 Editor's note: All summer long, the Southern Foodways Alliance - a member-supported organization of more than 800 chefs, academics, writers and eaters devoted to the documentation, study, and celebration the diverse food cultures of the changing American South - will be delving deep in the history, tradition, heroes and plain old deliciousness of barbecue across the United States. As a loud, proud SFA member, I'm pleased to say that Eatocracy will be partnering with them to share some of their stories. Dig in. - Kat Kinsman, Managing Editor Today's installment comes courtesy of Adrian Miller, a culinary historian, certified barbecue judge and author of an upcoming book about soul food. Follow him on Twitter at @soulfoodscholar. The coming and passing of National Barbecue Month (commonly called "May" by others) tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth. It's the month when a lot of media outlets (magazines, newspapers, and television) remind us that barbecue season has officially begun. They mark the occasion by profiling notable pitmasters, sharing recipes and tips, and, as a bonus, providing a roundup of the best barbecue joints in your area or in the entire country. What's regularly missing in these features are shout-outs to African Americans. Such omissions are troubling given the overwhelming contribution that African Americans have made, and continue to make, to the American barbecue tradition. Like good barbecue, my annoyance over this subject has been burning like a slow fire, and it hit a flashpoint last year. In contrast to mass media outlets like the Food Network, the SFA's oral history and documentary film initiatives have paid homage to many African-American pitmasters. Check out CUT/CHOP/COOK, a film by Joe York about Rodney Scott of Hemingway, South Carolina. And explore the oral history interviews on the Southern BBQ Trail. Many of them feature African American subjects, from Helen Turner of Tennessee to Gerri and Stephen Grady of North Carolina (and over a dozen more). Delve into more barbecue goodness from the Southern Foodways Alliance blog Previously - South Carolina hash and rice |
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BBQ is TEXAN and TEXAN only. If done by anyone else (regardless of ethic persuasion), it is just a bad imitation. Sorry folks, but that is just the way that it is.
For crying out loud, please stop trolling.
If you are all so against affirmative action, why arent you against the affirmative action that us whites are obviously benefitting from in the context of this barbeque issue? I suppose when white people get recognized, and treated with unfair preference its okay...but when black people do then its just a dirty form of sinful affirmative action. If you are going to be fair, you should note the multitudes of societal benefits us white people enjoy because of the built-in affirmative action we get on a day to day basis from the make up of our society.
Eminem is actually white. Sometimes ethnicity is not a factor
Using this "Logic"....there is a problem in the NBA. Basketball was invented by a white man, but now, the vast majority of the players are African-American. Living in KC and being on a BBQ Team, I understand the contributions African-Americans have made to BBQ. But this story....crazy talk.
Only a true Racist would think of writing and applying such nonsense to a barbecue. America is supposed to be freedom. Well the day I have to apply Affirmative Action OR The Equality act of 2010 to a barbecue guest list is the day I stop barbecuing. What a vicious idea to throw the race card at a party. Most outdoor parties I know of dont have a guest list they put up flyiers and all are welcome. Im willing to bet that if a black family showed up to anyone barbecue and asked to join they would be welcomed in with open arms and thanked for coming. Its this nonsense that ruins things and makes racist. The divides in races is because people like the one who wrote this keep throwing in everyones face these redundant figures that only a racist would come up with.
I do believe that many of "you" (commentators- no matter the race) are missing the point behind the story. As soon as any black/ethnic person acknowledges the overwhelming absence of African-American (or other races) inclusion into the majority of US proudly proclaimed traditions its as if everyone's ears shut off, their eye's roll, and the argument is immediately and adamantly discounted when the facts have not been considered! Say what you want but it is very concerning when the VAST majority of all media in the US, no matter the content, is attributed to, presented by, and marketed/catered for non-ethnic people (white). If the article is read in it's entirety and fully comprehended, the journalist is not demanding that ALL or even HALF of BBQ culinary praises be given to African Americans, but that they be INCLUDED in the celebration as contributors (rightfully/factually/historically so) in the creation of one of America's favorite past times which is currently not being done. What I can't ever seem to understand is how America/Americans, a nation and populace built solely from immigrants of numerous cultures and ethnicities, can be so un-inclusiveness towards people of color on many facets of our society!
Why would anyone find it necessary to throw a race card at something so loved and shared by all. I personally dont care how anyone cooks or celebrates. I plan my barbecues food,thats it who ever comes, comes. I have had people from all sorts of races, colors ,religions etc etc and not once did I ever feel the need to count guest and apply the Affirmative Action laws or the Equality Act of 2010, http://www1.aston.ac.uk/staff/equalops/equality-act-2010/ . It is people like you that ruin all thing fun ,good, and healthy by forcing good people into having to analyze ridiculous simple minded things like this. Are you suggesting that a white person go to black neighbor hoods in search of residence willing to fill a quota for a Barbecue . Knock this incessant nonsense off
Sorry it took so long to respond, I rarely use wordpress anymore but you clearly missed everything I said during this post! First off I don't live in a "black neighborhood" as it seems you've assumed I do or should know where to locate one. And I highly doubt you know "people like me" because those people tend to be less ignorant and open minded. I'm very open to any race, in fact my husband is white, I have an Asian aunt, and Hispanic uncle and I agree that something sooo simple as BBQ shouldn't require race analyzing HOWEVER the point I made during about the cooking representation was that OFTEN times on television, in nearly every aspect there in under representation of minority involvement. Example: If you watching the cooking network, the majority of shows are hosted by Caucasians, HGTV has a majority of white host (when ATL for example has a HUGE community of African American interior designers or decorators), DIY network has majority white hosts, MTV, CMT, VH1, AMC, etc.....the list goes on and on! Happily I've noticed a change in television with shows like Scandal, Modern family, New Normal, etc that include a multi-racial cast which better represents America. Even television commericals like Cheerios (interracial parents), IKEA (interracial couple) , Kindle (male gay couple), and eHarmony (interracial couple) are becoming more inclusive which is good for ALL RACES in America and promotes tolerance and harmony. If you understood at all the point I was making about the BBQ story was that the majority of black people, or any minority race do not want to become dominant, we just hope to be included and the author of that story was highlighting an observation that the majority of the BBQ cookoff shows or shows highlighting BBQ and its history had not included other races besides white Americans. FYI, most of the times its the people that cry "false race card" that tends to have the most pent up racial issues. OPEN YOUR MIND before you make a comment please, and your the one bringing up Affirmative Action when that has NOTHING to do with what was being discussed.....ISSSSUESS!!!
Columnist Calvin Trillin (in a less politically correct time) once said, "In Kansas City, going to a white barbeque restaurant is like going to a Gentile internist, it might turn out okay, but why take the risk."
Perhaps, but Kansas City does not know anything about TRUE BBQ. You can't find TRUE BBQ outside of the Republic of Texas. BBQ is a religion here in Texas, complete with animal sacrifices, vestments, and the anointing of the participants with various libations.
Cmon! The selction process for best in smoke was done over months with many contestants. So because the best BBQ wasnt done by an african american, they are being racist... Hypersensitive is being modest in what they should call you.
Im a Latino, and can say I cook very delicious food. But if I go up against Bobby Flay (White), I lose.... Food Network is not about Race, its about good food cooked by Great Chefs.
You are so right, This is all about a dumb contest, Every time there is a competition in anything and a black dude doesnt win they throw in a BS racist nonsense comment. Man I have never even thought that it would go to this level. Thank your lucky stars I have to watch my language. African Americans have become the ultimate Racist in the US, They can never be held accountable for anything because they have convinced Liberal white America that they are so poorly done too. Its pathetic makes me sorry Im a white guy. How about you practice what you preach? You dont want the whole black race to be judged by their criminals, Well a hand full of white farmers used slaves and the majority of the country didnt believe in slavery and many died fighting to abolish it. So how about blacks stop judging all WHITES and condemning all whites as racist.
That's racist. Also, your grammar could use some work.
The writer makes a good point. However, the only way to get past racism is to stop thinking in terms of race. It is possible that the TV show went with finding "the best" and never took race into consideration at all.
When blacks use the term "white people", do they consider that some of us had ancestry that had nothing to do with slavery? My family came to America in 1902. They came from a region where no slave trade occurred. I can trace my family history back to 1743. I have black relatives sprinkled throughout that time.
My father was engaged to a black woman until her family objected. "You are not marrying a ^%$%*&%$ wop!" 10 years later he met my mother. Her family comes from Russia and were dirt poor farmers who fled after the revolution. None of them were slave traders/owners either.
I look very white and because of my family, race never really enters into anything I do yet I get called names and assumed to be "just a typical white guy who hates black people.
Racism occurs on both sides. Too often, blacks just label whites as slave owner KKK members. Too many people think that racism is literally a black and white issue.
There are also many shades of gray.
People have been cooking meat over fire for as long as there have been people, meat, and fire. People have been eating outdoors and socializing in groups for just as long. I'm sensitive to racial issues as a general rule, but this one seems like a bit of a stretch to me.
Yes, people have been cooking meat over a fire for tens of thousands of years, but that was more technically classified as "grilling", not "BBQing". It was perfected in Texas and called BBQing. If you do it outside of Texas, it's a poor imitation at best.
Was the competition one where people entered themselves?
Well you all may not like it, but the author is right. Blacks are an integral part of the hostory of BBQ, even though most of America would prefer not to talk about it. Don't be so offended and accept history for what it is.
sounds like something LZ Granderson would write.
It's not even called BBQ anymore. It's "grilling" now.
Not in eastern North Carolina. If you order "Bar B Que" it's pit cooked hog, possibly from a "pig pickin". If you order grilled BBQ, we'll know you ain't from around here!
I just won the Grant County Fair BBQ championship, and I'm Hispanic. The tied runners up where Asian and Caucasian. And this is in the Deep South. Blacks don't own the BBQ world.
congratulations. Where do I sign up for a chopped beef sandwich?
