NBC Cook Speaks!
After Questlove, drummer for The Roots, Tweeted about the questionable menu featured at NBC yesterday in honor of Black History Month, NBC's cook Leslie Calhoun doesn't seem to understand what all the fuss is about!
She says:
"All I wanted to do was make a meal that everyone would enjoy — and that I eat myself. Questlove, who I serve every day and who enjoys my food, requested the neck bone [cooked in] the black-eyed peas and fried chicken, then got off the line, saying, 'This is racist.'
"The next thing you know, people were taking pictures of the sign and asking all the other black people in the cafeteria if this was racist. They said that it wasn't."
NBC did end up removing the sign and apologized for anyone who was offended by it.
Watch above to see Leslie discuss the incident.
Thoughts??
Leann, Be Grateful You Have A Fan!
get a life. Are slatines racist? Geesh, always crying and blaming others
Glad Im not American, you ppl are crazy!… and yea I said "you ppl" … Im guessing every ethnic group is now offended..Knock yourselfs out..
This is yet another example of the double standards of black people using race cards and other ludicrous behaviour to justify their own. This wasn't racism. It's amazing that the MOST PREJUDICIAL community is still so sensitive about something like a food menu. Why not just vote for Prop 8 again and continue your own prejudice? I think you're getting distracted by this menu from the hate and ignorance that you yourselves are spewing.
is it racist when we serve corned beed and cabbage on st. patrick's day??? people need to stop taking everything so seriously!
This has been the menu for black history month every place I've worked. It's the same thing for Hispanic Heritage month, etc. In this case, it's good ol Southern food. The menu might be the same if we celebrated "Southern History Day" but we don't. What would you suggest instead?
Some black people (this isn't racist, I didn't say "ALL") love to make a mountain out of a mo-hill about anything that could be taken as "racism". It's just food! Many white people down south (like myself) grew up on collard greens and fried chicken too, and I wasn't raised in the black community. So what's the deal?
I don't understand why it was so offensive, its soul food!
This is so not racist … I like fried chicken from time to time and if I was black I'd probably like it just as much as I do now … so, what the fuck is the problem.
Should non-black people get offended if they see black people eating at KFC? You really think a bunch of non-black people are going to protest blacks eating at KFC??
Fried chicken fucking tastes good … as this chef said …
????????????????????????????? WHO CARES.
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soul food people…get a fucking grip
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I'm from the South. The menu is southern, not racist at all. This shiz is so silly. If you are offended by a menu, get a life!
They served the same stuff at my college for Soul Food night or Black History Night or whatever… it's not racist, it's delicious. People need to get over themselves.
This is insane. Why would the serving of dishes which have been called "Soul Food" for YEARS suddenly be called racist? Would serving tacos, etc. on a designated Mexican festival day be racist?
Every strong culture has a cuisine, African-American no exception. This is good food! enjoy it and stop causing trouble!
Making a lot out of nothing. Why is it suddenly racist? We serve corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's Day, Italian on Columbus…etc. People need to get over it and move forward instead of perpetuating.
I’m African-American and this menu does not offend me. The dishes on that menu are considered “soul food.” It’s Black Southern traditional cuisine, passed down from slavery and it’s a part of black culture and nothing at all to be ashamed of or offended by. There is nothing “racially insensitive” about this and it is high time we Blacks stop being hypersensitive about every little thing. We eat Japanese food don’t we? We eat Italian food and we eat Soul Food. What is the big deal?
so is it racist to serve lasagna on Italian Day or sushi on Asian Day or sauerkraut on German Day? What is wrong with a group of people having food items that relate to their heritage? I don't really see what is racist about that, instead, it should be something to celebrate and be proud of. anyone who thinks it is racist is just ignorant.
Are you telling me that black people like fried chicken?
I love soul food. I'm sure the people who came up with this being racist are paranoid white folks who have never eaten these delights…
I don't understand how it could be racist to serve dishes that were traditionally prepared in Southern African-American communities in celebration of Black History Month. Before people react with anger, they should think about the intent behind what they're angry about. I'm sure it was actually meant to be a form of respect to a community of people our country is honoring. Italians actually eat a LOT of pasta, Scots eat Haggus, Brits eat a ton of fish and chips. Communities of people have traditional dishes - what's the big deal?
The reason some black people get so sensetive about things like this is because in the past, and sometimes even now, they have been severely mocked in a negative and cartoonist way regarding their cusine. However, before screaming racism, they should have obviously investigated the intent of the people who approved the menu. Black people need to own it and be proud of their traditional meals instead of assuming people are always trying to maliciously make fun evertyime fried chicken or watermelon is even remotely mentioned in connection with them.
