7mo ago

Spectrum Call Center in Charlotte, NC Reportedly Provided Fried Chicken and Watermelon to Employees for Juneteenth

thencbeat.com /spectrum-call-center-in-charlotte-reportedly-provided-fried-chicken-and-watermelon-to-employees-for-juneteenth/

“We want to acknowledge some feedback received regarding our Juneteenth celebration,” Pezzuto said in his letter obtained by The North Carolina Beat. “Although our intent was to celebrate this nationally recognized day, some of you voiced your concerns regarding the associated food choices.”

In other words, we're sorry you were offended.

76 comments

The thing is that both are great foods but knowing how a southern white clown thinks... they meant it. Fuk 'em
- Ikr? I fucking love fried chicken and watermelon but they had to go and ruin it for the rest of us.
- Right? I've never understood how that became a stereotype in the first place. Fried chicken is basically ubiquitous in all cultures in one form or another, including Europe. Turns out the vast majority of people like deep fried meat. Were southern elites just lying their asses off like "fried chicken? Yeah, disgusting. Totally hate it"?
  Such a dumb fucking stereotype
  
  Chickens were often the only animals enslaved people were allowed to raise for themselves. Like many racist stereotypes, it's more rooted in the 20th Century than slavery or early American history. There used to be some chain restaurants - notably Coon Chicken Inn - that used racist caricatures to sell their fried chicken, so it's basically an advertising meme.
- but knowing how a southern white clown thinks
  The weird thing is a huge percentage of people living in Charlotte aren't even from the south. There are a lot of corporations headquartered in Charlotte, which has led to a huge influx of transplants over the last two decades. Hell, It's got a large enough Western NY population that there are Sabres/Bills bars and I could get regional products like white hots at the grocery store.
  Source: I was one of them until two months ago when I relocated again.
- oh, you don't need to be white to think this was a good idea.
  Not really wanting to weigh in myself if he's right or wrong.

If fried chicken and watermelon were the only things served, then there's a problem. Otherwise, no.
Unless the other things served were grape drink and Newports.
- According to my friend who works there, it was red drink.
  
  Eeesh, that's an edge case.
- Pshh, what is grape.
  
  Purple, it's like red drink but less punchy, more kicky

The topic is a mine field for a big company. I think lots of people do eat fried chicken on Juneteenth celebrations, and red foods in general are part of the theme, but the problem is that fried chicken and watermelon are among the stereotypes that have been applied to black folks for generations.
I'm an old white guy. If my boss gave me the responsibility of arranging food for a Juneteenth celebration, I would suggest that there's too many ways the company could end up looking poorly, and would probably suggest a company poll/survey (which of these main dishes, which of these sides, etc.) to let the people decide. Better, since my company has a black employees association, I'd suggest that we have that group lead it and give them a budget.
My point is that a company should have the sense to make sure they approach sensitive situations carefully.

My company did it the right way --- they gave us the day off.

I could see this as a generic summer theme, but I mean come on.

Isn't that considered the traditional meal that is served on Juneteenth? I'm not trying to be an asshole. I also think that you're supposed to serve a red drink too.
https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a36479941/juneteenth-food-traditions/
- I'm not seeing fried chicken on that article though, just barbecue (which could be chicken or not, but wouldn't be fried). Judging by the company response, someone over there is definitely being an asshole, even if there are elements that are traditional.
  
  Maybe you'll believe from a sistah
  https://heysistah.com/juneteenth-freedom-day/
  This is manufactured outrage.
- The issue is having just fried chicken and watermelon, which are tied to extremely racist stereotypes. If they'd been part of a meal then there would be no issue (fried chicken and watermelon are both extremely delecious...) but they weren't.
- Looks to me like BBQ chicken would have been more appropriate, but I'm a white guy, so I'm going to say that I have no place picking a corporate Juneteenth menu. I'm not even sure it's appropriate for a corp to have a Juneteenth celebration - give people the freedom to recognize it however they like, without the oversight of corporate bosses. It's like having a corporate seder for rosh hashanah or an eid al-Fitr: guaranteed to go badly.
  If the corp does insist on having a party, they need to have members of the relevant community as prominent organizers, not some dude named Pezzuto. A white guy planning Juneteenth is going to be either condescending or cultural appropriation.
  
  It's like having a corporate seder for rosh hashanah or an eid al-Fitr: guaranteed to go badly.
  Good point. Even if they stick within the "rules" the risk of it coming off poorly is too high, same as any cultural-specific holiday.
- Isn’t that considered the traditional meal that is served on Juneteenth?
  https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/a36479941/juneteenth-food-traditions/
  Nope, and you clearly did not read your own source.

