So, This Just Happened To A Friend Of Mine

[sunshinehighway]

I get what the article is saying. That doesn't necessarily mean that article is 100% correct no more than any the pp could post links to may be 100% correct. It is a stereotype.

BUT, that doesn't mean that everyone who offers someone watermelon is being a racist.

Its a food that is extremely popular in the south especially since so many grow them. The best ones are eaten right out of the field. On any given day from about the 1st of July to the 1st of September, someone is going to bring a bowl of watermelon to the office in almost every office.

I don't think anyone has said anyone offering anyone watermelon is racist.
There's been a lot of people on this thread that have said they don't know about the stereotype, don't understand why someone would think it's racists and a few other different things. I just posted the link to give insight into the stereotype and the history behind it for those that are interested and didn't know about it.
Lots of people like watermelon. It's not a southern thing. I really wish people would stop saying that. The stereotype isn't about it being a southern thing. Pointing out people liking watermelon doesn't really do anything to change the history behind the stereotype. It's just a way to dismiss it. Yes, lots of people like watermelon but there is a real history behind it when it comes to black Americans. That doesn't mean you're being racists if you offer a black guy watermelon. If you offer a black guy watermelon assuming he likes it because of the stereotype? Yeah that is racist.
Understanding stereotypes and their roots is important to moving beyond them which I think is the ultimate goal of most.

 

[Magpie]

If that is the case, it would seem both people in the elevator have issues with stereotyping people of other races.

You know, if someone has been burned repeatedly, I'm sure not going to criticize them for flinching when I stick a lighter in their face.

 

[sunshinehighway]

If that is the case, it would seem both people in the elevator have issues with stereotyping people of other races.

I think that's true to a certain extent. In the op, the guy jumps to a conclusion until the woman pulls out the watermelon. He appears to realize that but then her final comment makes him think twice.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You know, if someone has been burned repeatedly, I'm sure not going to criticize them for flinching when I stick a lighter in their face.

Fair point but do you feel this way towards every person regardless of the color of their skin?

*Not a judgmental question but trying to get your thoughts on question*

 

[ford family]

Catching up on some of the current permitted language, is the NAACP planning on becoming the NAAAAP anytime soon?

ford family

 

[pryncess527]

Here's an article that goes into the history of the stereotype associated with watermelon. It's interesting.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/383529/

That was fascinating!! Thank you so much for sharing. I grew up in the South, so was familiar with the stereotype (though we find it rather amusing now since love of watermelon is pretty widespread), but I had no idea the historical basis for it.

 

[Hikergirl]

You know, if someone has been burned repeatedly, I'm sure not going to criticize them for flinching when I stick a lighter in their face.

Nonetheless, it would be judging someone based on the color of their skin. Just saying that I don't think the white woman judging him is right, but I wouldn't think him judging her on sight was right either.
Now, after she made her comment about him being an expert I would think he had a very valid reason too, but just walking in the elevator and her offering him some watermelon?

Just wondering does your courtesy of not criticizing apply to all people? If someone was always being burned by black people, or Muslims, or a Christians, or green aliens would you let their stereotyping of "all" go without criticism?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This thread is funny.
"I like watermelon and I'm white!"
"I didn't know it was a racial stereotype thing... Well I'm white and I like it!"

 

[rastahomie]

Maybe because he experiences racism so much, especially from older white people, that that is his first thought.

When he first moved to the wealthy white suburb where he lives, he got pulled over for DWB on a daily basis. Now the cops recognize him and don't bother him as much.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't think anyone has said anyone offering anyone watermelon is racist.
There's been a lot of people on this thread that have said they don't know about the stereotype, don't understand why someone would think it's racists and a few other different things. I just posted the link to give insight into the stereotype and the history behind it for those that are interested and didn't know about it.
Lots of people like watermelon. It's not a southern thing. I really wish people would stop saying that. The stereotype isn't about it being a southern thing. Pointing out people liking watermelon doesn't really do anything to change the history behind the stereotype. It's just a way to dismiss it. Yes, lots of people like watermelon but there is a real history behind it when it comes to black Americans. That doesn't mean you're being racists if you offer a black guy watermelon. If you offer a black guy watermelon assuming he likes it because of the stereotype? Yeah that is racist.
Understanding stereotypes and their roots is important to moving beyond them which I think is the ultimate goal of most.

I didn't say it was a southern thing, I said they are very popular in the south.

Honestly, most of these things, just have to be ignored. How on earth can one tell what's in someone's mind to know whether they are just being nice or doing it because of his race? To assume the latter is racist in of itself.

 

[amberpi]

Doesn't this sound a little fishy? A little old lady gets on an elevator with a black male, happens to have watermelon in a Tupperware container, and insults him?
Sorry, but count me as a skeptic. FAKE NEWS

I don't listen to anyone who shouts fake news. Seriously? Why do we have suffer this?

 

[Magpie]

Fair point but do you feel this way towards every person regardless of the color of their skin?

*Not a judgmental question but trying to get your thoughts on question*

Nonetheless, it would be judging someone based on the color of their skin. Just saying that I don't think the white woman judging him is right, but I wouldn't think him judging her on sight was right either.
Now, after she made her comment about him being an expert I would think he had a very valid reason too, but just walking in the elevator and her offering him some watermelon?