What a waste of time. CNN... seriously, I know it garners clicks, but this is pretty ridiculous. I can't enjoy bbq without considering the many storied and glorious contributions to society of African Americans? Seems a bit odd. I sure hope that every time a black family turns on the lights, they turn to each other to discuss the miracle of electricity (as well as those fantastic whities that invented it).Or perhaps each time they fly, they take note of those fantastic crackers Orville and Wilbur, without whom human flight would be impossible. I could go on, but quite honestly we'd run out of internets before all of the Caucasian contributions could be listed. Same could be said for each of the other races/ethnicities of the world... and yet, the only ones we're beat over the head with consistency are those of African Americans.
Seriously, for a supposedly progressive institution that should aim to be colorblind, CNN seems to do nothing so much as inject racial overtones wherever possible.
This is a sick approach. Suppose some idiot wrote "Don't Black Your Stove." Then suppose this white racist went on about the contributions of whites to the black culture. They would not get away with it for one minute. Stop this racist rubbish!
It grieves me to see painfully stupid stories and commentary like the one by CNN.
The guy or gal (archaeilogical evidence suggests southern and eastern europeans discovered fire. So these were the first barbecuers), whoever it was, just adapted to necessity.
African Americans, when kidnapped in Africa, didnt eat much meat. Their hunting was not so good and their weapons were crude and not the killing gadgets of europe.
It is likely the first and then spreading rite of BBqing began in Eastern Europe and in China.
In the Americas, the American indians - what we call Mexicans and Latin Americans before the Spaniards came - were first doing it.
Blacks, it seems were johnnys come lately not only to this but to technology in general.
Let us not deem ourselves advanced enough and elite enough to be willing to give out laurels like this, like a
"participant" ribbon in kids competitive events, to those we see as deserving of a hug or of some credentials or claim to fame no matter how dubious the effort or result.
All of us should be much better than that.
My ancestors cooked meat over fire, too. No one race or people 'owns' or 'pioneered' bbq'ing, grilling, smoking, etc. I believe people have been cooking meat over fire for quite some time, now.
If there's some information you feel the rest of us would benefit from, or enjoy hearing about, then share it with us. Otherwise, stop making a mountain out of that molehill, stop feeling slighted by FoodNetwork and go to them with your ideas for educating the rest of us on the 'origins' of cooking meat over fire.
What a boatload of whiny drivel.
You're wasting your time trying to speak logic to people who also feel they invented the stick! I do agree that it's odd for Food Network to omit black Americans in a piece on barbecue. Especially with all the pandering they have already done to blacks on that network. I have seen many Food Network "competitions" where blacks who can barely pronounce bechamel (or ask) correctly seem to win out over non-black contestants with plenty of real world experience. Instead the winner is someone with little or no formal training who learned it all from their grandmother. After all, why waste 8 years on schools to become a chef? When you can simply label yourself as one these days.
Grobbbbbbbbbbb
I get the point of the article, however, I am fine with Pride and Rucker on a Country Music special. What's the big deal? But good point, BBQ and my African American culinary experts should definitely be included!! Rock on BBQ-ers!
The premise of the article is stupid and misses the point. Instead of writing an article complaining about the lack of showcasing of amazing African American pitmasters, how about an article that showcases the amazing African American pitmasters? LOL
Seriously. You work for a media outlet and can do this, yet you don't do this, and instead complain about others not doing it.
Btw, if you think that would be needed in order for the 'white' public to know that African Americans have made serious contributions to this food genre, you must not be talking to many 'white bbq lovers'. Honey, I'm from the west coast and everyone in Oakland knew that if you want Q, you go to Flints. Yep, people of every race, color or creed, lining up in front of that beat up old business, ready to dig into to some foil wrapped goodness. And btw, if your potato salad isn't Creole-esque, you're missing the best stuff on the damn planet.
I'm blonde, blue eyed and love BBQ more than most anything, and I know this. So honey, start writing an article about AA bbq specialists, and if you include some recipes, I'll drop to my knees at your feet. Don't leave out addresses of businesses, I've been known to drive many miles for good food.
Btw, if anyone has any midwest recommendations, I'm all ears.
As lover of all things cooked on a grill or in a smoker, I never have forgotten my fathers advice: If you have a choice, always buy your bbq from a black cook.
From Pierces in Toano Va to Jazzy's in Tampa, it has been proven to be great advice.
Since his is a racist article, I wonder why all those blacks weren't cooking fried chicken like they usually do?
They must have ran out of cooking oil because they used the rest of it in their nappy hair.
Where K K K hood much. What a jack-a$$!
First we're being called crackers, which I don't care about, but calling us whitewash is offensive. How is this news anyhow? Or is it just another way to pit blacks against whites once again. Get a life and leave well enough alone.
Articles like this are just infuriating. People who make non-race issues all about race are the true racists. So just because a few BBQ shows didn't happen to have any black people, these shows are being "whitewashed"? Does that mean 99% of Tyler Perry's movies are being blackwashed by not having white people? Pathetic.
My barbecue grill is black. Is that good enough for CNN?
Only if you didn't pay for it.
Goes to show you can play the race card anywhere if you try hard enough.
Hey ya'll I spent some time in Kansas City and I truly think that K.C. is the city of BBQ. My favorite joint is "Gates" and that place is run by black folk, black folk have been a huge part of southern BBQ and continue to be. I think that this show and article only show one depiction of BBQ we all should not listen to the racist propaganda, BBQ is for all! regardless of race color or indifference.
Seriously? Even barbecue is now about race? You have got to be kidding.
It's no joke – you're labeled a racist if you don't agree with certain politically-correct (how it's deemed "correct" I have no idea) messages and are supposed to just be quiet and keep your thought to yourself, apparently. I'm willing to do this if Jesse Jackson doesn't show up and complain either. Then, we can all just get along.
By playing the "JJ" card, you dismiss yourself as a white racist.
Well played!
This article is about race, not BBQ
The writer is an IDIOT.
STUPID article. I find it hard to believe with all that is going on that this is what you would choose to write about. Please do us and your career a favor and find something news worthy to write about. Stop trying to stir the racial pot.
Do you think the Native Americans who taught us how to smoke meat should be mentioned as well, or have you forgotten about them?
Pesistent legend, but an incomplete truth. Truth is that nearly all peoples have smoked meat and fish for thousands of years (Native Americans, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Aussie abos). BBQ belongs to everyone, except perhaps up-tight Easterners who are too 'civilized' to enjoy eating with their fingers.
I GET A KICK OUT OF OBSERVING THE SO CALL GREAT PIT MASTERS WITH ALL THEIR VERY EXPENSIVE GRILLS. I SIGNED UP FOR A RIB COOK OFF WITH A MALL WEBER GRILL AND WON FIRST PLACE ..
MY POINT ? YOU DON'T NEED FANCY –EXPENSIVE GRILLS TO WIN A BABY-BACK COOK OFF.
I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE THE REAL BABY–BACK CHAMP OF AMERICA...I SEE THE SO CALL GRILL PIT MASTERS.. . THEIR RIBS PINK--HARD ON THE BONE, NOT GOOD...
MY RIBS FALL OFF THE BONE AND YOU WON'T SEE PINK... I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO START A PLACE OF MY OWN.
Semper Fi
I appreciate the obvious passion and knowledge you have for bbq, I'm sure your ribs are delicious. But hey can you do us all a favor and reach over and hit that Caps-Lock key til the little light on your keyboard goes out? Thanks. And Semper Fi.
Sorry to burst your bubble Joe. Ribs that are falling off the bone are over cooked. You would not even place in a sanctioned BBQ tournament with Ribs like that. Anybody can cook ribs until they fall off the bone. Not much skill in that.
The real skill comes from cooking them just right, tender but not falling off the bone.
I would not be so quick to criticize tournament pit masters that compete in sanctioned BBQ competitions, just because you won some local unsanctioned BBQ cook-off. It takes a lot of skill and experience to compete on a sanctioned BBQ circuit.
How embarrassing this "article" is. BBQ is a true American tradition and has so many styles and forms across our great land. Why in the world would you bring race into the equation? Great food like BBQ has no racial barriers and I think real people don't give a hoot about what color the person's skin is if they enjoy the food. So shame on you, and I agree with nearly all of the other comments posted here. My wife is Mexican and an outstanding cook.....people rave over our parties and we don't bring the topics of immigration or the narco-war when we sit down to enjoy mole, tamales or whatever. You should be focusing your anger and bias towards getting more blacks recognized and represented in these types of shows – not creating moronic pieces like this. Life is way too short to waste time on this sort of crybaby attitude. Suck it up!
Well said! Where is that "Like" button?
Unfortunately, the "crybaby" mentality is what those in the Black community want – they've made everything about race. Have a different opinion and they don't like it? Well, your labeled a racist, then. I cannot understand how they think that the Civil Rights movement achieved anything if they now expect to still be given special treatment when they throw a temper tantrum over the most nonsensical things. I just don't get their screaming and ranting. I'm tired of paying for welfare checks to those who feel "entitled."
South Carolina has the best variety of BBQ. We offer 3 varieties depending on which county you're in. We have vinegar based, tomato based, mustard based. For the best vinegar based go to Rodney Scott's in Hemingway. Similar restaurants within driving distance (although not as good) are Brown's in Kingstree and McCabe's in Manning. For more tomato based flavor try out School House BBQ in Scranton. And of course for the mustard based flavor, visit any of Maurice's joints located throughout the midlands around Columbia.
What makes Rodney's BBQ sought after is genuine pit cooked BBQ with hardwood coals. McCabes uses the same method. The other restaurants I mentioned use gas cooking chambers which they fire up at night and sauce in the morning. The meat doesnt have time to soak up and allow the sauce to cook into the meat. In fact, at Maurices, I've witnessed them carry a tray of gas cooked meat out to the buffet, squirt sauce on, and stir it up. True country or "Williamsburg County" style BBQ can only be found at Rodney's or McCabes. If you are gonna pay for BBQ (which is rather expensive) you may as well have it the best way both white and black folks have been cooking it for decades. The type of cooking that takes all day, requires a lot of patience and work, and allows folks to come over and drink a lot of beer and feast with a "Pig Pickin".
RIBS THAT HAVE PINK ON THE MEAT--MEAT IS HARD ON THE BONES ?? BAD RIBS..