Didn’t this happen last year, too? Feels like this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this headline.
- Back in the mid-2000’s the cafeteria at Capital One did this but it was for a day in February to honor Black History Month. I remember getting a good laugh out of it, mostly because it was clearly done on purpose, for what reason I can’t say.

Honestly fried chicken is some good shit maybe they—
Watermelon
Er
Well, yeah, that seems pretty sus—
“Although our intent was to celebrate this nationally recognized day”
Yeah they racist af
(I don’t even know what it is that connects the wording choices so clearly with the image of a slightly smirking man who’s secure in the knowledge that at the end of the day, what the fuck are you going to do about it, nothing that’s what, now get back to work watermelon man your day was yesterday)

The fact they even acknowledged it is ... Surprising? Most big US companies seem to be opting for that awkward in-between space where they feel obligated to recognize it but sure as hell don't want to give people the day off. The result is some execs admin assistant sends out a boilerplate email about how important the holiday is in our company culture, blah blah blah, also you don't get the day off, get back to work peons, etc.
- I know a few people who work for companies that acknowledge and give time off for Juneteenth. My company is not such a company, though.
  Spectrum, even, treats Juneteenth like any other federal holiday, like Christmas or Thanksgiving. It's basically a volunteer-first, lottery system for who gets time off and who has to work, but those that work get extra holiday pay and the call centers try and do something extra (like catering) for those that are working.
- I've seen a number of companies where I live give holiday pay for employees working on Juneteenth

Asking because I don't know, please don't read into it more than that...
What's the problem with chicken and watermelon? Other than not been a fancy food, it seems a step up from the pizza lunches we normally get
I understand there is a link (not a negative one, as far as I know) between African American folks and fried chicken... But as a Venezuelan native I would not be offended if my work served me Arepas as a celebration of anything related to me or my culture
- There is a long-standing history of using fried chicken and watermelon (among other foods) to negatively depict Black People in the United States. I agree that both foods are excellent (watermelon even being a popular summertime fruit that can feed a lot of people), but having them together on Juneteenth (a day of celebration for the freedom of Black People) is pretty on the nose.
  
  Thanks for the answer and the link. I was unaware the link between Black people and fried chicken was derogatory... I assumed it was more cultural like Polish people and Perogies or British people with fish and chips
- Charlotte, NC has a long history of racism and played a huge role in the civil rights movement, so the location plays a large part in why this is such a big deal.

Every summer cookout should have watermelon, but....
Also, that fried chicken looks terrible.
- North Carolina needs to stick to vinegar bbq, moonpies, and cherry flavored sodas. Let Georgia and South Carolina handle the chicken
  
  I beg to differ

Our office didn't even recognize it. IIRC we did the last 2 years, not this year. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯
- My company (quasi-government) changed Columbus Day being off to Juneteenth being off.

Reading the article, it seems like it may have been more of a case of poor judgement from management instead of intentional racism (maybe subconscious stereotyping, though). It's a really stupid mistake. For any holiday, all you have to do is ask the team for input BEFORE making decisions and you can avoid most of this nonsense.
- It was intentional, they served grape soda too.

North Carolina being North Carolina. I am sure it made perfect sense to them.

The day commemorates the liberation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas in 1865, following the Civil War and President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation two years prior.
I mean, technically correct, but it wasn't really about Galveston. It's about how that was when the last of people heard the news. It represents how long it takes for actual rights and freedoms to be even told to people. I think it represents all yhag is wrong with the struggles of obtaining AND ENJOYING rights and freedoms. I feel like their summary was a bit too brief and simplifying.

Feels racist but my work doesn't even celebrate...This is NC though. I'd expect those are staples.
- Racism or the food?
  
  I think both

Damn. Saw this bit today. Relevant.

Dude just get pizza like every other work function, jeez.

You're in the South and this was the closest thing to soul food you could find, huh?

Is it possible they ask the employees what food they wished to be served on that day? And the ones who are complaining were a minority who didn't want it?
It's equally possible that they didn't consult employees and just didn't something that they thought was appropriate.
It's not clear how it happened.

Look, I understand, but that's a damn good meal.
- Look, I understand, but that’s a damn good meal.
  Have you ever seen fried chicken before? Because this is shit:

We always get chicken at work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyHSjv9gxlE

Was it only fried chicken and watermelon?

Racism will continue to exist so long as people continue to get offended by friggin food of all things.
- Hey everyone! I don't understand racism in the slightest but I'm sure going to tell everyone my opinions on it!
  Fixed that for you.
- Racism has very little to do with being offended. It goes much deeper than that. If all racism entailed were a few people being offended then we wouldn't have a holiday based around the freeing of a enslaved people. If people continue to tell people to get over it, nothing will ever change because the healing can never begin.

76 comments