She seems like a genuinely nice human being and it's a shame this got all over blown. I suspect Quest was just joking around with his tweet and all the apologists and guilty WASPs blew it out of proportion. That aside, the word is ASKING, not AKSING. Geezus I hate that. It's not a difficult word to pronounce and you sound like an illiterate idiot when you pronounce the word that way.
I can see it both ways. I wouldn't necessarily call it racist. There was no ill intention and it was meant as a positive celebration of culture. But at the same time it does reinforce stereotypes. Not all black people eat that stuff, I'm sure. I mean, if it was Asian American history month and they served chow mein or sushi, I would be offended. Asians make up a relatively diverse group and it's wrong to just lump everyone together using stereotypical representations.
Quest Love is a douche. From what I have seen Black people aren't offended.
Moutain out of a mole hill; taking political correctness to the extreme. Get over it.
what no grape Kool aid or orange Nehi? In all seriousness, perhaps the menu should have said "In honor of Balck History Month we are serving traditional soul food" and that would have made the point clear so no way oversensitive types could confuse it for a bad "chicken and watermelon" joke. I'm not offended by it I think the intent was clear and these are foods that I grew up eating as well as the awesome italian and mexican foods my mother made. I dont think she was saying "this is all black people eat" I think it was an ode to tradition
I would have my sat my little white ass down and enjoyed every single morsel of that food just like I'd love spaghetti, tacos, corned beef and cabbage, pierogis, pigs in a blanket, and any other ethnic food out there. Ethnic food is the offering of a culture, a celebration to share with others. I can't believe anyone thought the offerings of a culture were racist. Had to be a bunch of uptight white folk. Even Sharpton wouldn't stoop that low.
Yep, sounds as if that idiot drummer was trying to make a big something out of nothing. He requests the food, eats it THEN wants to bitch? BS! There is nothing wrong with the food at all and for them to cowtow to the irrational is ridiculous because now they more than likely won't support Black History Month. This is a menu for 1 day people! Give it a rest! Bravo to the cook for speaking up too!
I feel bad for the chef. She was just trying to make a good meal for everyone, maybe open some people up to new ( and DELICIOUS I might add) foods. I bet this reaction upset her more than anyone. Now this crap has all been blown out of per portion and now this one chef is getting all the blame. I'll eat your dinner lady it sounds so good!
Re: lacey1 – Here here! Food is a part of cultural heritage, and SHOULD be celebrated. I don't understand why anyone is up in arms about it.
the roots make good music, but they have mental issues.
Minka, thats just spreading the hate, why is it "paranoid white people" who came up with this being racist? If you actually read the article it a drummer from the roots (a black band) who is the one calling it racist. Get your facts straight before you start spreading the hate.
oh…my…fucking god! let the witch hunt begin huh! worse case scenario i'm predicting the cook will probably get fired due to all the attention this is getting and NBC needs someone to blame. Usually i laugh at the stupid shit on the site, but this story really just bothers me! there was nothing wrong with what the cook made. get over it!!!
That lady said they were making requests to get soul food on the menu like there was somthing wrong with it. Even if she did say the axed and axed and axed like they cut something down I knew she meant they asked a lot of times. Does anybody have a problem when they have pizza or spaghetti? I don't get it.
Next thing they'll say is that lasagna, tacos and falafel with tahine are racist.
Re: minka – It's not paranoid white folks. It's one of the black members of an NBC band. It's reverse racism. Plain and simple.
LOL @ nigs
People worry way too much and make big deal for nothing, its just a damn menu, and yes it does suggest a black thing, so what? I attended several important events during Hispanic History month and on the menus, there was food from different hispanic countries each time, and that's exactly what i would have expected. I would be more offended as a matter of fact if they claimed they did not want Soul food on the menu. When indian dignitaries where at the White House, the menu included a curry recipe, it was not racist, it was part of their culture. So people please stop crying racism where it doesnt happen. Besides the racists are not at NBC they're at Faux News, so there!!!!
I recently saw something online about a predominantly black public school that serves these foods for lunch during black history month ever year. so how is this racist?
NBC shouldn't have apologized to anyone, that just makes them think they were right to be offended.
how the hell is having collard greens and black eyed peas for black history month racist?? hello thats what they fucking ate in the south its part of their culture.. is eating chinese food for chinese new year racist? NO! get the fuck over it!!!
