Condoleezza 'Watermelon' Test Question Raises Ire

[KingFlorez]

LOL

http://www.theksbwchannel.com/education/8666560/detail.html

Condoleezza 'Watermelon' Test Question Raises Ire

POSTED: 7:14 am PDT April 13, 2006

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- A controversial question given to students during a practice test for a math final at Bellevue Community College has students -- and others -- shaking their heads because of its lack of racial sensitivity.

A civil rights activist said it refers to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice although it doesn't mention her by name.

The question read: "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second."

The Condoleezza question went on to ask when the watermelon will hit the ground, based on a formula provided.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Why the hell not?

Shit, if the PC police are gonna waste time with some dinky question from some unknown test in an obscure community college, we might just as well let the Fuckface Squatter In The Oval Office go ahead and nuke us all, because we've demonstrably thrown away our respect for free speech, our collective sense of humor, and are clearly stuck with far too much fucking time on our hands, which we use to take offense where there is none.

Good for whomever wrote this question. Take it to the fucking limit, that's what I say.

[Cronus Protagonist]

41. I like watermelon... and chicken too!

I'm not black. In fact, I bet millions of people of all races like watermelon and/or chicken. How is liking watermelon racist? I like grapes too. Is that racist?

[TomInTib]

2. At least it wasn't True/False

would she or wouldn't she?

I know I am going to hell for that - I just couldn't resist.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. They should have inserted Dan Burton's name instead.

[rinsd]

15. Now that's funny....(nt)

[CatWoman]

4. well

it's not as if she were tap dancing, and eating the watermelon the whole time!!

[slackmaster]

6. You forgot the fired chicken

:eyes:

[CatWoman]

8. damn

how could I have forgotten the chicken???? :shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

19. who fired what chicken...?

you know the economy is bad when even the poultry is being laid off...

[slackmaster]

51. All right, that does it

You're FRIED!

:dunce:

[Renew Deal]

5. That's racist.

Condoleeza is a made up name. There is only one known Condoleeza above the age of 10. Also, why a federal building? Right

[aikoaiko]

7. yawn -- time to reset the pc sensitvity meters again.

[linazelle]

45. I'm with you. Who keerz?

:shrug:

[frylock]

9. nobody could have ever imagined that someone would take a watermelon..

and toss it off the roof of a building.

[gatorboy]

16. Does that mean we owe David Lettermen an apology

I can't imagine how many of those he's dropped off buidlings (Does he still do that skit?)

[Kailassa]

10. Even if it does refer to That Condaleeza ...

how would that make it racist?

It's not as though they said she was throwing Oreos up.

If I'd written it though, I'd have tried to make it more appropriate, and had her throwing bunker-busters down at the subway.

[cali]

11. Why be offended?

Because it's an ugly racial stereotype being applied to a black woman, that's why. I couldn't disagree more about it being overly PC to find this repugnant. Let's replace the name with Cynthia McKinney and watch DUers start to howl- and they would be right.

Here's a link to another thread on this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=921636&mesg_id=921808

[Fleshdancer]

14. I was just about to post the same thing

Insert the name Cynthia McKinney and the responses on this thread would be ENTIRELY different.

Politics aside, racism sucks. This test question sucks.

[Kailassa]

17. They could replace it with my name and I'd see no problem.

What is it that makes the question offensive or gives it a racial angle?

Is there some connection between Blacks and watermelons that I don't know of?

Is it something to do with good basketballers often being Black, that Condaleeza with her watermelon is yet another Black scoring a goal? That would be stereotyping, yes, as there is no reason to believe Condi could play well, but Ugly?

Would it still be "racist" if it was a White person throwing the watermelon?


I really don't see it at all.

[cali]

18. There certainly is something

about black and watermelons that you don't know. It's an old racial stereotype having to do with blacks being lazy and stupid and wanting nothing more than to sit around all day and eat watermelon. It's widely known.

[Kailassa]

21. Oh, thanks for explaining.

Being australian I had never heard that idea.

Australians mostly believe our aboriginals are lazy too, but the lack of affordable fresh food for aboriginals in outback Australia means that we'd never connect blacks with fruit of any kind.

To be more accurate, there is difficulty for anyone getting enough fresh fruit in the outback, but aboriginals have been made to live in certain areas where there are no jobs, so that reliance on social security, and lack of decent food leaves them trapped in a lifestyle that others can then use to ridicule them.