RIBS SHOULD BE BROWN-TENDER WITH NO PINK. AND ALMOST FALLING OFF THE BONES. I CONSIDER MYSELF AMERICA # 1 BABY–BACK RIB CHAMP......I WILL PUT MY RIND AGAINST ANYONE.
RIBS, CORRECTION
Real BBQ does not need any sauce on it. It doesn't get any better than Central Texas BBQ, just good smoked meat served on butcher paper!
"Whitewash."
Supposed to be funny? Doubt it. Was intended to offend, and did. F-ck you.
Oh great. Now we will have to add Afirmative Action BBQ pitmasters who can't cut it.
We tried it with the Presidency, and look how bad that turned out.
True equality is colorblind. But understand that there is a chance that all races will not be represented porportionately to their numbers in every activity.
Blacks completely get this when we talk about their over representation in basketball or football. They get that one race may be better at a particular skill. The problem is they convienently forget that when they are under represented in some other area.
The US is about equal opportunity, not equal outcome. You can't artificially bring someone up without naturally bringing someone else down. I'm completely against racism, but for that very reason, I see articles like this one as part of the problem. They are dividing us by race, just like the KKK. The only difference is they can get their racist views on CNN, but the KKK cannot.
There were no blacks in my engineering classes. And less whites than their porportion population. But do we really want them to kick out some qualified Asian in order to put more whites or blacks in there? Is that fair to that Asian person who gets kicked out? Would we not be simply denying their opportunities because of their race? That is the discrimination of Affirmative Action.
VERY well put...
We tried racism, and it didn't cut. Morons like you lost the Civil War and continue losing every day. Your words are merely the dying scream of a dinosaur.
Well, the writer of the "article" clearly just stuck with one networks' take on BBQ and their exclusion of other races. They need to tip their hat to Spanish, Creole, Africans, English, Scotts, Irish, Indians (native, sub-continential and islands) and about how many other ethnicities. BBQ is a blending, a melting pot of food. Singling out one networks' "reality" cooking show on BBQ and calling it whitewash is a very narrow take on the situation and does border on percieved racism by the writer of the article. Belittling by name calling does not cure what is wrong with the issue and shows the small mindedness of the writer.
Woww....
So someone from the Counsel of CONservative Citizens saw this article and called all their klan to come and take potshots at the author for telling the truth? Step off, jackasses.
The author legitimately points out a glaring error in the show. Next thing, you'll claim an author is racist for pointing out a show on the best Chinese-food chefs with a completely 'good ol' boy' lineup. If you want to feature the best WHITE ONLY chefs, then say so. But p***sing on my Blahniks and telling me its shoe cleaner isn't going to work.
The top athletes are NOT all white. The top couture designers are NOT all white. The top BBQ Masters are NOT all white. Therefore it makes no sense to try and pretend so on any of them just to give it that "Teabagger Tweak".
You are obviously a baffoon, perhaps borderline chimp. STFU.
"step off"? Do people really still say that? That's beside the point ... the point is, you obviously have strong feelings about race relations. But do you really think that bad-mouthing a TV SHOW <– keep that part in mind ... and titling the article "whitewashed" was the way to go? Dr. King would not agree with the title, the point of this article, nor the point of your reply.
This is why race continues to be an issue. If you want to be treated the same, stop segregating yourself.
So... if we see that we're segregated out of something we SHOULD have rightly been included in, WE are the ones bringing race into it if we SAY SOMETHING?
Idiot. Back to your klavern-kave, please.
After you, race-baiter.
Who cares what color the BBQer is? Only the BBQ counts.
I agree. Let the food stand on it's own, along with the chef! Food has no color barrier within the world that I live.
COOKING COMES FROM THE HEART. NOT MANY HAVE THAT . WHEN I COOK RIBS, I COOK WITH MY HEART-LOVE FOR THE FOOD.. I WANT TO BE NUMBER 1 , BUT IF YOU COOK JUST FOR A PAY CHECK ? NOT GOOD... THE BEST OF THE BEST COOK WITH LOVE AND FROM THEIR HEART.
I SPEND MANY YEARS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO KEEP MY RIBS TENDER WHEN OUT DOORS WITH NO ELECTRIC....I FOUND THE WAY TO KEEP RIDS TENDER WITH NO ELECTRIC AVAILABLE... BUT I'M NOT TELLING YOU MY SECRET .
Okay, we get it...YOU COOK RIBS...GOOD FOR YOU. NOW, STFU ABOUT IT, CUZ NO ONE GIVES A FLYING F.
Racist. That is the only way to classifiy this article, and this author...People like the author that choose to stoke fires of division are not what this country should be about. How about we try to come together and talk about good food instead?
Truth be told, I really wouldn't care if a special on country music only featured Rucker and Pride. Both are accomplished, and talented musicians. Now if it featured 2LiveCrew, I'd feel like something was missing – their expertise in the genre, not the race of the performers.
I just wanted to read an article about BBQ. Why you have racism in it?
Whitewash? How do you think a racist and insulting title like that will persuade your white readers? What you've effectively done is to make many white people stop listening to your message before they even start reading your article. The thing is, your message might be valid, but many people get upset the minute they see the title of your article. It's kind of like writing a note to someone in your office, asking them to turn their loud music down but starting the note with, "DEAR JERK." Your request might be valid, but with an intro like that, don't expect the person to turn his/her music down or to give you a warm reception. And that's just what you did with your "whitewash" title. To end racism in our country, we *all* have to treat each other with respect. Period.
What is the difference between whites, blacks or mexicans, etc......? If we were all gray looking you would be gripping about their shoes or their wealth amd that they were wealthier or poorer. This is quite possibly the lamest post about something that is a fun, great pastime. I have a feeling that if you were given everything you wanted you would still spew discontent about somethimg.
To all the BBQ folks out there keep it low and slow. Love BBQ!
Good Gawd, cry me a river. So what that one show that amounts to nothing, did not include blacks. % of blacks in America? Look, I eat in BBQ joints all over, and quite frankly out of my top 5 BBQ joints in Texas, two are owned and operated by black dudes. One by a Mexican, and the other two, white dudes. You know what, didn't notice that the show didn't include Mexicans.... or people from Argentina....give that racism crap a rest...GD tired of it.....
As a Northern Florida redneck I'm here to tell you if I walk into a BBQ joint and the cook aint a 3-400 sista or brutha, I walk out........
I've got to agree. I grew up in North Florida and the pitmasters were always black at BBQ restaurants. A white man owned the restaurant, but a black man usually cooked.
Your business will not be missed. Nor will you.
Whitewashed? Wow. Way to go, ignorant writer, and even more ignorant editor. People like you disgust me. You have a piece on racism, yet you use a racist term like it's nothing. If I came out with a TV channel "White Entertainment" or a magazine called "White Girl Magazine", you'd be offended and don't tell me I'm wrong. Yet it's okay when a minority does it because...well, actually, I have no answer. I'm still waiting for somebody to tell me why the double standard is okay. Slavery happened 200 years ago, and I've been called a honky or cracker more in my life than I care to remember. But that doesn't matter, right? Let's just "blackwash" CNN and act like white people don't have feelings. Ignorant moron. Go get a life. Here's a dollar, now buy a freakin' clue.
Wow, I'm glad somebody else said it. Whitewashed? Seriously? You wrote a column on racism and you have the audacity to use the term whitewash? Wtf is wrong with you? You're ignorant, very ignorant, if you think it's not racist.
Maybe instead of being a pissed off, the world owes me, ignorant a**hole, you should go out there, round up your favorite AMERICANS (you don't go around calling white people European-Americans do you, moron?) that just so happen to be of African descent and make your own TV show. You can do it, even if you don't get it on TV right away, you can make a web series and hope you get optioned. Until then, stop complaining. And for the rest of your life, stop with the ignorant reverse racism. Because guess what, being called a honky and a cracker by you people (as in ALL minorities) f***ing hurts just as badly for me as being called other racist slurs hurts for everybody else. You didn't live through slavery or civil war so you have no more right to complain about racism than me. Stop the victim mentality and grow up.
The anti-white sentiment so often championed by CNN has become tiresome. Let hateful minorities keep their hate and inferiority complexes within their own communities and quit pretending it's anything except what it is: RACISM.
Here's a shout out to Crosstown BBQ in Springfield, Mo. Even in the age of political correctness, this black establishment (fancy word for a simple building) had the gall to make a funny tv ad with a white guy, and ask the question, "Would you get BBQ from THIS guy?" The proprietor went to college, got his degree (teaching?) but returned home to make BBQ.
Whitewash? Congratulations, author. You are walking the tight rope of race and successfully offending white people. That's great you're getting so much attention with an article void of substance and instead playing the race card. Good contribution and I feel so enlightened. This should not be a food blog. Whitewash. How is this not a racial epithet? If I have to be so very careful about my verbiage as a "European American", why are you allowed such liberal accommodations?
Best BBQ I ever had was an African-American family that moved from the south and setup a business in Seattle. Think it was called Dixie's BBQ. It has since closed when Gene passed away.
There's always going to be debates over BBQ. What it is, which part of the country makes the best/most "authentic", etc. Every time I've read articles about Carolinas region BBQ, blacks have been featured. Not so with Kansas and Texas styles. And all of them are different. Question is, do blacks in a given region BBQ differently than whites?
And they ALL agree that we up here in New England who toss something on the grill for a few minutes and slather some overly sweet red sauce (usually from a bottle out of the grocery store) don't begin to have a clue as to what BBQ is.
(I admit it, I Grill, I don't BBQ, not yet, although I do make my own sauces...)
I thought that cooking meat outdoors ina dug pit over a flame dated back to the Stone Age.
if it's cnn...then it has to be about race...pathetic...
If you don't like it then why are you visiting this site? Jack wagon.
CNN plays the race card just like the other big news giants. They are useless to me and nothing more than a FOXX news. Until they get professional and treat all races the same, I don't believe any of them.
I like the video!!!! If ever i'm down that way I'll be stoppin.....Keep up the great work and family tradition....
