Obama Fried Madness in New York

Obama Fried Chicken Restaurant in New York City

Thought Obama Chicken Fingers were hard to stomach?

Then you'll absolutely choke on the latest shameless attempt to capitalize on the name of America's first black president: Obama Fried Chicken joints.

This time we can't blame it on clueless Germans or Russians, or even right-wing zealots who can't get over the results of election 2008. No, this trend is made in New York City by merchants who are, in all likelihood, just trying to ride the wave of Obama's popularity to riches.

Two city fast-food joints are calling themselves Obama Fried Chicken -- and the new names are ruffling some feathers.

Eateries in Brooklyn and Manhattan plastered the new president's last name on their awnings recently.

And some passersby are cringing, saying the name change plays into old racial stereotypes.

SOURCE: New York Daily News

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

Let's just pause for a moment to say right here that black people do eat fried chicken. There's nothing racist in saying that or admitting it. I'll go further: opening up a fried chicken restaurant in a black neighborhood (or any American neighborhood for that matter) is a good idea. Few foods are more American than fried chicken. It's a good bet that's why Royal Fried Chicken in the predominantly black Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville recently decided to change its name to Obama Fried Chicken.

From the restaurant's perspective, the name change grew out of pride in the new president and a keen sense of commerce. From other perspectives, it was tone-deaf at best and racist at worst. When the restaurant Royal Fried Chicken on Rutland Road in Brownsville changed its name last week to Obama Fried Chicken, the reaction was swift.

"Community leaders came. They told us we have to change the name," said Mohammad Jabbar, 33, the manager. "They said if you don't change it they will take action."

SOURCE: New York Times

The thing is, any successful business knows the cultural outlooks and sensitivities of its customer base.

"Fried chicken, watermelon and minstrels are part of the racist stereotyping of black people in America," said New York City Councilman Charles Barron, according to the Times. "It's outrageous. You have to be sensitive and knowledgeable." In response to the opening of Obama Fried Chicken in Brownsville, Barron said on April 3 that he will organize a demonstration outside Obama Fried Chicken in his Brooklyn district. Organizers have said they may also target Obama Fried Chicken & Pizza in Harlem.

"People from the community were calling me and saying they were outraged by this racist connection to Barack Obama and fried chicken," Barron said. "If you think that free speech gives you the right to insult and degrade us and stereotype us, then you've got a battle on your hands."

SOURCE: AP

Are the fried chicken restaurant owners culturally tone death but well-meaning? Or was renaming the restaurants a deliberate attempt to demean Barack Obama and the black community? Tell us what you think below.