Why do most people think black people like chicken and watermelon?

Question

I HATE STEREOTYPES. I think chicken is greasy and disgusting and I only eat pure foods like fish and lean protien meat. And as for watermelon, ughhh. I prefer stawberries and canalope. :)

Answer 1

I'm from the south and even my black friends say that that is the food they like,... It does seem like a lot of black people like similar foods,.. even though that makes no since.

Answer 2

I think this silly stereotype started because chicken became a frequent part of the diet of many rural and/or working-class African-Americans. One of the major things to have on a farm were chickens.



For many poor Southern Blacks AND Whites, fried chicken was consistently served up on the family table because of the cheapness and availability of it. That's really all there was to it.



Eating chicken wasn't necessarily a "race" thing nor was watermelon but foods that were indicative of a great many Southerners both Black and White. Preparing home-made fried chicken for dinner and cutting open juicy watermelons were things that Southerners of both races enjoyed. Fried chicken wasn't even the sole culinary domain of the poor working people either. The dish became rooted amongst the culinary practices of the wealthy white Southerners as well. That's how the dish was first introduced to the South: Black slaves took what was originally a Scottish invention (frying chicken in shortening) and added spices and herbs and then served this cuisine to wealthy White plantation owners.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fried_chicken



I was born and raised in Virginia and I can say that fried chicken is a very regional dish that has little to nothing to do with what race of Southerner eats it, so yes, it definitely is a stereotype for people to think that only BLACK people eat these things. For us born in the South, we ALL enjoy it!

Answer 3

Yesterday I was working at the Lord's Diner (a pleasant restaurant that serves dinner to those who just need a little help due to money problems.. kind of cafeteria style). The dinner last night was fried chicken and a black man came and sat down at a table near my clean up station when I heard him say loud and clear that he hates fried chicken. That got my mom and I into a conversation about stereotypes. Everyone I know loves ham and I can't stand the stuff so my mom said that I must be Jewish at heart which was kind of funny. I don't think we'll ever have a good answer as to why these stereotypes exist. I think we just need to prove that we can cook anything well=]

Answer 4

This is a stupid stereotype. Not more true than Asians liking rice or whatever. Don't listen to this. But there must be reason. I remember reading somewhere that a long time ago while slavery was still around, many African American people ate what was very similar to fried chicken now. For the watermelon, it may be that you just see a lot of African American people eating it. I don't know why.

Answer 5

I'm not sure where that stereotype came from. I guess some folks assume that all black people are from the South and since Southerners tend to like fried chicken and watermelon then surely blacks must love this food. To be honest, I believe that everyone has some stereotypes. I regularly expect well dressed people to behave nicely and am frequently disappointed. I am sorry that there are still people in this world that still hold this stereotype.

Answer 6

It's traditional Southern food for just about everyone, but people tend to stick the stereotype to black folks even though it holds just as true for Southern whites. Maybe part of it is that chickens are easy and fairly cheap to raise, and watermelons are fairly easy to grow and just one can be shared by a fairly big family ... chicken and watermelon would make sense for Southern blacks that were impoverished by the unfair social situation of the time.

Answer 7

I like chicken but not fried. Don't much like watermelon, but wait I'm not black...but still everybody should think like me.



Seriously, only idiots believe any of those stereotypes. It may be just a bit of a stereotype for you to believe so many people think that. We all like what we like and don't what we don't. Last I looked, it has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with personal taste.

Answer 8

I have got to agree with Mike on this one, cheap and abundant and very much southern. Of course, it is just a steryotype, my grandpa loved fried chicken and watermelon, and I grew up loving both. Although he was white, he was from the south. It's just like everyone thinking New Orleans and crayfish/crawfish, another steryotype. Unfortunately, I feel that many people of all races are steryotyped, think librarian......dull, plain, glasses. As long as we aren't narrowminded enough to believe these steryotypes, we'll all be on the same page.

Answer 9

I love Chicken and Watermelon! But I don't know what the deal is behind that saying. In the south it is something at every family reunion black or white.



As for fish, lean protein meats, strawberries and cantaloupe... I love them too.

Answer 10

Watermelon was used in a lot of old advertising depicting blacks eating it. I suspect that has a lot to do with it.



Chicken? Sorry-- mostly because it's TRUE. Most EVERYBODY likes it. Black, white, or purple-- you're the oddball who doesn't like it.



Like it or not, there is a kernel of truth to most every stereotype. If you look at any "soul food" or African American heritage cookbook, you will find fried chicken.





Look-- at random, I did I search for soul food. The FIRST one I randomly clicked had fried chicken.

http://www.thegutsygourmet.net/soul.html







And honey-- hate to tell you-- chicken's one of the leaner "proteins" you'll find.

Answer 11

Isn't it bit stereotypical to say that most people think this? I have never thought that. I think of that food a just typical southern food. I think it might also depend on what part of the country you live in. Where I live that kind of thing just doesn't seem to come up.

Answer 12

It's just a stereotype. All sorts of different races easy watermelon and chicken. In my opinion they both taste good. Just forget about it.

Answer 13

I am not black and I love chicken and watermelon. Most people of any race like it because it is good eatin.

Answer 14

Why do you care so much? The reason is because that is what is portrayed on TV. Have you ever watched the KFC and Churches chicken commercials.

Answer 15

it is a stereotype that came from the south. it just to put another race down or stigmatize them. many other cultures have stereotypes lets destroy them by ignoring them and be true to yourself.

Answer 16

I don't know many people of any colour that don't like chicken, if you find it greasy someone is cooking it wrong!

Answer 17

Because people are tarts. I don't classify people. Doing something like that is not humane. It is plain old rude. Who ever said that needs serious help.

Answer 18

dont listen to those idiots, steriotypes are nothing like real lifee.

Answer 19

when people say things like this , it is just another stupid reason to upset people, sorry this happens!!!

Answer 20

because the country ones do (not of any offense)

Answer 21

do a goolge search of popeye chicken in your area and you will see that they are all in the ghetto where most blacks live.

Answer 22

have you seen the popeye chicken ads????