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All the German frozen-food company was trying to do was sell some chicken.
And it figured the best pitchman for the fried snack would be the world's most popular politician, President Barack Obama.
But now, the company, Sprehe, finds itself embroiled in a stewing racial controversy over linking America's first black president with fried chicken.
Obama Fingers, the tasty treat served with a curry sauce, will undoubtedly leave some blacks with a case of indigestion. Not because they ate the snack but because advertising that links black people to fried chicken or watermelon for that matter is racist.
A company spokesman said she didn't know that naming the snack after Obama would cause a racial stir. I tend to believe her.
"It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new U.S. president," sales manager Judith Witting told Germany's Spiegel Online.
"Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans," she was quoted as saying.
A lot of whites in America are unaware that some black folks don't like to be associated with fried chicken. And if we are going to be honest, let's acknowledge that plenty of black and white folks enjoy fried chicken -- if the customer lines at fried-chicken restaurants can be used as a barometer.
Irony: This story comes a day or two after Obama gave a talk on food safety. So go ahead and enjoy your Obama fingers. And don't forget the curry sauce. They sound delicious.
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Vintage Racist Advertising
Top left LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav present onstage at the VH1 - Big in '04 on December 1, 2004 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Top right: 1899 -- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS; Bottom right: 1930s AC spark plugs ad in The Saturday Evening Post -- Photo by The Authentic History Center; Bottom left: This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. (AP Photo/New York Post) ** NO SALES ** Credit: Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Getty Images / Corbi / Authentic History Center / AP
Advertisement for an African-American slave sale.
Although the enslavement of mankind in general has been recorded as early as 1200 BC; the first African slaves were reportedly transported to the 'New World' in 1517. This is 76 years after the first black slaves were captured and taken to Portugal.
Bettmann / Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising c.1880s Tin of Nigger Hair Tobacco
For decades this product was sold in stores as chewing tobacco or for smoking. It was advertised as 'pure, unadulterated, fine old burley leaf.'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Center
The Authentic History Center
1888 -- Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster -- Image by © Swim Ink 2, LLC/CORBIS Seal of North Carolina Tobacco - The Darktown Bowling Club Poster
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1890 -- Zoulou Powder Poster (French advertisement)
Because offensive advertising was permeated throughout the world for many years, (and still is, as you will see in a few upcoming slides) it should come as no surprise that in more modern times 'racism has become the scourge of European soccer stadiums.'
Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis
ca. 1899 --- Uncle Tom's Cabin: Topsy Illustration --- Image by © CORBIS Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Topsy was a stereotypical pickaninny character in the book, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Uncle Tom was a slave in the book. The term 'Uncle Tom' is recognized to be offensive and a derogatory name for a black man who is abjectly servile and deferential to whites.
Corbis
ca. 1899 --- George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster --- Image by © CORBIS George Thatcher's Greatest Minstrels Poster
Early definition of minstrel: a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.
The black-face minstrel act was a very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America. White audiences were receptive to the portrayals of Blacks as singing, dancing, grinning fools. T.D. 'Daddy' Rice, the original Jim Crow, became rich and famous because of his skills as a minstrel. Interestingly though, when he died in New York on September 19, 1860, he was broke.
Corbis
African American Stereotypes: Products and Advertising 1899 Durkee's Salad Dressing advertisement, Harpers Magazine
Notice the broken English purportedly spoken by black Americans, 'We're gwine ter live high ter-night ...'
Photo Source: The Authentic History Centerr
The Authentic History Center
Advertisement for Clarence Brooks and Co.'s Fine Coach Varnishes uses racist stereotypes to depict a group of African-American adults and children as they cheer and watch two shirtless boxers, one of whom appears unconscious, accompanied by the text "the Championship Fight, Sullivan Wins," late 1800s. The Sullivan in the text is a reference to boxer John L. Sullivan, who fought bare-knuckled in several famous bouts.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Advertisement for the St. Louis Beef Canning Company features an illustration of a stereotyped African-American character sitting on a can of beef, accompanied by phonetically rendered, stereotypical dialect-style text that reads: 'No Sah! dont jine no Exodus so as dis Beef lasts,' late 1800s.
Showing blacks to massacre the English language, further perpetuated the false idea that African Americans were somehow unable to be educated.
Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images
Comments: (1684)
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By: Jo on 4/05/2009 7:27PM
Well, now let me see. I love chicken, hate chicken fingers; I hate watermelon - don't like the taste, smell, texture. I don't like any implications of chicken or watermelon geared toward African Americans because of the hurt and pain that has been associated with it, by the way which is still associated with it. Now those of you who are not American can easily say, you don't think it is harmful, trust me it is. I would advise the food industry to do serious research about stereotypical analogies toward African Americans. What makes anyone think that you have to honor the President of the United States with any form of charicature, food, or parade float? I lived the racism, and I still see it today; just because the President of the United States is an African American citizen, don't fool yoursleves into believing that racisim is ok, or it no longer exist. Aside from being racist, it is disrespectful-there is no honor or meaning naming such things after a national figure. It's funny how people take it for granted that they don't have to pay respect to African Americans. Here this, if someone, anyone calls you other than what your are, tries to pay homage by a backdoor tribute you talk about how you don't like it behind closed doors. Well, this is a front door, and I and many others like me don't like it, don't want to hear the poor excuses in favor of it. Name calling, pigeon holing, stereotyping needs to stop. While I agree that we are the most hated ethnic group on the face of the earth, I thank God everyday for using us to show his glory, and that no matter what or who tries to opress another group of people he is in control. But, none of this means that we have to keep accepting the insults, and garbage disguised and marketing and homage - it's all the same - racist commentary and diatribes.
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By: tracey on 4/08/2009 5:11PM
Typical blood sucking, living off of society, blame European Americans for everything chimp. You people disgust me!
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By: toney on 4/09/2009 9:39AM
I think it's just bad marketing. I really think it's just stupid to name fried chicken after a president. I can see if he was known for eating fried chicken all the time, made comments about it etc. and your claiming to sell the oh so popular chicken that obama loves. That's not the case. So when you market something after someone, I think it's normal the think what's the association with the ad. And what is it? I'm going to jump the gun and say it's racist, no. It's stupid is what it is. I never use the word stupid and now I've gotten my chance. It's all about money. People are will try anything to make a dollar. It's so stupid it's embarrising to see his name associated with fried chicken. They probly didn't even vote for him or even vote for that matter.
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By: old black joe on 4/11/2009 8:53AM
WELL, I GUESS WE SHOULD ALL GEATHER UP AND MARCH ON WASHINGTON. WE ALL VOTED FOR OUR SAINT OBAMA, BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A INCREASE IN OUR WELFARE CHECKS. NOR MORE FOOD STAMPS, NOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE. I'M BEGINING TO FEEL LIKE WHITE TRASH NOW. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP ?????????
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