Slog
News & ArtsFriday, April 6, 2012
Chow Race, Chicken, and Mary J. Blige
Posted by Charles Mudede on Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 8:08 AM
The problem with this ad?
The ad featured Blige singing about the merits of the new crispy chicken wrap. It’s no surprise the Internet erupted with dismay as Blige is seen cartoonishly upholding the stereotype that all African-Americans love fried chicken.My feeling: The ad is as bad as any other bad ad. Want to really raise some eyebrows and upset a lot of people? Have her sing about the wonderfulness of watermelons.
1
She's not allowed to market for a non-racial product because of her race? Seems pretty racist. Is lettuce really that racially charged?
She's also singing about tortillas. Good thing she's not latino.
She's also singing about tortillas. Good thing she's not latino.
2
I guess it's kind of like the decidedly non R'n'B, caucasian Burger King staff are supposed to consider themselves unqualified to comment on fried chicken, so they delegate it to an expert.
3
If current trends hold, the "chicken" in such a wrap bears almost no resemblance to actual fried chicken.
5
I have yet to meet a person of any race that doesn't love fried chicken. Vegans not included of course. The ad is part of Burger King's huge new restructuring where they are using celebrities to hawk their newest products, the wrap in question included.
Likely just a coincidence, because after all, it has to be either a burger or fried chicken, and they were likely going for the "wrap" and "rap" thing.
I was driving home the other day and I saw a black guy walking down the sidewalk with a 2-liter of Pop Top orange soda under one arm and a watermelon under the other. I had to laugh.
Likely just a coincidence, because after all, it has to be either a burger or fried chicken, and they were likely going for the "wrap" and "rap" thing.
I was driving home the other day and I saw a black guy walking down the sidewalk with a 2-liter of Pop Top orange soda under one arm and a watermelon under the other. I had to laugh.
7
Charles Mudede is disrespecting Ms. Blige by saying,in effect,that the poor woman doesn't have the sense to steer clear of singing about fried chicken which we KNOW brings black people to their knees,the poor childish things.
What's with you,Mr. Mudede? The woman is a grown-up, a successful business woman who can sing an ad for whatever she deems right for her!
What's with you,Mr. Mudede? The woman is a grown-up, a successful business woman who can sing an ad for whatever she deems right for her!
9
I sincerely feel bad for those blacks who can neither enjoy (nor profit from advertising) fried chicken nor watermelon publicly without the self-consciousness of the stereotypes.
As #8 says, both are delicious. As is catfish. Why shouldn't blacks today be able to freely enjoy these things without looking over their shoulder?
A Gospel Pack might be taking things a little too far, though.
As #8 says, both are delicious. As is catfish. Why shouldn't blacks today be able to freely enjoy these things without looking over their shoulder?
A Gospel Pack might be taking things a little too far, though.
10
This is the level to which discourse upon race has sunk. Difficult and neccessary it is now farcical. Past generations had a dream and the present generation walks on eggshells.
11
http://youtu.be/wJ4B7G8Rw3Q
"All these years, I thought I loved chicken because it was delicious..."--Dave Chappelle
"All these years, I thought I loved chicken because it was delicious..."--Dave Chappelle
12
RE:@11,8
I’ve always associated fried chicken and watermelons with picnics at a park, not a race or type of people. So when I think of grandma’s fried chicken and a big hunk of juicy melon, I think that sounds like a yummy meal and a great afternoon – warmth, family, friends, a lake, kids running around, music, games. And that makes me happy.
I’ve always wondered if other people feel that way too…
I’ve always associated fried chicken and watermelons with picnics at a park, not a race or type of people. So when I think of grandma’s fried chicken and a big hunk of juicy melon, I think that sounds like a yummy meal and a great afternoon – warmth, family, friends, a lake, kids running around, music, games. And that makes me happy.
I’ve always wondered if other people feel that way too…
13
Ugh Mary J is the worst. Shuckin and jivin for a paycheck. This is almost as bad as that histrionic performance at the Grammys a few years back.
14
I don't recall the same kind of uproar when Darius Rucker was hawking chicken sandwiches for Burger King. To take offense with Mary J. Blige for doing the same thing seems rather dumb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9kGUmwM…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9kGUmwM…
15
I feel diversions like this is what makes speaking about Race and racism in America so difficult. This ad is not racist, the killing of that kid in Florida is racist.
16
EVERYONE loves fried chicken. is the line outside ezells' all black people? hell no.
probably even vegans have meat-eating dreams about fried chicken.
probably even vegans have meat-eating dreams about fried chicken.
17
An African friend of mine eats friend chicken every day. Every day.
He's routinely hounded for spare pieces by African-American acquaintances who know he's carrying.
If the stereotype focused on okra (for instance), you could blame it on stereotyping, but there's something wrong with anybody, any ethnicity, that doesn't love some fried chicken.
He's routinely hounded for spare pieces by African-American acquaintances who know he's carrying.
If the stereotype focused on okra (for instance), you could blame it on stereotyping, but there's something wrong with anybody, any ethnicity, that doesn't love some fried chicken.
19
Simply invoking a stereotypical association it not racist. It's only racist if it's demeaning.
Also: the stereotype of blacks liking fried chicken happens to be, um, true. Obviously not all blacks like fried chicken, but it's been their stock comfort food since the slavery era, because slaves were allowed to keep chickens for their own use. If you have fond memories of eating a particular food with your loved ones, you'll always like it, and you will of course be eating it with your children, so it becomes a tradition.
Also: the stereotype of blacks liking fried chicken happens to be, um, true. Obviously not all blacks like fried chicken, but it's been their stock comfort food since the slavery era, because slaves were allowed to keep chickens for their own use. If you have fond memories of eating a particular food with your loved ones, you'll always like it, and you will of course be eating it with your children, so it becomes a tradition.
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