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123 Comments
- jitterbits, on 02/25/2009, -4/+67FTA: Grose confirmed to the AP that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn't mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.
He didn't know there was a stereotype about black people and watermelons? Then why did he find it so amusing that he needed to forward it to others? - thePuck77, on 02/25/2009, -4/+45The whole "I didn't know" thing is the last recourse of racists. This is like the Obama monkey thing...the joke makes little sense without the racial stereotype, but they somehow claim they didn't realize the stereotype.
- NinaOdell, on 02/25/2009, -3/+44Here's another one from before the Election:
http://oddculture.com/2008/10/16/obama-appears-on- ...
Frankly, I love ***** like this, and am looking forward to the next eight years on this very level.
Before 2008, I got to be called over-sensitive, shrill, and paranoid when I would say we live in a racist society. Now everybody gets see what I and my friends have known for years. Bring it on... - ironhide, on 02/25/2009, -4/+44As far as I know, Neither Illinois, Hawaii or Washington D.C. are widely known for growing watermelons, nor are President Obama or his family known for growing them, so I find his excuse weak at best.
- geebeedee, on 02/25/2009, -1/+40As a prize for Mayor Dean Grose's astonishing degree of enlightment as evidenced by the watermelon-filled White House lawn, I propose someone out there deliver as many large and colorful duncecaps that will fit onto the lawn of his residence.
- ReasonWinsOut, on 02/25/2009, -3/+42I don't buy his line about not understanding the racist connotation of watermelons. And if it's true, then I'd be interested to know why he specifically chose watermelons to depict as a crop growing on the Whitehouse lawn.
- thePuck77, on 02/25/2009, -4/+40Thanks for pulling all of these resources for people on my submission, folks! I really appreciate it.
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -4/+35It's the typical behavior common to intensely racist whites to express an insult that just skirts the border of decency and respect and then retract and apologize as though they'd actually made a mistake. In fact, it is deliberate and hostile - what we like to call today "passive aggressive" - and characteristic of whites who refuse to grow up.
I hope those who recognize this passive aggression when it occurs will continue to call these children on their behavior. We ought not allow them their pretense of "good americans". These are NOT americans. - ReasonWinsOut, on 02/25/2009, -4/+35I finally found it. Here is Mayor Grose's email address for all those who'd like to share their feelings on the issue.
dgrose@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us - trolleyfan, on 02/25/2009, -8/+38As if we needed any *more* evidence that Republicans are stupid...
- freedomjoe, on 02/25/2009, -4/+34Here is my friend's letter to the mayor and entire city council:
So the mayor claims he "was unaware of the racial stereotype that black
people like watermelons."
REALLY? Then why not carrots on the lawn, apples, or oranges?
You know you are lying, we all do. It's pathetic that since you're unable to
engage on the merits of his policies in a civilized ADULT manner, you'll
revert to tactics like this and then lie about it only because you got
caught.
You set a really great example for your city, your state, your country and
your party and have singlehandedly done a great job reinforcing another
stereotype...err...FACT: the Racist Republicans.
Addresses:
citycouncil@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us
dgrose@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us
mpoe@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us
tedgar@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us - scottknick, on 02/26/2009, -7/+36Wait, wait, I can hear the trolls now:
"That picture doesn't say anything about race. It's clearly a promotion of watermelon-growing, and a warning against the dangers of high-cholesterol. Christ, all you liberuhls do is scream about race. How PC!"
There, did I nail it? - woodsjransom, on 02/26/2009, -5/+33I am sick of this and these lame excuses "I did not know" its BS. They know. Maybe if someone starts getting punched in the nose then it will dawn on everyone that this shyt is not funny.
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -6/+32I'm so tired of these people pretending they don't know these tired old sterotypical, stupid ass, stunts are racist. If they are racist (duh), or the're as ***** stupid as they all try to claim, they shouldn't be in public office!
- aussiejan, on 02/26/2009, -5/+29and racist - not all but they do seem to be coming out of the woodwork.
- shupy, on 02/26/2009, -6/+30I have a black neighbor that told me one of her white co-workers told her that she did not realize how bad racism still was. I think a lot of people though we were beyond this. But seeing people resort to this kind of garbage and mocking someone of Obama's obvious leadership and intelligence, it is a sad commentary on how insidious racism is.