[NYCGirl]

20. Sure is a problem with watermelon — it's a long-held stereotype:

http://www.blackculturalstudies.org/m_diawara/blackface.html

THE STEREOTYPE AND THE CONTENT OF HISTORY

I was looking at more than 150 prints of Levinthal's in my living room one day when my 13-year-old son came along and asked what I was doing. I showed him the pictures and explained that white people used to make these images to show that black people were inferior to them and to justify racism and segregation. I introduced him to Aunt Jemima and said that white racists wanted people to believe that all black women were fat and dressed in a white apron and a kerchief as a permanent fixture of white peoples kitchens. Black people were also represented as porters and shoeshine boys at train stations. Those who rebelled against these portrayals of themselves and their race were depicted as Rastus, uppity niggers and called "Zip Coons." When we got to the image that associated black people with watermelons, he asked, "Oh yeah, why are they always smiling like that, with those big red lips?" I told him that whites used to malign black people as watermelon and chicken thieves. They would say that during the night, when it was pitch dark, black people would go to the masters field to steal watermelons, or, like foxes, to the chicken coop to steal chickens. But supposedly, these black people were always betrayed by their white teeth and white eyes which shone in the dark like lightning. So they could not hide, even in the darkest of nights, even though they were so black. That was why their smiles were cut like slices of watermelon and they were considered, like chickens, to be cowards. My son laughed and remained pensive for a moment before resuming his mundane activities.

[cali]

22. Thanks for posting that.

It certainly further informed me about why that connection is offensive.

[Kailassa]

26. I see. And by controlling the "role models" shown,

tthe ruling class add to the conceit of their own kind, and makes it harder for Blacks to hold their heads up and feel self respect, and act in a way that challenges those stereotypes.

[rinsd]

23. And yet you feel comfortable throwing around terms like oreo

...the mind boggles.

[Kailassa]

28. Loyalty is a very important issue to me.

I dislike gay politicians who will further their own careers by doing things that are against the interests of gays.

I dislike female politicians who work at diminishing the rights of women.

I would dislike a blind politician who wanted to trample other blind people and leave them in the gutter.

Anyone representing people in government should try to look after everyone's rights, but when the person not looking a minority group's interests is actually a member of that group, they are a traitor who should be ashamed of themselves.

It was in this context that I used the word oreo about a politician, and I would use it about Condaleeza as well, for finding a shopping trip to buy shoes more important than doing something about the Blacks dying in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.

[rinsd]

29. You are clueless....

...do know who else uses the term race traitor? Skinheads, neonazi and most white supremicists.

"Anyone representing people in government should try to look after everyone's rights, but when the person not looking a minority group's interests is actually a member of that group, they are a traitor who should be ashamed of themselves."

There's shame alright and its in your profound ignorance which is either honest or willfull. Its ascribes a mindset one should have based on one's skin color and its a bunch of divisive bullshit.

"It was in this context that I used the word oreo about a politician, and I would use it about Condaleeza as well, for finding a shopping trip to buy shoes more important than doing something about the Blacks dying in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina."

Are you white? Do you have any idea of the impact of white person calling a black person an oreo or some other less innoucous seeming race traitor terms?

You used that term to describe Denise Majette who had a pretty good liberal voting record and who's biggest crime is that she took on Cynthia McKinney.

On Eddit: I wanted to add, what is the problem with simply calling the person a sellout if you feel that person has betrayed their core values? Why the need to use racially charged terms? Is it really just ignorance or do you feel justified doing so?

[cali]

30. Profoundly

sad, isn't it? I vote for ignorance, but either way, it's a shame.

[Kailassa]

33. Dogs run in packs, democrats don't.

[rinsd]

35. Actually Democrats do run in packs.

They don't run in herds.

[cali]

36. Look, this isn't about running in packs

and for me it's certainly not about insulting you. It appears that you just don't grasp why some of the things you've stated are offensive and racially insensitive. I don't believe your intent is ill, and I understand if you feel ganged up on, that's not what this is about..

[mondo joe]

50. What a joke. Dogs are all about loyalty, which seems to be your

premium value.

[Kailassa]

32. You appear to be comfortable with any type of insult

provided it is leveled at someone who is supporting the democratic party.

I would never call you clueless, because you have made your agenda clear,
what you do is quite logical and predictable to anyone who understands you.

[rinsd]

34. I have an agenda alright

To eradicate the casual use of racial epithets just because we don't agree with the person.

I even have an organization called the Fraternal Union of Cranky Kossacks, Unlimited.

[Kailassa]

37. Why doesn't it surprise me you claim membership of "FUCK,U"?

Posted by rinsd

I have an agenda alright
To eradicate the casual use of racial epithets just because we don't agree with the person.
I even have an organization called the Fraternal Union of Cranky Kossacks, Unlimited.