Re: zach swan –
I'm pretty offended by your comment. The pronunciation of "ask" as "aks" is the standard in the African American dialect of American English, but its use in the English language dates back to Old English. Basically, you are belittling this woman for conforming to the linguistic standards of her dialect. Do you think people with southern accents sound stupid and ignorant too? Do people with New York or Bostonian accents sound like illiterate idiots?
Jebus, political correctness would have us all eating dried out burgers instead of a nice southern chicken dinner put on with love. People need to count to ten before accusing people of evil stuff. Sometimes a duck is just a duck and not a zebra. The road to hell is paved with good intentions for this nice lady.
Same as celebrating Cinco De Mayo… we eat Mexican Food right???… I could go on & on… people always need to make something out of NOTHING!!
How in the world was her posting the menu racist or as lennox mentioned, double standard?? Black folks eat black eyed peas, neck bones and collard greens. It is black history month and a black person wanted to cook something black people eat. This is fucking ridiculous.. I think everyone else is overly sensitive. Had it been a white person cooking the food and putting out the menu, yes, I could see some grumbling, but again, how is it racist? If it were cinco de mayo, and the company catered in mexican food, would it be racist?? Overl fucking sensitive..
It's freakin' food…if we all investigated the foods of all the nationalities of this nation we'd learn a lot about each other!
This is not racist! It's Black History month and the cultural food IS SOUL FOOD! If you were to go into a Soul Food restaurant, you would see those same things on the menu! Relax people!
It sounds like someone is trying to drum up publicity for the talk show they work for. I'm really tired of hearing about things that are "racist". If Questlove doesn't want people to consider fried chicken an "African-American food", then he and those who are offended should absolve to never eat it again. The same goes for ANY soul food like content in their diets. Maybe they should switch to Polish food… or is THAT offensive that I consider European countries to have their own culinary style?!?
I don't know about any of you, but this white chick is jonseing for some Roscoes after all this talk of fried chicken and collard greens!
Questlove should change his name to Uncle Tom.
So I'm forced to sit through the ads, but I can't view the actual video. Fuck you sell out!!
Is there a white history month?
Why serving fried chicken, peas and neck bone would be racist? Some people are just plain stupid. That's all. I thought that after Obama was voted a President, most blacks relaxed, but I see that some didn't. I have the right to say it, because I together with the whole group of Caucasian employees of U.S.C.I.S. (Immigration Office) were victims of Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination and Mental Abuse perpetrated by the African American man. At first nothing happened to him. He walked around the office in the summer singing Christmas carrolls (to give us the clue he knows nothing will ever happen to him). However KARMA works and the government decided after spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend him (using taxpayers' money) that he was too much of a burden and fired him. Allelujah. Yes, Mr. E.J., KARMA works.
Andre
I don't think it was racist at all, it was CELEBRATING Black History Month. Not only black people like fried chicken, everybody likes fried chicken! I agree that is it the same as drinking green beer on St. Patrick's Day and eating potato latkes on Chanukah. This poor chef was trying to get soul food on the menu for years and she had great intent. She looked like she was going to cry and I feel bad for her. I hope she gets to serve this menu next year.
Re: Cleo777 – when the letter "k" comes before the letter "s", then it will be okay to pronounce the word "aks". Until then, any person that pronounces the word that way is lazy, sloppy and sounds idiotic. If that offends you, it doesn't concern me in the least.
Re: zach swan – Hi, Zach. Almost always love your posts. For what it's worth, I was wondering about the use of the word, too, and found this on 'answerbag,' for what it's worth. - 'The word "ask" actually derives from the Old English verb "acsian," and in the 1700's when America was colonized, some of the new inhabitants brought that pronunciation with them. By 1953, "aks/ax" no longer existed north of the Mason-Dixon line and was (and still is) considered a characteristic of the Southern American dialect of English.' Reading this has me rethinking one of my pet peeves, too, thanks to Cleo777.
Re: @v@ – Thanks @v@ - glad some of my posts are appreciated! Also good that Cleo's post had an impact - always worthwhile to validate or challenge our beliefs from time to time. Thanks for the info. I looked into it too and understand the etymology of the aks vs. ask pronunciation. I just believe that in the 21st century, it is an improper pronunciation (I doubt there is a single school in North America that teaches "aks"). Maybe it's time that it's no longer used south of the Mason Dixon line too. Rightly or wrongly, I doubt I'm alone when I infer something about a person's intelligence when I hear them say the word that way.
And that was pretty heavy post for a gossip site. Sorry all.