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precious25....
The iconic "watermelon-eating darkie" is an image/stereotype that was associated with African Americans through black face minstrelsy. It is an image that many African Americans might consider insensitive in a certain context. For example, a black person simply eating a piece of watermelon PROBABLY has no social implications for a white person witnessing the act. However, because of the consciousness (and double-consciousness) of the black people who are familiar with the stereotype, the image is a troubling one.
In this situation, I think the watermelon is troublesome because it seems to have been associated with black culture particularly, reinforcing, whether intentional or not, a stereotype that is associated with black face minstrelsy.
Hope that helps.
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