This is utterly ridiculous!! I watch the BBQ shows all the time on Food Network and this is completely false! African Americans are ALWAYS represented and quite frankly I'm sick of the liberal media making something of nothing!!!
I also watch the food channel a lot and i see a lot of black chefs and bbq specialists on shows like Diners Drive In and Dives. But the couple shows of bbq competitions i don't remember seeing that many blacks.
Extraordinary how racism can be injected into ANYTHING these days. Thats about 5 min. of my life i will never get back.
Keep it classy, CNN.
Editorials are opinion pieces. If you read the entire article you realize that the author is obviously a little biased towards SFA, but is simply trying to say that African American culture adds a unique dimension to American BBQ. I don't think racism was ever once claimed. Take a breather and don't read opinion articles if you're going to be that closed minded.
You don't think the plea to avoid "Whitewashing BBQ" is charged with race? What article did you read?
The only intelligent thing you said in your post was "I don't think." The rest of it was worthless. Much as you are, I would say.
Oh my dear god.
Geez, Skittles AND barbecue.
Talk about losing sight of the forest for the trees.... Wow. It seems like an honest, but poor attempt to frame a debate, not necessarily get flamed as a racist. Closest analogy would be having a Sushi competition without any Japanese particpants or discussion of Japanese roots in the art.
Conversely, participation in these cooking competitions is very expensive and primarily a prestige activity. I think it reflects socioeconmics more than a real racial divide. These are the 1%'ers of the BBQ world who can afford to spend a few thousand dollars to go to a cooking competition.
"Then imagine watching a country music special that only featured interviews with Charley Pride and Darius Rucker. Wouldn't you think there was something wrong with that picture?"
Not at all. I enjoy their music very much.
Really, WHO CARES!??Of all things to complain about BBQ ?? I cant believe I actually took the time out of my day to read this let alone comment on it. Man I need to find something to do today...lol
White people don't count anymore, we're a dieing breed! Guess I shoud throw away the barbecue utensils my son got me for father's day since only black people can barbecue any more.
Your spelling and grammar make me want to die. Just think how your poor 4th grade teacher feels now. To save you from future embarrassment it is spelled dying.
He spelled one word wrong; get a life. This is almost as petty and as much of a waste of time as this horrible article. Unless you are his fourth grade teacher...
Thanks, Blue. I thought I was losing it when I only saw 1 misspelled word. From his reaction, I thought I must have been missing something.
The original poster spelled "dying" and "should" wrong. That is obviously a sign of the impending apocalypse. Or maybe of Bobby Weirdo missing his afternoon medications. Either way, Weirdo should be pitied more than lambasted. It's not really his fault he has no life.
What a horribly racist and insulting article.
To imply that only African Americans can make good BBQ is no different than saying only white have the intelligence to do well in college.
CNN should immediately take this piece of filth down.
Agreed
The etymology of the word BBQ has as much to do with the origins of cooking meat over an open fire/or smoking it, as the etymology of the word "Talking" has to do with the act of speaking... cultures all over the world have done it for millennia, etymology tells the history of a word, not the global history of what it describes... but why would I expect intelligent comments on such a banal article? I saw a Food Network special yesterday (although a rerun) featuring quite a few People of Color as Resterauteurs (Which is good, because being a Southerner, some of my Favorite BBQers have been black). Every single show is not required to represent every single race, if it were, BET would go out of business, George Lopez wouldn't have had a show, and Antiques road show would be illegal. Maybe the show you watched had no Black people, maybe you just like to write junk articles, I dunno... but I for one have seen many specials, even on the aforementioned network featuring black people.
The etymology of the word "BBQ" has as much to do with the origins of cooking meat over an open fire/or smoking it, as the etymology of the word "Talking" has to do with the act of speaking... cultures all over the world have done it for millennia, etymology tells the history of a word, not the global history of what it describes... but why would I expect intelligent comments on such a banal article? I saw a Food Network special yesterday (although a rerun) featuring quite a few People of Color as Resterauteurs (Which is good, because being a Southerner, some of my Favorite BBQers have been black). Every single show is not required to represent every single race, if it were, BET would go out of business, George Lopez wouldn't have had a show, and Antiques road show would be illegal.
all these clowns that are trying to teach everyone the etymology of the word barbecue and what it is... nice to see that you use wikipedia as a scholarly source. you're repeating it verbatim. you're no better than people that put pork shoulders in a crock pot and pour in a bottle of kc masterpiece. what a disgrace.
Racists come in all shades. The history of the world is filled with takeover and take from and make it mine. When I fry chicken, I don't say to myself "Self, your chicken will never be as good as the fried chicken that black people cook, but your white children won't know any better." Come on!!! Who cares! Not all black people can cook and not all black people cook well. Call it soul food and I call it southern food. I'm going to cook it and like it and I don't need to give praise to another race just because I can cook well. This article and it's author portray the attitudes and aggressions towards non blacks that further declines equality of races and the expectations of non whites to be honored for something. I'm white. I'm not racist. The whining needs to stop and if you want better then go after it.
lets bbq a reporter
I actually feel dumber after reading this. How the hell did BBQ become a race issue? Ppl have been BBQin in Europe since before the US existed, but that doesn't mean that whites OR blacks own the copyright to putting meat over fire....are you kidding me CNN?
actually, bbq originated in the Carribean, the word coming from the Taino people...so, not really a black or white issue, ironically.
Well people have been talking since before the word was invented, just because the word is english doesn't mean the english invented talking.... (feel free to define the etymology of the word "talking" for us)
BBQ was introduced to the human race by the same Extraterrestrials that built the pyramids
Well done CNN – managed to get racism into BBQ now.
since when did bbq become a race issue.... ? does everything need to be a race issue..
Eastern North Carolina BBQ is the best whether it's made by whites or blacks. Western North Carolina BBQ is an abomination whether it's made by whites or blacks.
North Carolina barbecue is nasty.
Cavemen 1st BBQers....
ugh, was not expecting this. SPARE ME!
These comments are proof of why comment sections should not be allowed.
Has no one watched The Neeley's?? They have their own show, so whoever says there is no blacks on the food network needs to stop. There is only one true thing about any of this if you can cook, you can cook, and the last time I checked the color of your skin didn't matter in the kitchen.
You are absolutely right, the color of your skin does not matter with respect to how well you cook. However the blogger was not pointing out that there are no black people on the food network, but there were none on this show. It was a specific observation.
If anyone would actually watch the food network, the Neeley's was a huge hit and last time I looked they are black and have their own T.V. show
Before this post got hi-jacked with the unfortnate race taunting by all sides, a question was asked about the exclusion of blacks from the competition. The answer is relatively obvious and accounts for the lack of diversity - especially among African Americans - in other things like Little League, soccer, etc. that have become "suburbanized" by costs for participation. Barbecue cooking competitions have become big business, with hundreds of events each year across the country, totaling millions of dollars in prizes but also significant expenditures by the participants in travel, living and equipment costs. Entering the competitions can be a fulltime business with participants spending tens of thousands of dollars modifying RV's and trucks to accomodate custom-made grills. Given the state of the economy and the widening disparity in incomes, Blacks are less likely to be able to afford to participate in such an expensive "hobby".
That's a valid point, but it would also support the idea that there are no blacks qualified to be on the shows. Of course we could mention swimming and hockey as sports without much African American representation, and money has little to do with that (hockey having the same gear/expenses as football, which they can afford to participate in). Having said that, there are plenty of great black owner/operated bbq joints around our country. As I point out in earlier posts, the style of black bbq is generally not the style that gets selected by judges in competitions. So then the question becomes about the style of bbq. Get's kinda tricky when you want black pitmasters who cook in a style other than typical black bbq.
Yeah and of course only 'racist white folks' have the money to enter these competitions. Must be a leftover legacy from their slave wealth... Pathetic
What has race got to do with barbecue? For crying out loud, you get incensed when white people show racism and then turn around and prove to the world that you expect special treatment for black people. How is that not racist? No blacks got on the show, so what? The best barbecue in the opinion of the producers got on the show, why can't you just accept that and move on? Expecting to get mention because "someone black should get mentioned" highlights a major factor of what's wrong with race relations in North America and it isn't coming from the white population. Make a better barbecue and you might get noticed; in the meantime shut up about your skin color because I and probably most of everyone else don't notice it – isn't that what you want?
The point is that the best BBQ did NOT get on the show. Most likely the reasons for this is simply that the producers selected people that they thought would garner the highest ratings. You can't taste the BBQ that these people are making, so the people that actually make the best BBQ was likely not as important to them. Rather, it was which persons will provide the greatest ratings.
Actually Lloyd your response is only half correct. The contestants of the show probably all make great BBQ, but who gets selected to be on the show has very little to do with how their food tastes, especially because it's is exlusively subjective to the judges or the people we see on TV eating it. Producers can put whoever they want on a show. This is why bad people get selected for American Idol, and whatnot. Television is entertainment first, so some diversity would probably display that the show has put forth more effort with their casting. I think some diversity would make sense, considering the region where BBQ comes from is already racially charged as it is.
Wow. All of you arguing and fighting each other...you're really changing the world, ain;t you! Why do you fools waste your time trading barbs. I think it is hilarious people are so angry and bitter with their lives they have to raise their own blood pressure by getting into comment board fights and tirades. That's brilliant. You are getting angry at a stranger you will never meet, for no outcome whatsoever. Arguing for arguing sakes. I think comment boards are evidence that interactivity in the internet is a big mistake, but go ahead. Raise you r own blood pressure. Have a heart attack and die. More room for sane people. Have a nice night.
Amen to that!
Best BBQ I ever had (outside of my own back yard in San Diego) was in Lexington, NC. Long, slow cooking... Died and went to heaven!
Thank the Lord! At least there some people that believe in BBQ. I have watched these competitions. Anyone who puts a cup of honey on top of pork ribs for a "nice sheen" is cooking - but it is not BBQ.
I don't mind a little sauce on the side - but sauce is not BBQ.
What passes for BBQ in most competition circles is over thought and over produced.
Just way too sweet. For Christ's sake it is not desert!
