Ibiza Blue... Why NOT Watermelon?

Today I’m blue, Ibiza blue in fact, saddened because of the self realization that a simple picture brought to light.

A friend posted this picture in our group chat and asked for initial thoughts.  My initial thought was “country”.

The picture immediately evoked a reminder of my childhood… my grandmother cutting a ripe watermelon from her garden for me, my brother, and cousins to eat, as we sat on her front porch on a hot summer day.  As soon as that memory came to mind, I also followed up with this disclaimer“… but I wouldn’t post this picture from my childhood memory, due to the negative imagery of Blacks eating watermelon.” 

My statement is what caused the self analysis and resulting blues. 

This sadness led me to this question, why NOT watermelon?  Why can’t Blacks enjoy watermelon in a public setting, especially in mixed company?  Why can’t Blacks post pictures of themselves or family members eating watermelon? 

It shouldn’t be shocking, due to our current social climate, but that reason is rooted in the need for Whites to demonize the self-sufficiency of Blacks during the Jim Crow Era.  In The Atlantic (2014) article “How Watermelons Became a Racist Trope” by William Black, he noted the following…

“But the stereotype that African Americans are excessively fond of watermelon emerged for a specific historical reason and served a specific political purpose.  The trope came in full force when slaves won their emancipation during the Civil War.  Free black people grew, ate, and sold watermelons, and in doing so made the fruit a symbol of their freedom.  Southern whites, threatened by blacks’ newfound freedom, responded by making the fruit a symbol of black people’s perceived uncleanliness, laziness, childishness, and unwanted public presence.  This racist trope then exploded in American popular culture, becoming so pervasive that its historical origin became obscure.  Few Americans in 1900 would’ve guessed the stereotype was less than half a century old… Whites used the stereotype to denigrate black people—to take something they were using to further their own freedom, and make it an object of ridicule.  It ultimately does not matter if someone means to offend when they tap into the racist watermelon stereotype, because the stereotype has a life of its own.”

Some may say, 'well if whites eat watermelon, how can watermelon be racist?'

Let’s dig into our history books a bit more. The movie “The Birth of a Nation” originally titled The Clansman is a 1915 silent film directed by D. W. Griffith which depicted whites in black face unintelligent and lazily enjoying watermelon while also being sexually aggressive in pursuit of white women.  From this one film, we see how symbols emblazoned in racist antics shape the world’s view of Blacks still today.  This imagery made Blacks villains but Ku Klux Klansmen (KKK) heroes.  Do you see how powerful imagery is?

This imagery is what allows a cop to say “he felt threatened” when he kills an unarmed Black man.  This imagery is woven in the fabric of this country and is what the #BlackLivesMatter movement is grounded in upending.  This imagery, standing alone, would not seem racist; but it has been compounded with years of advertising and visual media globally depicting one race, Blacks, as lazy, childish and unclean.  This is how we get to questioning a Black family posting the above picture of them just enjoying watermelon. 

So this is why I feel “some type of way” when I attend corporate sponsored events in celebration of African Americans where the menu consists of fried chicken and/or watermelon.  These two foods I love, but I don’t partake in, at corporate functions.  I unconsciously go into auto-pilot, attempting to disprove the myth that all Blacks like fried chicken and watermelon. 

Have you ever found yourself in the predicament of ordering some shit you know you don’t want just to NOT fit the “stereotype?”  I can recall sharing my favorite soul food restaurant with co-workers in casual conversation.  Well for my birthday, my team surprised me with lunch to that very restaurant. 

Now everyone knows that I am a very PICKY eater.  Most of the chosen lunch locations my team enjoyed, I very rarely enjoyed with the same enthusiasm.  My palate craves a bit more seasoning than those restaurants tend to offer.  So instead of being a Debbie Downer and always saying, 'I don’t like the food at said restaurant,' I usually work through my lunch.

Back to my original thought; my favorite meal is usually two piece, white (extra crispy) fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and corn bread.  This day, in celebration of my birthday, I ordered spicy catfish, corn, and green beans with toast.  All of this I did without even a second thought. 

Why did I feel compelled to do this?  The ordering of a more “socially acceptable” meal to not be “that Black person”.

As we continued the group discussion, we all found ourselves wondering what was the truth behind the picture posted.  Many of us suggesting it as a statement picture of #Winning.  A grandfather that had established enough wealth for his children’s children to come home and visit for the summer and enjoy fresh fruit with him.  I mean, what we saw pictured seemed to be a quick picture snapped of a family moment; but that moment was now in question.  Some of us even wondered if the grandfather owned a watermelon farm.  In that moment, we all took stock of our own unconscious biases.  We, a group of college educated Blacks, had subconsciously allowed the narrative spun by white America to continue to resonate within us.  Here we were, talking through the dynamics of why one would even question the integrity of a family posting a picture of themselves enjoying fruit. 

There were harsh social media commenters who quickly defined this family as “cooning” for simply doing what they should have the inalienable right to do; enjoy watermelon without being immediately defined by the same stereotypical and negative imagery we despise. 

And the truth behind the picture? 

I logged into facebook over a year ago, Sunday, July 5th and saw the post below that confirmed many of our group thoughts were true.  This was a grandfather enjoying watermelon with his grandkids. 

But, it was deeper, it was a picture of victory.  It showed the history of Blacks farming and selling watermelon to gain financial freedom to overcome the destitution of slavery; and continued generational wealth and entrepreneurship that it brought their family.  Their great grandfather grew watermelons, sold them and made a living to support his family of twelve and countless others in his community.  This is a proud legacy!

The refreshing part for me, wasn’t this family’s successful entrepreneurship, but that they didn’t allow negative imagery to rob them of capturing and SHARING this moment.  Why?  Because this conversation needs to be had.  We, Blacks, need to start re-examining the negative imagery that has been applied to us and reclaiming those that can be reclaimed.  The words of Auntie Maxine Waters “Reclaiming My Time“ resonated within the Black Community and was a powerful statement.  Some negative narratives/imageries we need to “reclaim our time” with are, “Why NOT Natural Hair?”, “Why NOT Ebonics”, “Why Not HBCUs?”, “Why Not Black Culture?” and “Why NOT Ethnic Names?".  We need to explore why we still allow those negative connotations that were applied to identify Blacks as second class citizens to have power today. 

Thank you for taking time to indulge my blue thoughts in this colourful convo of sadness today.  Sadness because I have allowed the perception of others to rob me of capturing and sharing candids and innocent family memories due to fear of how they will be received.  I’m looking forward to seeing more Black people post pictures of themselves or their family enjoying this simple fruit, watermelon, that has long held a deep seated unfavorable depiction of our race.  Next time we’re enjoying a ripe watermelon, I’ll be sure to utilize the hashtag #HatleyGrandfather and tag his business to let him know, his family's fearlessness in posting this moment helped me do a self assessment and start my mission to 'Reclaim My Time' (and identity).  Please comment below and let me know your thoughts on this colour of the day.