Good grief, this is the President of the United States. That ANYONE would do this is sickening. But to think that Republicans who hold public office would be so incredibly stupid is amazing. - trolleyfan, on 02/25/2009, -2/+25As an excuse, the only thing stupider would be him, if he actually *was* that stupid...
- normlsparky, on 02/26/2009, -5/+26This picture is at least a few months old. I first saw it during the election. I have the privilege of being on a relative's e-mailing list, and he happens to be a stereotypical god, guns and gays conservative. He must be on one of those conservative lists that forward e-mails to each other, and as luck would have it, he forwards much of the crap to me.
It is unfortunate that I deleted the original message. It would be nice to post the text of it here on Digg for all of the world to see. There was no doubt about the racism contained within that message. It could not be denied.
I wonder if he got the picture from the same mass forwarded e-mail? I know that the pic speaks for itself, but the text that went along with it was pure hatred of the KKK variety. - shupy, on 02/26/2009, -3/+21What is astonishing is that they can't seem to keep their stupid racist tendencies under wraps.
- swrostmore, on 02/26/2009, -1/+18Can you explain why it is a comical concept for the White House lawn to have watermelons on it, during this presidency? What relevance do watermelons have to the white house, and why is the juxtaposition of watermelons with this White House supposed to be funny?
- ReasonWinsOut, on 02/25/2009, -1/+18Awesome.... it sounds kind of similar to the one I wrote to him and CCed to the City Council members and the Orange County Register.
*************************************************
Dear Mayor Grose:
I write with grave disappointment about your recent email depicting watermelons growing on the Whitehouse lawn. Mr. Mayor, this email was not merely an insensitive, careless mishap but an abjectly offensive and unequivocally racist image that you personally chose to forward. The offense is made worse by your continued assertion that you were "unaware of the racial stereotype."
Associating watermelons and African-Americans has a racist connotation with a long, embarrassing history deeply embedded in our nation's social consciousness; I do not believe for a moment that you were completely "unaware" of what you were sending from your private email account and I don't think your colleagues and the voters of Los Alamitos believe that either.
If what you said were true, what then would have been the point and purpose in forwarding the image with that specific fruit? Why not apples? Or oranges? Or nothing at all? The fact remains you knew exactly what you were doing when you made the decision to press that "send" button and the time has come for you to acknowledge that and rectify the problem.
I commend you for apologizing to Keyanus Price, but the time has come to either issue an immediate, unequivocal, unconditional PUBLIC apology for this or resign your office. If you are unable to stop insulting your constituents by lying to them about your knowledge of the email's offensive connotation and apologize with sincerity, humility and deep-felt remorse, then you are not the man of character voters thought you were when they put you where you are today.
Please note that I, and others, have every intention of keeping the local and national media focused on this issue until you take the appropriate action to resolve it.
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you do the right thing. - Alheithinn, on 02/26/2009, -2/+19How could anyone be unaware of that stereotype. And have any of you ever noticed that racists always pretend it was a joke, or feign ignorance? ALWAYS. It's always the victim's fault because they didn't realize it was a joke. RIIIIIIIIGGGHHHHHTTT....................
- shupy, on 02/26/2009, -2/+18That is the real thing. Without the racial angle, these "jokes" make no sense on any level.
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -1/+14oops it's they're...
- sarahlee, on 02/26/2009, -0/+12Thanks - will have some writing to do tomorrow. This is embarrassing on a national level.
- woodsjransom, on 02/26/2009, -2/+14I sent him an email. I got Outlook, so I made sure I checked off the delivery and read receipt tracking option.
- Miamisun, on 02/26/2009, -0/+12What did the mayor think that a picture of watermelons growing on the white house lawn could be interpreted as if not a racial stereotype?
- publiclurker, on 02/26/2009, -1/+13You need to add communist in there somewhere, and maybe a word or two about godless atheists or gays.
- inactive, on 02/26/2009, -3/+14I think you mean under their pointy white hats.
- 800266622, on 02/26/2009, -6/+17I would call for someone to string him up, but I just feel that would be inappropriate in this particular case.
- scottknick, on 02/26/2009, -2/+13I have to admit, while I've witnessed unvarnished racism in my life (hey, I used to live in Chicago) and have been guilty of it myself (I scored 'moderate preference for whites' on that MIT reflex study) I have been absolutely stunned by the reaction to Obama's election. Far from becoming a post-racial society, we're learning the ugly truth of how far we still have to go.