Just wondering does your courtesy of not criticizing apply to all people? If someone was always being burned by a black people, or Muslims, or a Christians, or green aliens would you let their stereotyping of "all" go without criticism?

Of course!

We all judge people, the first moment we see them. And our personal histories very much define how we perceive each other.

I lived my first nine years in a majority black part of town, went to a majority black school, and my mum dated a black fellow. I still get a warm fuzzy feeling upon seeing 30-something black males, because when I was a child people who looked like that were good to me. On the other hand, when I was eleven I was molested by a 50-something white male and I had to go to court where a whole lot of other 50-something white males argued about whether I'd seduced him. I know I am still somewhat twitchy about getting into an elevator alone with a stranger who matches that description, despite being married to, and very much in love with a 50-something white male.

On the other hand, I try very hard to assume good intentions until proven otherwise. Like the gentleman in the original post, I work hard to keep an open mind and not let my initial suspicions taint my assessment of that person.

 

[Magpie]

I don't listen to anyone whose shouts fake news. Seriously? Why do we have suffer this?

I thought rickybobby was joking...?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I don't listen to anyone whose shouts fake news. Seriously? Why do we have suffer this?

I'm not doubting the validity of the content in the OP but that being said people do truly make up things, embellish things, etc

Recently there was a woman who faked her pregnancy and said she lost the baby when she got shot in the leg at her own "baby's" gender reveal party. She really was shot in the leg and the event really was for her "baby's" gender reveal party...the kicker was she wasn't pregnant.

Then we have the airplane stories recently where sometimes it's like "omg how dare they do that to the person" and yet other times it's "wait that doesn't make sense...".

I've seen posts on FB where people make this huge rant about some place and can really do damaging PR or about some person and it turns out it was completely made up. I've seen people post a picture of some really out there terrible things and it turns out they actually wrote the terrible thing on the receipt themselves and posted that-thereby making the story up.

It's unfortunate but sometimes these things listed above can bite other people in the behind's because it starts to make skeptics of people.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I thought rickybobby was joking...?

I doubt it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Of course!

We all judge people, the first moment we see them. And our personal histories very much define how we perceive each other.

I lived my first nine years in a majority black part of town, went to a majority black school, and my mum dated a black fellow. I still get a warm fuzzy feeling upon seeing 30-something black males, because when I was a child people who looked like that were good to me. On the other hand, when I was eleven I was molested by a 50-something white male and I had to go to court where a whole lot of other 50-something white males argued about whether I'd seduced him. I know I am still somewhat twitchy about getting into an elevator alone with a stranger who matches that description, despite being married to, and very much in love with a 50-something white male.

On the other hand, I try very hard to assume good intentions until proven otherwise. Like the gentleman in the original post, I work hard to keep an open mind and not let my initial suspicions taint my assessment of that person.

Ok so first of all I am not "liking" your post for the personal stories you told. OMG I am so sorry that happened to you. I don't know if I knew that before in some other post but wow.

Second of all I gotcha on the way of thinking.

Truth be told I get push back at times because I'm white and other times because I'm a female. The reason I'm given is because I'm white I couldn't possibly have been discriminated against and because I'm a female I'm this or that.

But I don't treat people of any race or gender as if any moment they are going to tell me I can't be discriminated against because of my color of my skin or I'm this or that because of my gender it just wouldn't be fair of me to do that. That's what prompted my question.

 

[Hikergirl]

Of course!

We all judge people, the first moment we see them. And our personal histories very much define how we perceive each other.

I lived my first nine years in a majority black part of town, went to a majority black school, and my mum dated a black fellow. I still get a warm fuzzy feeling upon seeing 30-something black males, because when I was a child people who looked like that were good to me. On the other hand, when I was eleven I was molested by a 50-something white male and I had to go to court where a whole lot of other 50-something white males argued about whether I'd seduced him. I know I am still somewhat twitchy about getting into an elevator alone with a stranger who matches that description, despite being married to, and very much in love with a 50-something white male.

On the other hand, I try very hard to assume good intentions until proven otherwise. Like the gentleman in the original post, I work hard to keep an open mind and not let my initial suspicions taint my assessment of that person.

I'm really sorry that you had to go through that as a child. (And like the pp wasn't liking your post because of that part of it).

I get what you are saying, and I do agree somewhat. I was just pointing out that it really is the same thing for a person to make a snap judgment based on color of one's skin, (or religion, or ethnicity). I think there are definitely different levels of stereotyping, some kind of harmless but others that lead to overt racism.

 

[amberpi]

I lived my first nine years in a majority black part of town, went to a majority black school, and my mum dated a black fellow. I still get a warm fuzzy feeling upon seeing 30-something black males, because when I was a child people who looked like that were good to me. On the other hand, when I was eleven I was molested by a 50-something white male and I had to go to court where a whole lot of other 50-something white males argued about whether I'd seduced him. I know I am still somewhat twitchy about getting into an elevator alone with a stranger who matches that description, despite being married to, and very much in love with a 50-something white male./QUOTE]

I'm sorry, @Magpie. That's all I've got.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

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[Skywalker]

You know, if someone has been burned repeatedly, I'm sure not going to criticize them for flinching when I stick a lighter in their face.

Well...if we're going down that road...nevermind...I forgot "that road" is a one-way street.