# Share Me A Clue: Cotton Is Racist??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 19, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697 "2017-09-19T06:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/101 "2017-09-20T20:23:52Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > So then…since most Latinos don’t come from the US… :dubious: You can do better. Is this Poe’s Law too? Just in case: Most Latinos were born and raised in the US. And even among the minority who were not, most of them have been in the country for over 20 years. The idea that you would consider what cuisine to serve Latino college students in the same way you might consider what to serve foreign visiting students is very odd. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/102 "2017-09-20T20:32:17Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I didn’t make any claim before I looked it up. I strongly suspected that your claim was BS, but I wasn’t going to make a claim about it (and I didn’t – asking you for a cite isn’t making a claim) until I actually looked it up and had a cite. Then you learned something (or had a better foundation for said belief) then right? And other readers here. And maybe you realized that maybe what you think you know might not be right right? ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/103 "2017-09-20T20:43:23Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Then you learned something (or had a better foundation for said belief) then right? And other readers here. > > And maybe you realized that maybe what you think you know might not be right right? So you deliberately made a false claim and doubled down on it… to teach other posters a lesson? Uh huh. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/104 "2017-09-20T20:48:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If that was the only instance, then it could be nothing. But if there are multiple instances of serving stereotypical food to different groups, along with decor that can be quite reasonably seen (whatever the intent) to reference slavery, then criticism seems appropriate. > > This isn’t such a huge deal. Criticism isn’t such a huge deal. It’s okay to talk about these things, and it’s okay to criticize someone if you think they’re being insensitive. Serving stereotypical food to folks can be seen as condescending, since they might interpret it as implying they don’t eat other foods. When you add the slavery decor, even if it wasn’t meant to symbolize slavery, the tone-deafness (at best) is even more clear. If someone is that tone-deaf (or worse), criticizing them is helping to give them the tools to avoid such appearance of condescension and feeding into stereotypes in the future. If the nation were composed of iiandyiiiis you’d be correct. But the audience and the nation are not as reasonable and thoughtful as you. Therefore, the signal of contrition expressed dutifully to faux outrage enables more and more ludicrous behavior. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/105 "2017-09-20T20:55:08Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > If the nation were composed of iiandyiiiis you’d be correct. But the audience and the nation are not as reasonable and thoughtful as you. Therefore, the signal of contrition expressed dutifully to faux outrage enables more and more ludicrous behavior. But how do you know it was faux? Some of this stuff is real feelings. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/106 "2017-09-21T04:14:17Z")
“…sure **some** unhappy slaves picked…” Er, um…what were the happy slaves picking, one has to wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/107 "2017-09-21T09:00:14Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > No, of course not. I never said or implied any such thing. In fact, only a very small percentage of Southerners owned a significant number of slaves. IIRC, it’s like less than 1% of whites owned more than 30. However, even those cotton-growers too poor to buy slaves often “rented” them from their owners. Something like 50% of households in slave states owned or rented at least one slave (obviously not all for cottonpicking duties). > [@elbows](#): > > “…sure **some** unhappy slaves picked…” > > Er, um…what were the happy slaves picking, one has to wonder? Daisies, to make daisychains to give to small white children while singing “Zippedy-doo-dah”. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahsparkles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@Sarahsparkles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahsparkles)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/108 "2017-09-21T10:31:52Z")
Honestly these people are coming out and vandalizinvandalizing monuments from times of slavery and saying it hurts their feelings. But those monuments are probably the only things that are preventing slavery. ``` And first of all they came over to America and sold their people. We Americans didn't come over and say,"oh well your different so you're going to be slaves."to the African Americans. ``` So there.😋😋😋 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/109 "2017-09-21T10:43:26Z")