The author is angry because "no Black people" were part of the Best In Smoke show on Food Network – well, let me say this... if it's a competition for the "best" – why does a Black always need to be included AUTOMATICALLY?
If you're not among those qualified... well, you're not... race aside. Period.
If you want to be treated as equal, you have to be willing to accept that you might not have the same skills as someone else. No more trophies for everyone who shows up. If you want to be the best at something, bring it. Don't expect special treatment while crying to be treated as an equal. If anything, I think the Food Network is already too sensitive to try and be representative of everyone in their viewing audience. Let people compete based on merit, not skin color.
Feh! Tooey! there's whitewash in my BBQ! Ack. Absolutely, don't forget black people STARTED the BBQ tradition. But they don't own it today, and I hear there are some great Mongolian BBQ experts as well. Bring 'em all in and let the Big Pig roast.
Wow, do you ever need a history lesson if you think that Blacks were the first to cook over open fire.
Think about it. Modern man walked out of Africa. BBQ boar was on the menu long before that. Therefore BBQ is a native African dish; no matter how many times it was reinvented.
"Modern Man walked out of Africa?" Oh, God... that's more inaccurate than the other post! Wow. If this is the intellect level in the U.S., I clearly see why we're last in math/science ability and testing among younger students and adults. Sad.
BBQ is a French term, used to describe pit roasting a whole animal "from beard to tail" (think wild boar).
Beard in French is "barba". Tail is French is "queue". Put them together and you have "Barbequeue".
That brings up the REAL question...why don't they have any FRENCH BBQ pit masters on the show? That's like having a Best Sushi competition without any Japanese Chefs.
It's an Amerindian term and practice noted by Columbus' expeditions. The Spanish first exported chili peppers and tomatoes from their native range in what is today Latin America. Almost all colonists to the Americas had to rely on native foods and foodways. The practice of salting meat and smoking it to preserve it was not African but European, although sugar was originally an East Indian spice brought to the Caribbean by Europeans through their contact with the Arabs. Rubbing meat for several days with a salt/sugar/chili cure and then smoking it is a European adaptation of various native American foods and techniques.
Actually if you want the race card played in BBQ, Africans/Blacks did not invent it. BBQ was invented by Natives on the Caribbean Islands. If you want to define the timeline Caribbean Natives invented it, European explorers/settlers took the method and brought it to other parts of the world and then Africans/Blacks got involved.
So actually going by the facts the only whitewashing/racism going on is for the last people involved with BBQ claiming they had a bigger impact then the ones who invented it or the ones who spread it around the world.
Actually if you want the race card played in BBQ, Africans/Blacks did not invent it. BBQ was invented by Natives on the Caribbean Islands, long before contact with any other civilization. If you want to define the timeline Caribbean Natives invented it, European explorers/settlers took the method and brought it to other parts of the world and then Africans/Blacks got involved.
So actually going by the facts the only whitewashing/racism going on is for the last people involved with BBQ claiming they had a bigger impact then the ones who invented it or the ones who spread it around the world.
I agree blacks created country music yet don't own it today things change this article is silly.
I watch BBQ pit masters and there are always black pit masters on there. This is not a black only problem. Everybody looks for someone who represents them. If I was an NBA team owner and I wanted to increase my teams appeal to White fans I would try to recruit some talented White players and sell more tickets. If Black TV networks are smart they will try to appeal to a broader market and be more inclusive.
Blacks are less than 15% of the population. Near 1 in 7.
So if they have just 6 people, a representative sample would have no blacks. (If we want to be stricktly numerically represented.)
There are many great black bbq masters. There are many great black bbq joints.
But there are many more who are not black.
The history of BBQ is very long, but it is also very vague. It's just not the kind of thing that would get into the papers or history books 100-200 years ago. So in this opinion piece, they seem to want more said about the important role blacks played in the history and development of BBQ. Problem is, the shows are about competitions or techniques TODAY. I do not think they are excluding blacks from these BBQ shows. They would love to show them, and I enjoy watching different styles of BBQ from around the world as well as different US regions.
"The history of BBQ is very long, but it is also very vague." People used to pit-cook a hog and have it for Sunday dinner; everyone invited. Sometimes it went on for two days before the hog ran out. Smart people started just keeping a hog cooking and selling the meat, and soon every town had a BBQ pit running all week. But we aren't really talking hundreds of years here.
Blacks did create it but everyone else made it better
The style of slow cooked, meat falling apart tender cooking that many would call a more "black" style is a significant contribution to BBQ. Pulled Pork, is a good example.
At BBQ competitions, that style is not favored. If you make ribs and they fall off the bone, that is considered less than ideal. (you should not need a fork to eat ribs, in their opinions) I like soul food, so I personally don't agree.
Taking tougher cuts and less expensive ingredients and making something delicious is really more impressive than using the finest meats and making something delicious.
"Blacks did create it but everyone else made it better" Heh, you go right on telling yourself that, cowboy. Maybe you'll start believing it . . .
It is funny how someone who wants a more inclusive, less divisive world would use divisive language in their title. Pot meet kettle.
Oh lord, time for a new tv channel. BBT Black BBQ Television
LMAO!!!
Yeah, that's just what we need, ain't it? Us White boys whose ancestors BUILT this great Country just cant seem to do ANYTHING right, anymore. At leastways, not according to Liberal media. Funny, ain't it?
White men sat on horses and watched black people build everything, then patted themselves on the back and claimed the labor as their own. If white people built this country, why did they steal black people to do the actual work? I bet you have already made 5 babies with your own children you ignorant piece of white trash filth. Please go give head to your sawed off hillbilly shotgun and die. I know, you'll need to pull the blunt end out of your mother's rear since she mistook it for your uncle billybuckjoewillybob's pathetic and diseased weiner. You are sKKKum. DIE.
"White men sat on horses and watched black people build everything, then patted themselves on the back and claimed the labor as their own."
Really? ONE branch of my family tree came over before the end of slavery. They didn't live anywhere near slave territory. They packed up their covered wagon, pushed west and built a town. I'm not sure how black people did this for them given there were no black people in the area. They didn't pat themselves on the back for their own hard work, much less someone else's. It's only we that came later that realize what a great thing they did. Now you want us to pat people on the back that didn't have anything to do with it?
Now I feel bad. Why am I BBQing myself? It sounds like I should find a black person to do it for me if I want to get things right. I have a Mexican doing the landscaping and a, well, I'm not sure–some sort of Hispanic–scooping the dog poo and I feel good about that as I think that's politically correct. Kind of feel uneasy about the white guy cleaning my pool, though. Don't want any CNN articles written on how some other race should be represented here. He does a good job but then I do a good job BBQing, or at least I used to think so. ~sigh~
So full of angst...so full of guilt...
"So full of angst...so full of guilt..." So full of bull.
I am sick of ur kind running around with a big racial chip stuch a-Waaaaay out there on their lip. This is the USA-we White folk are *STILL* the majority. If you cant abide that, then leave and take your rotten reverse racism with you. Good-bye Mr. Jass, have a blessed day, Sir.
There is no such thing as reverse racism. Racism is racism. Calling it reverse racism is stating that white against black racism is ok, but the reverse is bad. Which is obviously how you feel, but the term is asinine.
Everyone knows there are awesome black BBQ cooks chefs and pitmasters out there – some of the best BBQ in the country is created by black people – so some stupid food network show didnt have any black people on it. Cooking shows are a dime a dozen – That would be like complaining that you are watching a United States major league soccer game and complainging that while its called major league soccer, the best players in the world arent in the MLS – far from it – and everyone knows that. You want real BBQ you dont tune into the food network, you find the guys off the main road that you can smell their BBQ miles away and seek it out. I wouldnt waste your time being worried about the food network – they and every other cooking network have a lot of time to fill – I'm pretty sure we are now at the point where 90% of the chefs and cooks we are watching are one step removed from TV Dinners in the microwave.
Seriously, doesnt everyone know that black people invented BBQ? Working with lesser cuts of meat back in the day Black people found ways to make those cuts more delicious than the best cuts – there isnt BBQ without Black people . Black people dont deserve just a shoutout, its the basis of the cooking style.
Nope, that's not how it was invented at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue
Though I'm sure slaves and blacks freed from slavery after the Civil War had an IMMENSE influence on American barbecue, let's not pretend that American Blacks invented Barbecue, because it's just not historically accurate.
It's always the best idea to use Wiki-anything to support your argument because it's never wrong.
It is HILARIOUS that you would dare use wikipedia to prove your point. You phucking fool. It is not fact checked. Go give head to a shotgun,
Technically, man has been BBQing since we invented/discovered fire. HUNDREDS of thousands of years.
Having read some cookbooks over 100 years old – I can tell you that ingredients were limited. We are taliking about salt and pepper as the only seasonings in many cases. Many preperations that included more ingredients were designed to cover the bad flavor of old meat.
As for slow cooking to create tenderness, let's not forget that many places in the world buried whole pigs to cook them – in the Pacific islands, that was done for thousands of years. And there is similar cooking in China going back long before they ever met a black.
Vinegar BBQ is the oldest kind, but I don't like it.
What a stupid stupid article.. Get over it, blacks don't get recognized for cooking food?.. Are you serious? I'm so tired of this nonsense...
We will get over it when you do.
I've been over it since the day I first heard of it when I was 5.... and that was a long time ago... Seems you need to get over it.... and so does the entire population who always feels left out when they aren't included... poor poor you... Stop finding excuses for yourself... And why is it ok to be black and proud, but if your white and proud you're a racist? I never understood that....
I never understood people who thought they were making some kind of statement by pretending to be Bill Clinton, either.
Oh, you're not Bill Clinton?! Stop pretending...I thought you were really him.
Pulled pork is not that good. Brisket and ribs are the way to go.
This is the kind of thing that really chaps my hide.
Now, I'm gonna have to buy some hide de-chapper.
hillarious:) i was going to call the author out for the obvious "whitewash" as an attempt to hide a not-so-covert racist play on words. Then I read this, and realized I shouldn't really waste my precious energy. Whites are racists, everyone else is a victim...so be it.
whitewash 209 up, 84 down
(n., v., or adj.) A process or result or act: when a person who is considered a minority adopts a lifestyle (including speech, mannerisms, clothing, etc.) that is attributed secludedly to those of European descent, white people.