- paintgrl, on 02/26/2009, -6/+16Gees, I am so mad it has to be in my state this jack ass has a job in. I hope he loses it.
- UpstateNYDemo, on 02/26/2009, -4/+14Time for the racist mayor to retire - with or without help.
- Alheithinn, on 02/26/2009, -1/+11I think you hit the nail directly upon the head.
- rhabd0mancer, on 02/26/2009, -4/+13Wow, is this guy a total tool or what.
http://www.ci.los-alamitos.ca.us/city_council/imag ... - awinters, on 02/26/2009, -0/+9He said it was sent as a joke, but then said that he didn't know the watermelon term was considered racist towards blacks.
Uhm...if you didn't know that, then what was the joke? He knew damn well. He would have been better off just saying it was a bad joke and I'm sorry. - UpstateNYDemo, on 02/26/2009, -1/+10I hear you and agree. I have seen it all along - now everyone else does too.
- Gr00ver, on 02/26/2009, -2/+10Ignorant people don't know better. Dean Grose is clearly ignorant.
- freedomjoe, on 02/26/2009, -4/+12I wrote the mayor and KO with this little question (addressing the passive aggression):
Just spit-ballin' here, but I'm thinking of doing a cartoon for the Sunday Paper of the Mayor in a white sheet in front of a burning cross. How cool! I'm sure you won't mind. A sheet is just a sheet, after all.
PS I am going to need to see the Mayor's birth certificate (the one from the "vault"). Or, are the whites exempt from that requirement? - C0ntraRadical, on 02/26/2009, -0/+8If stereotype jokes are funny then how do you explain Carlos Mencia?
- poopsybythebay, on 02/26/2009, -3/+11You can always tell who the wingnuts are--oh it's "racism jokes are great"," look at Chris Rock"?? Chris Rock would tell you to kiss his black ass--if you think its OK to talk about blacks and watermelons you moron. Where do these losers come from??
- ReasonWinsOut, on 02/26/2009, -0/+7I think it's a mistake to ever generalize for "a group of people" but the real issue is the long history of connoting negatively the association of watermelons and African Americans. If you understood the cultural history and implications of the imagery, you'd understand why it's offensive.
- Rain12913, on 02/26/2009, -0/+7According to Wikipedia, African American slaves introduced watermelons to America, so I'm guessing that's where their association with the fruit originated.
As far as it being offensive, black people eating watermelons is one of many examples of imagery that was used to dehumanize African Americans during and after slavery. The notion that blacks were funny, monkey-like people who just sat around being lazy and eating watermelon was perpetuated in order to maintain their lower social status and justify their unequal treatment.
Images like this come to mind: http://www.freewebs.com/black-legacy/Racist-pickan ...
Oh yeah, this Mayor is full of *****. Even if you're a racist you should at least acknowledge that he's a coward and a liar who is insulting the intelligence of his constituents. - thesonofdarwin, on 02/26/2009, -1/+7Intelligence is important when it comes to running our government. Ethnicity isn't.
If you think Obama is a moron, there are plenty of ways to illustrate that in a manner that doesn't alienate an entire ethnic group. You / you're party is not shy about exposing their nonsensical hatred towards groups of people. I'm hard pressed to remember any Bush cartoons that so broadly insulted a group of people, except Republicans/conservatives.
Hating someone for something they can control is at least somewhat legitimate. Hating someone for something they have no control over (gender, ethnicity, sexuality) is an entirely different topic. - saltydawkins, on 02/26/2009, -0/+7It is an American thing (not something this American is proud of) that originated in the south. Full origin here, in all its disturbing glory: http://www.authentichistory.com/diversity/african/ ...
- sealhands, on 02/26/2009, -3/+9actually the only people that make me feel guilty to be white are people like this retarded mayor and you.
the huffpo has nothing to do with it. - woodsjransom, on 02/26/2009, -2/+7Not yet and I sent it yesterday. I did have in the RE: Watermelons? plus if you have a double pane setting you can read it and delete it without opening it up. Usually when that happens you will get a message that says that it was deleted without reading. I have not gotten that message yet. SO I WAIT.
- drunkenoaf, on 02/26/2009, -0/+5Troll!
- Pseudorious, on 02/26/2009, -2/+7Bizarre racism aside, I wish it were true - watermelon is awesome!
- flossdaily, on 02/26/2009, -3/+8I'm white, and I love watermelons. These stereotypes are stupid.
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