Supermarket Offers Black History Month Special on Fried Chicken
 

I'm not sure how many of y'all heard about this...

http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,44868,00.html

Ignorant people never cease to amaze me!

OMG...

Funny how no one seems to how who authorized the sign and how it got there? Cowards.....:mad:

When will the madness end!!!:mad:

What's wrong with the sign?

The store, obviously, was advertising an item that POSSIBLY was very popular among the African-Americans in its area.

They had a similar incident here a few years ago. A local drug store gave discounts on relaxers, skin-lightening products and s-curl products for Black History Month. Why? Because their info showed that the A-A community in which the store was based were active and consistent buyers of these products. So, taa-daa! they have a big sale on a guaranteed seller!!

Now, what's wrong with a sale on products that one's customers buy a lot of. If you ask me, that’s good business. And why not advertise during Black History Month?

If Black people have a problem with the products chosen for the sale, they should take a closer look at the products they flock to the stores and buy in the first place.

Diversity Training
 

It's one thing to give discounts on products that are created for & geared towards African Americans. The insult is that "fried chicken and watermelon" are stereotypical and have negative connotations. We are not the only people that eat fried chicken.... the dish was not created with us in mind, and not all of us like fried chicken. If that was the case, they might as well have thrown up a sign with chitterlings, pig feet, and hog maws as well. :rolleyes:

That's why every company needs to invest in diversity training. Whoever put the sign up just was not thinking and didn't know that impact that it would have (I hope, although this is happening more and more....).

Re: Diversity Training
 

Excellent point. I just started eating chicken in the last year!:eek I just didn't like chicken growing up and it wasn't until my husband cooked dinner for me one day last year that I began eating chicken.

OMG
 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

You went 27 years with no chicken -- OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGGGG!!

I remember a coupld of years ago a nutritional website that I subscribed to for a weekly newsletter had a Christmas list of foods and listed a special fried chicken recipe for KWANZAA!!!!

I wrote them a reaaaaalllly nasty e-mail and turned the service off. The owners of the site actually e-mailed me to apologize and asked for suggestions.

They just hadn't thought about it and what it could look like at all. It wasn't malice, it was just thoughtlessnes. And they were sincerely apologeitc. You can't always assume the worst people.

ok..I'm stunned but not that stunned. Unfortunatley, things like this happen alot where I am from but 9 out 10 it's because people just don't think. It's always best to take our thoughts and complaints to someone's attention the first time but after that....... well, you know!!!!

What I don't like is when one of the customers said that it wouldn't stop him from shopping there. With me, a store only has one chance to mess up. If they piss me off, then they will be losing my business.

I don't know if this customer was African-American, but I'm praying that he is not. It would be a crying shame if he is. The only way that companies and stores will get the message that discrimination is wrong is if we, as a people, punish them for their bad acts. When we start taking away our money, which we spend a lot of, they will start taking our feelings into consideration.

Ok...I may be wrong for this but

I know full well that my mama would have sent my lil butt out there with a coupon to buy up all the chicken in the store. I actually heard about this from some friends and while it is offensive, we said all our mamas would have sent us on a chicken run. :cool:

Although I admit the sign is in poor taste, I couldn't help but laugh when I read the story. To play devil's advocate, is it wrong for them to slash prices on corn beef and cabbage on St. patrick's Day? Or list a special on pepperoni and linguini during Italian American Heritage week? During the Jewish holidays, should supermarket chains not advertise price cuts on Lox and Gifelte fish? I'm sure not every member of the different ethnic groups eat the particular foods that are associated with them..but you guys have to admit the majority of us black folks love ourselves some fried chicken. Not to say whites and other groups don't love fried chicken or watermelon or chitlins as well.
During the various ethnic holidays, supermarket chains where I'm from routinely advertise specials such as the chicken special. Should these other groups be offended by this?

Hi,

I think its in poor taste because of the stereotypical images that are associated with black folks and fried chicken.( I think tickledpick said this earlier). Its just as tasteless as advertising "BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL - WATERMELON 2 FOR THE PRICE OF ONE".
Also, there are no bad connotations or bad sterortypes associated with Jewish people and Gifelte fish or Italians and Pepperoni.

Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. I have friends that are Italian-American, Latino and Jewish. Sometimes I'll make comments like "Hey Felicita, I would come to your house for dinner...but I'm just not in the mood for goya beans and rice" or "Chris what do you have in that lunch bag? A pepperoni sandwhich?"
To which I hear "We eat other things you know." and "Why does everyone assume all Italians eat pasta and sauce for dinner?"

****Disclaimer: The stereotypical comments made are all in good fun. This is how we joke with each other from time to time. Emails from various ethnic groups suggesting that I recieve sensitivity training are not needed.***

My point is: although these specific people are friends of mine, to others this mayactually be offensive. Keep in mind, I am playing devil's advocate. I do understand your view, but for some reason I don't find us being associated with fried chicken that offensive. Now hogmaws and chitlins would have probably gotten me a bit peeved...although not much because I can't really get myself that upset with ignorant people.