Adrian Miller is a flat-out Racist.
I don't care who cooks it as long as the taste makes my eyes roll up into my head and it leaves me crying for a second helping.
Now can't we all (just eat and) get along.
Couldn't agree with you more, Outspoken1. And thank you Kat for the link to "Previously – South Carolina hash and rice." I love learning new stuff at Eatocracy.
In South Carolina (as I just learned today), BBQ is a noun, as in the name of a dish you eat. In the North, BBQ is a verb, as in cooking on the grill.
"she" – We had BBQ for dinner. I cooked it on the BBQ. On the 4th we will have a BBQ. Oven baked brisket? No way, I only like it BBQed.
Just don't confuse it with grilling.
This story is racist!
Not as racist as your comment, how eloquently put. Thanks for rearing your head.
How is the comment "This story is racist" racist?
Oh! I stand corrected that's not part of your comment, that's your name! Well I'll be damned :l
Only a rabid foaming racist would use the term "white-washing".
I can see how this can be viewed upon as being offensive but you gotta admit it's pretty vucking vunny. You can get back by saying something was blackwashed.
The term is "blackballed"
exactly. I will make it a point to start using the term. It is only fair.
Blacks can cook well, but whites cook way better foods, period.
If they use some seasonings.
Word.
Second that
Why don't you pop into the back of your favorite restaurant you dingleberry and tell me how many wite faces you see cooking...ZERO. The only white people you are gonna see are sitting down getting fed, going home and then leave stupid comments like yours online.
Last time i checked the award for the top BBQ in the country was given to a black dude in arkansas this year. You know, the James Beard Award. Its a pretty big deal. Of course you just focus on some perceived slight by the Food Network. Why dont you ask the Neelys of down home with the neelys, about Food Networks racism you idiot.
If some of you non minorities were to turn the tv on tomorrow and only see people of color I believe you would better understand the point of this article. It is disheartening in 2012 to still see only caucasians on the majority of programs. It's like watching a Woody Allen movie or reruns of Seinfeld or Friends. That it's possible to only show one race in television programming in the United States (even in the background) shows that racism still exists in our country. Just my 2 cents.
your two cents isnt worth the copper in it. The shows you list, woody allen- Jewish with a mostly jewish cast, seinfeld,- once again jewish....Jews are not caucasians the are semetic. Thats why being anti jewish is anti semetic, they are middle eastern in origin and would probably be considered people of colour except that the black community has as large a racist population as the white community and doesnt want to associate with them. btw, before someone calls me racist i am simply pointing out that EMS is wrong, i dont care what colour your skin is its how you act that shows who you are.
I think you have to admit if the shoe were on the other foot it would be hard not to be racist. Indians, Chinese, Africans, Mexicans, Vietnamese, on and on. All that your kind has come in contact with they have wronged. I am not supporting North Korea but they got one thing right.
"All that your kind has come in contact with they have wronged." Nice quote... substitute "your kind" for every race, creed, color of humanity... including your own.. .because ALL seem to have at one time or another wronged another. Seems in these enlightened times that maybe we should all quit fanning the flames of our own destruction and use that energy instead to build each other up? Although if the flames are for some great BBQ... mmmmm.
If North Korea has "one thing right" then GO THERE! Or, better yet, take your stinking arse back to the Great Land of Rhinos, AIDS, and tsetse flies if everything is SO much better where the Whites are the decided minority.
So every sitcom, reality show, movie, newscast, etc., must include a black person...or y'all are being slighted?
Really.
And must there also be a Latino, an Asian, a Southeast Asian, a Pacific Islander, an American Indian, a mixed-race person, an LGBT person, someone in a wheelchair, a developmentally disabled person, an Arab, a Jew...and a Canadian? Because, ya know, we want to be fair.
What a dope.
God help us. Every TV show would be an episode of Glee. Wretch.
Hate all you want, but Seinfeld is funnier than *anything* Tyler Perry has done.
Interesting take...in the 1970's, when I was growing up, I would turn on the TV and see (and be quite entertained by) not less than THREE predominantly black casts..."The Jeffersons," "Good Times," and "What's Happening" (much less so by "What's Happening Now," but that's beside the point). I don't care who entertains me as long as they are entertaining. And I don't care who cooks for me, as long as they can cook. IIt's a shame that we can't let anything pass without turning it into a race war in this country (or at least on this website).
Well if Blacks made up 84% of the population of this country that might even make sense. But let me refute in another way. Why is it Blacks can win Academy Awards, Grammys, MTV awards, Tonys and every other award, but Whites aren't eligible to win BET awards? If Whites had anything like the BET, the Blacks would riot.
The BET are a shining example of Black racism, yet we all just look the other way.
Ahhhh, the comment section. Where good sense and proper English go to die.
You're here, Bubba.
LOL, true dat.
A plethora of racist clowns today, too; we could start a confederate circus with a few of these bozos.
You wouldnt make a pimple on a real Confederate's as-.
Buddy, I have to step over "real" Confederates to get into a minit mart. They're three for a dollar where I live, and they all shave their heads and listen to rap. Try working in the hot sun with a bunch of guys all day long and you won't give a rat's fanny what color they are as long as they pull their weight.
Great, now we have people screaming racism over BBQ competitions....
No wonder CNN is in the toliet......
Yet here you are ...
Ahhh Racists blacks all the more reason I am voting Republican this year.....
Thank you for being one of the ones willing to put us into the economic toilet because of petty b s.
Go kiss McConnell's butt.
Yum, BBQ. This article is making me hungry.
Oh good lord. Give us a freakin break. This article is just more race baiting. Let us all bow down to the BBQ "masters!"
By the way, after reading the article and all the posts, some funny, some quite racist, I watch BBQ Pit Masters and they do have "Black" contestants. Some of them pretty damn good cooks and funny too! So, what is your point here?
Sure, why don't we just talk about Africa and Africans all the time. For a people who allege to be tough you sure get your feelings hurt mightly easily if you aren't mentioned in every article of which you might have made a contribution. Great, you cooked BBQ, I'm sure no one else through the annals of time ever slow roasted an animal over low heat, get a life.
Go watch Friends.
Some village is missing its idiot.
then you should get back home, shouldn't you.
Our local village idiot is named "Easy Steve." Coincidence? You decide.
Oh MY GOD!!! No black people! Where, oh were, are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? Where are the protests? The boycots? The sit ins? WHY isn't this on the front page of CNN News?
Oh, right. It is.
Give it time.....Sharpton and Jackson make their millions off of hate and racism so have patience....they will show up along side the NAACP!!! What a damn farce.
Your ignorance is duly noted. You would never understand till you have walked in the shoes and even then you and your kind would probably stand in defiance of the reality that you witness as a result of your veiled denial.
so, let me get this straigtt...you think all of "your kind" (implying other than yourself, which appears to imply white people) have never experienced strife, or turmoil, or harship because we are other than black? Interesting.
Sadly lacking in truth, but interesting. I have always found it irritating that the implication is anything a white person has in life is simply due to the fact that they are white. Believe me...nothing i have achieved, or gained in life was simply handed to me because i am white. If that were the case, I would be living as large as our current CiC.
Goodness, I am Italian American and love all kinds of BBQ. I also want to write an article on how Italians are not on the show either...and we don't have an Italian American Month, Italian American Channel, or any other race has either of those for that matter other than African Americans which these days and times the majority are made up of ancestors of ALL races. Article SUCKS!
Come on you already have Jersey Shore. You don't get an Italian Entertainment Television station too. Pfft.....
Right, like you yankees know anything about BBQ. Stick to spaghetti and pizza.
Aw, c'mon! It ain't REAL AFRICAN BARBECUE unless it's cooked over a glowing pile of dried animal dung!!
"cooked over a glowing pile of dried animal dung!!" Like your mom used to make? No one else likes it that way, but I guess you have to suit your own taste.
PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS
I didn't realize there was a skin color bar for preparing or eating grilled meats. Duly noted.
I ended up here from CNN and the caption for the article was "African American Pitmasters". I was honestly hoping for African American BBQ'ers. I guess the political correctness still rules over actual correctness on CNN? However, growing up in the southwest I have plenty of experience with soul food (curiously enough, I was surprised to find that soul food was what I grew up eating) and BBQ. If I see a black man/woman working the pit or kitchen, I can promise you in advance that they know what they're doing. Here's to the cook!
Kat Kinsman wrote this article? WOW! Kat, as a black woman, we don't need YOU to play the race card and vow that media is racist when it comes to BBQ competitions. Blacks need more than representation in cooking competitions considering that we make up the largest percentage of overweight and obese people in the nation. *sigh*
Correction...I see that Adrian wrote it. Either way, THIS is not a back issue.
I didn't write the article. Adrian Miller did (http://adrianemiller.com/) and I would venture to guess that he's got even more to say on the issue - including plenty on healthy cooking. I'm very much looking forward to his book.
Thanks for the clarification Kat. Sorry about that. Just upset that someone would play the race card on such a non-issue. :(
LOL. Classic example of someone getting fired up before knowing any facts.
Nice recovery, though.
I just love the use of the term "shout-outs" here... if it's not from a Black individual to another Black person or group – you can bet it will be labeled as racist by them. It's convenient to call it the same thing and it only creates the kind of hype that they seem to thrive on, whether or not the topic is barbecue or something else. I can't use the "N-word" without facing ridicule or worse, but you can hear it all the time among Blacks themselves as casual address. It's ridiculous. Everything is racially motivated for them and they want the best of both worlds all of the time. "I want equality in the workplace and don't want to be seen as a token hire... oh, but you better be sure to give me preferred treatment even if I am not qualified or I'll scream racism." Respect is earned. Somehow, "earning" is not in their vocabulary as it should be. Taxpayers get to pay the price and it's costly.
Wow, this is quite possibly one of the most racist rants I've ever seen. Congrats.
Are you equating "shout-outs" with "n****r"? shout-out (n.) Slang. A public expression of thanks or gratitude I believe you already know the definition of the other, as you probably use it frequently. Get a life.
