Test question racist?

[Poohgirl]

Ok can someone please (in a nice way) explain to me why they are considering this a racist issue? I am usually pretty good about having a "gut" feeling about these this where at least I would think "oh, he/she should have thought about that before saying/doing that" But if this were on my test I wouldn't have thought twice, yes I would have thought it was her, but is there some connotation with being black and the watermellon that I am not aware of? Or is it something else?


Condoleezza 'Watermelon' Test Question Raises Ire

POSTED: 10:14 am EDT April 13, 2006

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- A controversial question given to students during a practice test for a math final at Bellevue Community College has students -- and others -- shaking their heads because of its lack of racial sensitivity.

A civil rights activist said it refers to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice although it doesn't mention her by name.

The question read: "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second."

The Condoleezza question went on to ask when the watermelon will hit the ground, based on a formula provided.


BCC spokesman Bob Adams said the college has received e-mails that are primarily angry that this could happen.

Student Chelsey Richardson, 25, said she discovered the question while studying for the math test in March. She was one of the students who brought the issue to officials at the community college in the Seattle suburb.

The college has refused to release the name of the teacher who wrote the question, but said the teacher hasn't been fired. The teacher has apologized and requested cultural sensitivity training, the college said.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I have to agree with you. I don't see anything wrong with that question.. especially anything racist..

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't necessarily think it's racist. However, the watermelon/African American association is an old and well-known stereotype. Condoleezza is an unusual name. Probably the only Condoleezza most people have ever heard of is Condoleeza Rice, who is African American.

It's certainly not very PC to have a watermelon reference in a question with that name, but that doesn't mean there were necessarily bad intentions there. Could be innocent, could be intentional. Probably not very smart on the teacher's part, either way.

 

[Jennasis]

Oh boy...That teacher is either a complete idiot, or well...I don't know what he was thinking.

To answer your question, there is a negative connotation given to the idea of african-americans eating watermelon (as well as fried chicken). WHERE that negative connotaion started from, I have no idea. However the math question was indeed racially insensitive to say the least. I would imagine it has something to do with the slaves who were forced to harvest the watermelon crop, and would sneak some out in the field (I'm guessing).

I would also guess maybe the teacher thought it was funny??

There aren't that many Condoleeza's out there. If he wanted to use her name, he could've said she was holding a bowling ball or a basketball or something...ANYTHING else.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

[QUOTEThe question read: "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second."
[/QUOTE]
Got me. I don't see it.

eta:

the watermelon/African American association is an old and well-known stereotype

Now that I think about it, it does seem a little insensative.

 

[Minnesota!]

I don't see anything wrong with it. People are just WAY too sensitive these days.

 

[Squirlz]

Condoleezza, Federal Building, watermelon...

It's not a coincidence. Someone knew what they were doing.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, yes, there are definitely negative connotations in that question. And that teacher DOES need sensitivity training.

Jeez--what was he/she thinking?

 

[Poohgirl]

Oh boy...That teacher is either a complete idiot, or well...I don't know what he was thinking.

To answer your question, there is a negative connotation given to the idea of african-americans eating watermelon (as well as fried chicken). WHERE that negative connotaion started from, I have no idea. However the math question was indeed racially insensitive to say the least. I would imagine it has something to do with the slaves who were forced to harvest the watermelon crop, and would sneak some out in the field.

Thank you, I knew there must be SOMETHING like that. But honestly born and raise in New England I have never even heard of any such association with watermelon, now if it had been cotton, or coffee or tobacco I would have understood!

 

[Holly]

I'm not sure where it originally came from, but I know that the watermelon was used alot during the black satire/ black face entertainment era. A common theme was a white man in black face dancing around, acting stupid, and eating watermelon and spitting out the seeds.

I don't see how the test question is a case of racism.

 

[troy mcclure]

Condoleezza, Federal Building, watermelon...

It's not a coincidence. Someone knew what they were doing.

What if it were Condoleezza, Federal Building and a cantaloupe?

 

[va32h]

YES. That is absolutely racist.

When you read the name Condoleeza, who did you think of? Particularly with the notation that it was a "Federal building". There is a long-standing and very ugly stereotype about blacks liking watermelon.

The test question could have had any name, any object, dropped off of any type of structure. Why not have John drop a bowling ball off a bridge?

The fact that a black political figure's very recongizable name was used in conjunction with a reference to a Federal building and a well known black stereotype demonstrates that the intent behind this question was to insult.

 

[Beth76]

I don't get the "negative connoation". I've "heard of it" before, but I've never "gotten it". I'm white and I love watermelon.

 

[chris1gill]

Hmm. I wonder if this depends where you are from? I'm also from New England, I'm pretty well schooled, I watch CNN & MSNBC most often... and I have never heard of any such connotation... I'm under 40, so I don't know if my age has anything to do with it... It's really unfortunate that we have these sensitivities out there in the year 2006 It makes me very sad

 

[lillygator]

please - people will find referance to what they want when they want....as another poster said - what if had been cantalope? Teachers have enough to worry about.

 

[Jennasis]

I woudln't call the question racist (which implies that the originator of the question was saying the race in question was "less than" his own particular race, or that he was superior to blacks) but rather showed a severe case of racial insensitivity...ie, why a watermelon?? Everyone (well, most people) know about the negative connotation attributed to african-americans and watermelons. He should've used a different object or different name. If he has said "Betty" or even "Achmed" threw a watermelon up in the air, it wouldn't have been as bad.

 

[CheshireVal]

I think if you are from the South you'd definitely understand. It's interesting to me how different the cultures really are from one area of the country to the other!

 

[nkjzmom]

I have never understood the jokes about African Americans and watermelon and fried chicken. I LOVE watermelon AND fried chicken and during the summer that's what we take on picnics...I don't get it.

What if it were a question about a Kennedy and baked beans? Or a Boston cream pie?

 

[va32h]

what if had been cantalope?

But it wasn't a cantaloupe. The writer of the test question specifically chose a watermelon. For a reason. To make a stupid bigoted joke.

We went through this a few months ago over lawn jockeys. If you've never heard of these racial stereotypes, good, but plenty of other people have. And the people trading in them know exactly what message they are trying to send.

 

[Jennasis]

I've only lived in NC for 3 years. Up till then I was born and raised on Long Island, and I was well aware of the negative connotation back in NY.

BTW if he has used "cantaloupe" it would have been fine. The teacher is a moron.