Why do they think we like watermelon?

Question

Can anyone help me figure out why blacks are stereotyped as liking watermelon, fried chicken, lima beans, ham hocks, chitlins, and collard greens? This is so ridiculous. Is there any basis for these hurtful stereotypes?

Answer 1

Well, most Africans were first kept on Cotton plantations or other South of the Mason/Dixon line properties.
The foods you talk about are the only foods they were allowed.
So like all ethnic cultures, they developed a taste for the only food they could find.
Every culture has developed a taste for the most prevalent and affordable food available.
Rice, potato, banana,pasta,fish,beans,lentils,cheeses,yogurts
WE ALL have a stereo type eating habits from our grandparents.
Religion is the same. You probably are what ever your parents, and grand, and great grand parents.
NOT stereo typing just reality.

Answer 2

During slavery times thats all blacks had to eat were parts of the pig white people would'nt eat collard greens were often the only greens they had and slaves received a watermelon every once for being a good field Ni99ger thats why there were so many of those big lip cartoon pics showing a slave under a tree relaxed and eating a watermelon and all those foods you listed i disgusts with the passion except for collard greens i like those ^_^

Answer 3

Yuck Watermelon & Lima beans Chitilins stink,fried chicken is now officially gross (to me),collard greens are bitter,ham hock never tried & I refuse to

Answer 4

I've often wondered this myself. I can understand the fried chicken thing since, from my understanding, slaves often only had chicken as meat--and they've done great things with the little they had! But I don't get the other stuff! Actually, my dad's favorite veggie is the lima bean and he's of Scot descent.

Answer 5

How is it hurtful? What's wrong with collard greens, watermelon, and fried chicken?

I'm from Jacksonville!! That's Southern Food.

Answer 6

Yes, they are southern foods, and the blacks in America hung out in the South for a long time. Anyway, I never met another group of people that ate chitlins. Have you?

Answer 7

Why be assamed of liking certain foods? I don't know the last time I've even heard that comment... I know white comedians can't make jokes like that, its political incorrect to make any joke about race based on african americans at this time in history.. But I love Fried Chicken and Watermellon, so I think its a complement, not an insult..

Answer 8

I dont like watermelon.. i like apples, nectarines, mangos...
I dont eat lima beans.. they're known to give you gas
Im not sure what ham hocks are (anymore..0
I dont eat chitlins but my dad does tho
Greens are ok.. at least its good for u.

Answer 9

Those things are indigenous Southern US cuisine. When the Africans were kidnapped and made to work as slaves in the United States, the Southern US were the most likely perpetrators. Therefore it became what slaves got used to eating, and in the early generations post-slavery these foods were the staples of any Southern family, black or white. Naturally when freed families began to relocate, they brought their accustomed traditions with them, and the cuisine you mentioned began being seen by Northerners as a Black thing, rather than a Southern thing. It's called ignorance--people don't realize you don't have to be African American to have those foods in your diet, and you don't have to be Caucasian American not to.

Answer 10

Watermelon??? I don't like watermelon that much. Chitlins and Collard Greens are nasty