So you see our conondrum. And what are you qualified for let me guess- no, let me not guess. Oh, and you and your kind earned all that you have; nothing was taken? Perhaps you miss my point but seriously go look in the mirror. If not for your arrogance and denial you would be mired in your shame.
You speak of earned respect: there is no honor in giving out Smallpox blankets.
"I can't use the "N-word" without facing ridicule" But it doesn't seem to stop you, does it? You better get used to the ridicule if you're going to be a racist.
this is just the dumbest fukin post i have ever read in my life. Rabble rousing idiot.
Get over it. Lame rabble rousing article.
Amen!!!!
Over-sensitive? I watch food network a lot. They visit many BBQ joints where African Americans are highlighted and present. Not to mention the African American celebrity chefs they now have... I'm all about equality but complaining about BBQ food as a race issue is kind of ridiculous.
Stop with this African-American stuff. We're Americans period. If you feel the need to distinguish further, just say Black American.
food network probably asked that black guy with a beard but he didnt want to do it, he is on nearly all of their BBQ programs and is probably the most recognizable TV bbq person so its hard to imagine they didnt try and get him
If you find yourself in Hemingway, SC (because you took a wrong turn off 501 on your way to Myrtle Beach), you have to stop by Scott's BBQ, its only open Wed-Sat and they only take cash, but you have to stop there. My mother's family is from Kingstree, just down the road from Hemingway, and I grew up on Brown's BBQ which is good, but Scott's is a bit better. Place may not look like much, except is have the BEST pulled pork BBQ.
I don't think the Food Network should be skewered for their lack of black contestants. See what I did there? Rather, it's television in general that lacks black and latino programming, often relegating sitcoms to BET and TBS.
It's a problem in the entertainment industry not a problem in the BBQ industry.
I recently saw an episode of "restaurant impossible" where the host Robert Irvine completely changed a southern BBQ restaurant. The first thing he did was make the man change his sauce recipe, which had been in his family for generations. Irvine came up with a new formula which I think involved soy sauce or something of that nature. I felt bad for the guy. I think the restaurant was called Pollard's BBQ in Memphis.
I defense of Chef Irvine. I have been to Pollards at their old and new locations. The sauce was watered down and weak. Besides the sauce that Chef Irvine came up with was only a suggestion. The pitmaster needs his own sauce not a commercial product he waters down.
To be fair, just because a recipe is old and a family tradition doesn't mean it doesn't suck. People are naive with that sort of thing.
if it was any good then they wouldnt need restaurant impossible now would they? Did you miss the point of the show?
I understand that Pollard's needed help, but to have them use an "asian-inspired" BBQ sauce made from ginger and soy sauce (in Memphis) is ridiculous. Irvine said either they change the sauce or he was leaving. Granted, there may be a few people in Memphis who want to eat asian BBQ sauce, but I would bet the majority would want something more traditional.
There is a BBQ joint in SC owned by a fellow with family that were former plantation owners 100's of years ago. The NAACP made him take his BBQ Sauce off the grocery store shelves! Can you imagine that??? This African American issue is out of control! Before you racists start spouting off, my Grandparents came to this country legally by the way, and are Italian. They were treated like low class citizens, had to work and learn the English language. As did a lot of other immigrants of all nationalities. Poor African Americans, their ancestors may...emphasis may...have been slaves 100's of years ago. What they fail to realize is that Africans sold them into slavery to begin with. Now we have a Pres and his spouse more racist than any other in history.
SOOO many people "forget" that many slaves were SOLD OUT OF Africa then, not taken. A dark piece of humanity, slavery.
Racism will never die, because the Blacks won't let it.
Ignorance will never die...because YOU won't let it.
But he is 100% right!!
Over the last few years, I've seen plenty from tea party gatherings to say without doubt that white racism is as strong as it ever has been.
Racism will never die because of comments like that. And if you aren't black then you will never see the world through our eyes because you are color blind. Because no matter what we do right or wrong whether we are wealthy or poor, no matter what we drive or the education or the type of job we have, we are black first and society as well as american culture reminds us of it everyday.
You too should try to be colorblind
I'm Italian and you will never see the world through my eyes either.....so your point?
I consider it a blessing that I'll never see the World through your eyes sir, not because you are black, but because your insistence on racism ensures that racism in this country will never die. Last time I checked, there was a black man in the White House (whom I voted for) and yet three years after that landmark action, you still run around crying The-Racism-Sky-Is-Falling.
Ever been to Canada. They have blacks there too. They don't refer to themselves as "African-Canadians". There's racism in Canada too, but the difference is, the blacks in Canada don't wear it on their sleeves like you do.
I'm Jewish, and I've had to deal with antisemitism my entire life. But I don't parade around and insist on Jewish representation everywhere I go. I don't treat my heritage like a disadvantage, and I don't order everyone to celebrate my Judaism either, and I certainly don't write stupid articles like this one demanding that Jewish pit masters (LOL I'm sure there's at least one, right? /wink) be represented on the show.
All Adrienne did in this article is ADVANCE racism. He's made the problem worse, not better. And so have you my friend.
Congratulations.
My experience has been that I find racist bigots both among blacks and whites
You, sir, are correct. I have told rednecks to shut the eff up with their hate-spew and also sat with black men who (told me to my face) wouldn't talk to me because I was white.
You mean RACISM will never die because a lot of STUPID RACISTS feel the need to feel SUPERIOR.
Kind of like Sharpton and Jackson right????
If the show's producers came up with a set of contestants without thoughts of race entering into the equation, and they all just randomly happened to be white, only someone with serious issues themselves can have a problem with that.
I BBQ this weekend 2 slabs or ribs took about 8 hours so do I need to mention all the African American that put meet into the smoker at one point of time if someone asked what I did on Sunday? Little confused here seeing that my methods, sauce and rub are from experience and from the internet so I’m not sure the color of the skin of those who posted “their” famous recipe for the best BBQ need help from the political correct/everyone must be equal crowd
And here I thought this would be an article about Burger Kings foray into pulled pork BBQ sandwiches (shudder just thinking about it). A special competition cooking show about BBQ not featuring any African Americans is not nearly as offensive as what Burger King (and McD's with their McRib) try to do to BBQ.
So the Authors perception of what is real is based off a TV program sure hope he doesn’t watch the Simpsons
Going by this theory, no food competition involving classic French cuisine should be allowed unless French nationals are included. All chowder competitions should include New Englanders who can document their Yankee roots at least five generations back. All salsa contests should include Mexicans. All beer brewing competitions should include Germans, Brits, Belgians (and?). And of course you just can't have a Chinese food challenge without a token Chinese (forget the fact that Chinese cooking varies so much regionally...that just gets too complicated).
Regardless of their origins, all cuisines are equal opportunity. I'm mostly Irish, but my Italian cooking rivals food I've had in Italy. And what about all the kitchen staff in (choose your cuisine) NY restaurants who hail from Mexico?
This essay is absurd and offensive.
You nailed it. Thanks for an excellent post.
The beer challenge? Egyptians. They invented it.
But they're all Muslims and hate us I hear, on the Drudge Report.
"The Food Network aired Best in Smoke – a barbecue competition show that featured six contestants, six assistants, one host, three judges...and no black people"
So, you are saying that you watched a fluffy waste-of-time TV program and now you are argueing that there is a cultural problem of mis-perception? Have you been watching any of the other horrible Food Net competition shows? This is not the olympics, it is a crappy day-time television program. Don't worry, living in south-side birmingham, I know that the black dude cooking for the church fund raiser is a much more capable BBQ 'master' than any jerk on food network!!!!!!
yes, dont white wash it. The meats already been soaked in Ammonia and injected with so many other chemicals, white washing would only be a waste of time.
This is racist against cave people. They invented BBQ! I'm outraged! ;)
Geez. Being so hung up on race that the discussion even turns to BBQ is, well, racist in itself. Stop being so ridiculously oversensitive about everything, folks. This is just silly.
Neanderthals invented bbq
You must be from San Fran!
Neanderthal did not invent BBQ.
They ate their meat raw.
BBQ as we know it in America was invented in North Carolina. Ribs were as we know it were first made famous in Memphis. Someone correctly posted earlier that ribs were the leftovers from the 'white folks' that did not want them.
I grew up in Ga and one of the best pulled pork in the area (Coastal Savannah area) was made by a black man in the pit out back and sold by a white man up front. Both made a lot of money. In the my army travels I have tasted and loved BBQ made all over. I love BBQ it in Ga, and everywhere in between Texas currently where I reside. While all of the other types from around the world are okay it is not American BBQ. It can be pulled pork or brisket I love both. Some of the greatest words ever spoken was "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Until the author learns these words and takes them to heart he will be stuck in the past.
not to doubt what your saying, but do you have any proof of what you say? Or is this just what you were told and believe? Because I would think Bert Wolf would disagree with you. He did a whole show on BBQ and its history. North Carolina I dont think was even mentioned. But my best guess is, no one can prove without a doubt where it started , or who started using sauce, or ribs, or anything about it as its been around so long. You can hypothesize, but not factuality state BBQ's origin. Just my thoughts on that. However, if you have any real documented proof, I and Im sure many others would love to see it..
Thanks!
so say the person from Ga but I bet someone from StL would say their BBQ is the best or a texan would tell only beef is is real BBQ or even ( a little laugh) someone from Washingto state
Ollie Gates and Arthur Bryant made GREAT K.C. BBQ, and built franchises that feed and employ a lot of people. That style, dry rubbed, hickory smoked (oak and fruit woods work good too) still are my favorite.
I have a dream that all men will be judged on the taste of their barbecue and not the color of their skin...barbecue is a southern thing. We're not all black and we're not all white down here but we know good cooking. I've eaten at the table of many a barbecue genius black or white and I'm not ready to write anyone off or get angry about this, We all lose if we hate or exclude.
I have eaten barbecue about a million times in my life, about half of that in a restaurant. I have never asked about the race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, IQ or mobility of the person who prepared it. I guess I have one more thing to be worried about now.
Oh, and of all the contestants, judges and hosts etc. there were no black people?
