Inexplicable stuff out of Blacksburg, Va, where the Miami Hurricanes traveled this past weekend to play football against Virginia Tech. The Zaxby's across from the hotel where Canes QB Jacory Harris (above) and the rest of the Hurricanes was staying featured the sign pictured at right. WTF? It seems like maybe it's supposed to be a racist gibe, but VT also has a black QB. The association of black people and chicken, from what I have heard, comes from when dining cars were segregated, forcing black passengers to bring food with them, which was often fried chicken, which travels well, and can be eaten hot or cold. So, any association of black people and fried chicken is usually taboo, in that it makes lots of people uneasy. I am genuinely puzzled about the thinking behind this sign, and welcome explanation/hypotheses in the comments.
I read this MeFi thread last fall as it evolved in realtime from unremarkable ElectionFilter chat to "Where Did That Stereotype Come From?" and it was pretty beautiful. Relevant comments begin in earnest here:
http://www.metafilter.com/75675/Elections-are-fun#2301688
Posted by: Ann | Monday, 28 September 2009 at 04:15 PM
I'm guessing they were trying to get Jacory Harris to cross the street and buy some chicken.
Posted by: Jay | Monday, 28 September 2009 at 04:47 PM
I am bonified member of the Church of the Fried Chicken. Churches do it right when it comes to fried chicken.
Posted by: Marco | Monday, 28 September 2009 at 08:44 PM
The Zaxby's is in Roanoke, where the 'Canes stayed, not Blacksburg.
Posted by: Ladd Brown | Tuesday, 29 September 2009 at 11:31 AM
Isn't Zaxby's chiefly a Florida-based chain? Maybe that was part of it? Having lived in that chunk of VA, I'm trying to find a non-racist explanation, but kid of flailing.
Then again, sometimes racism comes wrapped in the best of intentions:
http://insidecharmcity.com/2008/01/28/naval-academy-meal-commemorating-mlk-criticized/
Posted by: Dr. Yinz | Tuesday, 29 September 2009 at 12:36 PM
With the prospect of a lockout-ending deal taking place next week, there's no better time for the Raptors to prepare their annual roster makeover.While the Raptors were actually rather quiet last season, I'm willing to bet that won't be the case again this year. Toronto's got a lot of talented pieces but still has a ways to go before it fills the holes on the roster.
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