If their was any honesty in your claim to merely be arguing because you want to eliminate the use of racial epithets, you would hardly be using the term "cranky cossacks" in your childish attempt to cover up swearing.

[rinsd]

38. This would be more fun if it weren't so sad....

Kossacks is a term used to self describe denizens who hang out at www.dailykos.com.

I suggest next time you're in the States, visit New York City and take a trip uptown. Use that handy urban dictionary of yours and yell "Oreo" at people you think fit the description. Or better yet to an interacial child. Maybe then you will get it.

[Kailassa]

39. I suggest you're more likely to do that than I am.

You are the one using gutter language here.

[rinsd]

42. "You are the one using gutter language here."

I dropped an f-bomb. You dropped a racial slur.

I'll take my chances with the language police.

[Kailassa]

43. Obviously you don't understand the concept of loyalty

[mondo joe]

49. Loyalty is a lesser value. That's why Republicans are so hot for it.

Loyalty is their g spot.

I'd say honesty, responsibility and a few other values far exceed "loyalty".

[blondeatlast]

31. I'm with you, Cali.

The question is appallingly blatant n its racism.

[bbernardini]

12. This thread is not complete without the "That's Racist" kid!

Hopefully this works.

<>

[linazelle]

46. LOL

:rofl:

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

13. it hits the ground after the bunker busting nukes soften things up first

[Chomp]

24. I think the

melon is merely BushCo propaganda and never really existed. And any scientist will tell you that a melon cannot rise at, or even near, 20ft per second. And clearly the 300 foot building has explosive charges in the lift shafts.

Case solved.

[SmokingJacket]

25. What's wrong with people?

If you're going to put Condi in a test question, better to make it a bomb or something.

A watermelon is a stupid old stereotype, which when used with the black secretary of state, is race-baiting.

[ieoeja]

27. It's a South thing!

Given that my bride's family was scattered across the country while my family mostly lived in the same small town, and that none of my elder siblings got married in the family church, she and I decided to get married down home. We did it over a three day weekend so people would have time to relax a little instead of spending the whole time driving. And so we made the wedding a two-day affair with the wedding/reception on Saturday and a hog roast on the farm that Sunday.

It may have not been elegant, but in my opinion THIS is how you throw a wedding!

Anyway, my dad cancelled the hog for some idiotic reason, so my mom whipped up the usual Labor Day weekend fare for that Sunday. It wasn't until well into the party that one of my relatives slipped up to her and whispered, "your son just married a Black woman, and you're serving her family fried chicken and watermelon?"

She was horrified at that point. But, like most Black Americans, my (now ex-)wife's family knew perfectly well that this is just one of the many "black" stereotypes that apply just as easily to "hillbilly". So they realized this was just as typical for my white, hillbilly family as it would be for them.

Besides, I didn't notice anyone refusing the meal.


Anecdote aside, I am surprised by the number of people here who don't see the obvious racial overtones to this math question. I have never been accused of being overly sensitive, but my first reaction on reading the test question was negative.

[LSK]

40. i did not know watermelons was a racist thing until a year ago

From a post on DU. Maybe its common in the South but in the North and the Northwest (Washington) maybe its not as widely known.

[jmowreader]

44. That is racist...and it's also unbelievable

As in, Condoleezza would never, ever stoop to standing on the edge of the Federal Building with a watermelon in her hands.

Besides, I've seen Condi Rice. There's no way in the world she could accelerate a watermelon to 13 miles per hour with those arms.

Let's rewrite this question so it better reflects reality:

Condoleezza's husband George laid the Constitution on the ground in front of the 300-foot Federal Building. He then went up on the building's roof, whipped it out and took a long, satisfying piss on the bedrock of our democracy. Assume that Bush's urine leaves the tip of his penis at a velocity of 0.5 meters per second. Further assume that Bush pees for 90 seconds at a time, that there is no wind, that all the piss travels in an exactly straight line and lands on the Constitution, and that the first drop of his urine left his body at exactly 12 noon. Calculate, to the nearest tenth of a second, the exact moment when the last drop of his urine will land.

[linazelle]

47. Damn. They should've hired you to write that test question. n/t

[jmowreader]

48. Especially since the original question wasn't much of a question

First they come up with this completely UNBELIEVABLE scenario about the Secretary of State being able to accelerate a watermelon to 20 fps...and then they GIVE you the formula for gravity-induced acceleration? Doesn't that reduce this whole exercise to simple arithmetic?

My question is far better...we already know Bush is pissing on the Constitution, although he normally puts it in one of the White House urinals first. And most important, it requires that the examinee know how to calculate gravity-induced acceleration.