I think I speak for many members of this messageboard when I say: what the what now? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/110 "2017-09-21T17:20:43Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > Don’t get me wrong; I’m not angry, upset, outraged, etc… > Mostly…I’m just _tired of it all_. Emotionally and spiritually weary of being on pins-and-needles that some innocent, innocuous something is going to offend someone, somewhere, somehow. No you’re not. You’re happy as a pig in slop, because now you get to play the victim card. I thought you conservatives were tougher than that? Except as we can see about all the howling and crying and whining and bitching and pissing and moaning and come and see the violence inherent in the system every time some freshman college student says something silly, you all ain’t so tough. I mean, one silly college student, and you’re ready to head for Galt’s Gulch and declare that America is finished. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/111 "2017-09-21T23:07:11Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > No you’re not. You’re happy as a pig in slop, because now you get to play the victim card. I thought you conservatives were tougher than that? Except as we can see about all the howling and crying and whining and bitching and pissing and moaning and come and see the violence inherent in the system every time some freshman college student says something silly, you all ain’t so tough. I mean, one silly college student, and you’re ready to head for Galt’s Gulch and declare that America is finished. Well. That seemed rather combative. So in essence, you’re just calling me an out-and-out liar, but in the SDMB-approved way. Because you obviously know me so very well… ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/112 "2017-09-22T00:30:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This isn’t such a huge deal. Criticism isn’t such a huge deal. It’s okay to talk about these things, and it’s okay to criticize someone if you think they’re being insensitive. Serving stereotypical food to folks can be seen as condescending, since they might interpret it as implying they don’t eat other foods. When you add the slavery decor, even if it wasn’t meant to symbolize slavery, the tone-deafness (at best) is even more clear. If someone is that tone-deaf (or worse), criticizing them is helping to give them the tools to avoid such appearance of condescension and feeding into stereotypes in the future. I’m really trying to understand this. Suppose a British group came to the house and I made Yorkshire puddings. I’m sure that the members of the group would be appreciative that I made an effort to make something that I thought they like, even if my Yorkshire pudding sucked and even if several members of the group didn’t like Yorkshire pudding at all. Even if the effort was an abysmal failure, the thought would be appreciated. Nobody would believe that I thought that Brits couldn’t have a meal without Yorkshire pudding. Why does the entire attitude go from appreciation to hostility when the same effort, even if the effort is a bit silly, is made for disadvantaged minority groups? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/113 "2017-09-22T01:25:02Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I’m really trying to understand this. Suppose a British group came to the house and I made Yorkshire puddings. I’m sure that the members of the group would be appreciative that I made an effort to make something that I thought they like, even if my Yorkshire pudding sucked and even if several members of the group didn’t like Yorkshire pudding at all. Even if the effort was an abysmal failure, the thought would be appreciated. Nobody would believe that I thought that Brits couldn’t have a meal without Yorkshire pudding. > > Why does the entire attitude go from appreciation to hostility when the same effort, even if the effort is a bit silly, is made for disadvantaged minority groups? Different history. Stereotypical “black” foods and imagery related to slavery have been used as symbols of derision and even dehumanization for a long time in the US. Not to the level of the KKK hood, nooses, and burning crosses, but they’ve still been used in such ways. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/114 "2017-09-22T23:25:11Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > It isn’t only associated with Latinos. Would you have a second thought about serving Chateaubriand to a French? Jerk chicken to a Jamaican? Sushi to a Japanese? Unless we know that they 1)Don’t like the dish or 2)Know that they have an adventurous palate. Many are finicky eaters and it is polite to try to serve food your guests will be comfortable with. I would certainly hope such second thoughts would occur. My relatives from Japan have noted that, when they come to me in California, the last thing they want is to go out to a Japanese restaurant – if they wanted that they would have stayed at home and cooked for themselves! When the Jamaican, Nihonjin, or Frank visit me in California, we’ll take them out for Barbecue and/or Tri-Tip because that’s the local specialty. Even as a Californian visiting New Orleans, I’d hope to be treated to creole or cajun or at least French cuisine because that’s the regional cuisine and part of what I’m hoping to sample while visiting. As far as the university official’s mistake, perhaps he should have served enchiladas to the African-American group and Lasagna to the Latino-Americans. That would have avoided any implication of an assumed stereotype and associated emotion – ‘Here ya go! It’s food – not from my culture or yours, but just food we can all share.’ > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > So the whipping post in my parterre has to come down, I guess? Pity. _sigh_ Yeah, and the one in my budoir, as well. I bet that’s gonna make my sub cry – and not in a good way!:dubious: –G! ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697/115 "2017-09-23T04:15:15Z")
Just a somewhat irrelevant side note: A few years ago **Zyada** and I were at a flea market, and ran across some Brazil nuts painted to look like slices of watermelon. :dubious: What seemed most [in]appropriate about the “artwork” was that an old slang term for Brazil nuts was N\*\*\*\*\*-toes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-me-a-clue-cotton-is-racist/796697.md?page=5)