste on both counts, I guess.

Personally I love salty and sour flavors over sweet ones, so snacks like pickled eggs are a tasty treat. I sort of see them in the same vein as egg salad since egg salad contains mayo, which contains vinegar. I know you said you don’t like ketchup on your eggs. Is that every type of egg or just sunny side up and is it because of the way it looks or is it the flavor combination? And what about dipping your toast in the sunny side up egg yolk?
24 months ago: This is why I can't stand political correctness. Some people are just so sensitive over NOTHING.
24 months ago: No, no, House What? Chittlins. Funny but true. Pickled pigs feet and watermelon. Dang, now I'm hungry. That supposed black person which complained is wearing his/her self doubt on their shirt sleeve. Probably didn't want to be seen chowing down on some good eats.
24 months ago: My guess is the black person that complained thought it was a white person who posted the menu. He took offense because of the "racist" menu and complained about it. I'll go out on a limb and say that if he knew up front that a black woman made the menu and posted it, he would have given her "props" for creating such an inviting and honoring menu. Just my opinion. I don't think he was a "house negro" by any means. Just a guy who thought something seemed racist because he assumed a white person did the posting. And that menu looks just as appetizing to a white city girl as it would to any other red-blooded american! YUM!
markbyrn
markbyrn
 Moderator
24 months ago: Kind of reminds me of Pentecostal Palin frothing at the mouth when Rahm Emanuel made a retard crack in private and than bows deeply when King Limbaugh responds with his own retard crack on national radio.

It's all about shallow perceptions. If they had the same menu without mentioning that was in honor of black history month, there be no issue about it.
24 months ago: SS - I'm not anti-vinegar. I like things that are pickled too. Have tried ketchup on eggs and just don't like it. Also I love to dip toast in sunny-side eggs. A little molasses or marmalade on the toast makes it exquisite.

TCG - I like this avatar a lot better than the dog.

howleanne - I appreciate your optimism, but I've run into my fair share of House Negroes and brown-nosers. There are plenty of them out there.

No black person looking at that menu should have been offended under any circumstances unless they titled it something like "The Jigaboo Special."
Out Of The Box
Out Of The Box
 Moderator
24 months ago: Markbyrn,

I agree with your assessment.

Rahmbo calling his own constituents and a large portion of the democrat base "F***ing retarded" is akin to some self righteous black person getting all up in huff about what he considers racist food.

What? Did I just hear myself right? Racist food? Jeepers, what kind of world are we living in?

Huey,
I must admit, all the talk about House Negroes put me off a bit. Like I said, I just look at all of the brown nosers by their actions, not their skin color. I don't think just because a man is black, he needs a separate title denoting his brown-nosity. But once again, your sense of humor, as in your last comment, saved the day. The world needs more people like you.

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