It is very telling as to what a one-trick pony the complainer-whiner is. Any Asians? Any Hispanics (biggest minority group in the U.S., by the way). Any with disabilities? Any homeless? Any Jewish people?
No concern for the rest of humanity.
Typical, self-centered me-only attitude by the perpetually victimized.
can I get an Amen brother! I have wondered for a long time about that. We have black history month, which I think it great,, even though I think they should teach it all year long in school and not just one month out of the year. But there are no Asian Month, Hispanic month, American Indian month, and so on..... Why is that I wonder?
and Asian BBQ is pretty darn good I might add.
Just so that you are aware in addition to Black HIstory Month there is Asian/Pacific Heritage Month in May, Carribean Heritage Month in June, Hispanic Heritage Month in September, Native American Month in November. There is also a disability month, GLBT month, and a women's month.
In my younger years I was the Op/Ed Editor for my college newspaper. One February, I wrote an article chastising Black History Month. Not because I have any problem whatsoever with Blacks celebrating their heritage, but I posed the question "Why not celebrate your black heritage all year long? Why do you need a month a year?"
The following week, three members of the local Black student union came into the journalism room and proceeded to tell me what a bigoted racist I was. Never mind that the seed money for the NAACP came from Jews (I'm Jewish), nevermind that the rest of my Op/Ed talked about the great contributions of Blacks have made in American history.
When it was clear they were losing the argument, they then told me I was racist for calling them "Black" instead of "African-Americans". I replied by asking them why is it then called "Black History Month"? Why isn't their organization the "African-American Student Union"? Why isn't it the "African-American Entertainment Awards" They then went on to tell me they can call themselves "Black" but it's racist if a non-black calls them "Black".
At that point I just started laughing hysterically and they left.
Yep.
Where's my "Irish Heritage Month"? I get a day? Like Cinco de Mayo? Neither of which any one knows anything about?
It's all a sham by some past political figure to draw votes, these "months". How about Humanity Month? I like that one.
Hate to break up this cum ba-yah moment, but African Americans and Whites were latecomers.
If you read your history, the Spaniards were the first in the Americas. They, as in Argentina and the other pampas of South America were grilling and roasting and baking and barbecuing beef, goat, pig, poultry and local meat.
As usual, African Americans and white go half-cocked about their history and forgot they were Johnnys come lately to the Americas and therefore joined the al fresco BBQ movement relatively late.
Good try.
I'm sorry, I can't hear you over all this BBQ these Mongolians are feeding me.
1) Spaniards are white.
2) Native American Indians were the first people in North America.
3) The Vikings colonized Vinland a few hundred years before the Spaniards showed up.
spanish BBQ is not the same stupid. Is Mexican food the same as French? American BBQ is distinctly original, not being the first to cook meat over a flame or using imported spices has nothing to do with the recipes, every countrys food uses something imported and an ancient technique called "heat"
Youre probably one of those dunces that calls soccer "futbol" because the Azteks hit a ball through a ring around some weird arena with their hip. Nevermind the fact that "futbol" has no translation in spanish and is just a way to spell the english word "football" since it was created in England.
Why does it always have to be about race with CNN? I'm so sick of it.
Then go to Faux News then. It's about race because Food Network shows BBQ competition with no black people. Which color crayon shall I use to write this so you can understand? The fact is the best BQQ is made by an old black dude. Find some 65+ year old black dude making BBQ and it's going to be good. I say this as a white person.
What about Korean BBQ and then there's some Argentine further down who thinks that after he and his peoples killed all of the indigenous peoples of Argentina, they created BBQ....... Did anybody stop to think the reason that no peoples of the Africas participated is because they consider the Food Network a whiteman's staion?
Either way who cares who makes it as long as it's good?!
Brian -You're right.
I'm hungry.
You know we are all humans....we all contribute what we can according to our talents...if we are smart we would simply share what each culture and color or creed has developed and simply learn from each other.
Much wrong has been done in the past, the only question we should be asking ourselfs is what does tommorow look like, what will it bring.
For the record I am a white republican conservative. I'm ashamed at many here for the hate which still makes its way into our lives.
My only advice,....grow up if you can
Thank You!
Who the heck are you railing at?
Dear Black people,
Not all us Whiteys are ignorant to the fact barbq is a long hallowed tradition of the african american community, but with all due respect, do we need to racialize Bar-b-q, really? I even know about the black cowboys too.
Like Leroy Rogers.
Sim's BBQ in Downtown Little Rock has been doing BBQ the same since 1934. They focus on the simple smoking and timing of the BBQ. They don't slather it in lots of spices or sauces. Simple and amazing BBQ. If your in LR give it a try. The ribs are the best I've ever had.
I like meatloaf, but I don't really care who invented it.
As I recalled in history...the slavery served the master the whole pig. The slavery has little food to eat compare the master and his families. When the slavery saw that the family of master tossed out the ribs that still has meat on the bones. The slavery decided to cook the ribs over the pit and they added other spicey stuff. The master smelled the smoke that has flavors and watching other slavery eating the ribs that were thrown out by the master families. Soon after, the master decided to give a taste of what the slavery cooked and have them serves their master's families of smoke ribs. Later, the slavery made their own sauces to added to ribs and chickens. That where the Bar-B-Que come from. Now I am not saying that slavery invent the pit...but the slavery invent the flavor. The pit start back in the cavemen time, but there was not any flavor on their meats... just bland to survive back in the cavemen time. I am not speaking racism here...just the history facts.
The story about barbeque being invented in the South by slaves dning on what would have been called "throwaway" or "inferior/cheap cuts" is certainly one version of how this cooking method came into the American lexiocon, but there is another fact of history that might be more directly related to how it came about. Originally this was call "Boucan" and it came from the Caribbean, not native America, and was prepared using various spices that were gathered locally. As Spanish, French and Dutch explorers started coming to these islands they started eating the Boucan (usually pigs or goats, as beef cattle were not native to the area and they need much more land in which to graze), and eventually the technique of placing the meat onto iron bars over a pit was adopted depending on the size of the piece being cooked, which they called "Bar-Boucan" (Barbeque). The explorers that came to enjoy this food were in turn called "Boucaneers" and it evolved into "Buccaneers" as we still call them. Native Americans or the slaves after them would not have had any exotic spices available to them, as they were not found in this country and importing them from the Spice Islands was very expensive - only for the wealthy.
that sounds almost word for word what Bert Wolf said on his show.. Very good post!!
Thanks you for sharing more informations. I like your posted and I will repeat your post on my facebook during 4th of July.
"Slavery" is the fact of being in involuntary servitude or the involuntary servitude itself. A "slave" is a person subject to slavery.
Well what about the family's that did not owe slaves , did they just through their ribs away ???
Let's keep playing that race card CNN. I am getting sick and tired of this race crap being tossed out there by the liberal media like it's a golden badge they wear with pride. Let's just go ahead and declare that Blacks created the Earth, Moon and Stars. Would that make them happy? Probably not, because then they would complain how the stars shine so White. Well, guess what, if the stars were black, you wouldn't see them.
What a piece of human debris. Go back and crawl under your rock and die.
why? aside form the fact that fox and conservatives race bait just as much as liberals do, he is correct. There is zero reason to start an argument over the racial origins of bar-b-q. It is a false issue. It is a non issue. (because you know, people all over america gather round their grills every night and bemoan racial differences). You people are feral minded. SHUT UP. ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!!!!!!
Bar-b-q has existed in every inhabited continent for millenia.
You said it correctly, i so agree with you. I too am sick and tired of the BS when it comes to any article on here. What a bunch of CRAP................Maybe we should just bow out, or hey heres a idea stap a NAACP verision of BBQ for blacks only.
... a little sensitive there, eh? Maybe there's a reason it bothers you so much.
The reason he is so bothered is because race baiting over non-issues distracts from the real issues. ALL AMERICANS should be more concerned about distribution of food in inner city schools rather than who invented bar-b-q. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE GET UPSET. It is unproductive to racialize every single thing on planet earth. WE NEED JOBS. Hello? We;re gonna race bait bar-b-q instead. People have every right to be disgusted CNN uses race to draw readers to non-race based issues and your defense of that says more about yOUR lack of character than anything else.
Then, Forrest Gump... stay.... away....from... liberal....media...Go home, be gone.
See 'em in the daytime, you bet.
What a piece of crap this Article is. I cannot begin to express my outrage at CNN for letting some racists piece of crap to even be published on this website. You know , i cannot understand why this article is so pro black? Black people didnt invent BBQ , The Native Americans did. I am so sick of the White guilt that this country has. Get over it America and get over the whole dividing people against each other. Its funny that Black people have a plethora of opportunity these days and its still not good enough for you people. I cannot wait to make my fortune and get out of this Sissy country that the United States has become. Everybody is so freaking politically correct these days that it makes me want to go NUTS. I hate you people and I want you to know that you have ruined my Country.
So "make your fortune" whatever that is and get out. We won't miss you. Promise.
Since when it become your country, have you served in the military, fire department, police officer or any public service. Have you even read the consitution?, What sacrifice have you made ?
if u only knw how stupid u sound ..lmao
It is a pity that anything said in public discourse today has to come down to race. EVERYONE here in the country has contributed in some way to its culture and well being. Why is it so hard for people of different groups to recognize and celebrate the things that make us different, but more importantly the things that we share in common...the things that bind us together. No one living today made the choices that set our country on its path of being a diverse nation, but we all can make a choice every day to be courteous, gracious, kind and understanding. We can also make the choice to be hateful, spiteful and downright mean. To paraphrase what a wise man once said, " We can prosper together as brothers or perish together as fools." BBQ is something wonderful that most American love and that many Americans who are black, white and from other cultures cook very well. When I was overseas as a proud US Marine no one saw us as a black American, white American or Asian American...we were simply Americans and either loved or hated for carrying that title...not for the color of our skin. What a shame we don't see ourselves as simply Americans. As an American of mixed heritage...black, white and Native American, I love who I am and am proud to be who I am. For all those here who have posted such ugly comments about other people, take a good look at yourself and think about the state of your soul and how you can look your family and friends in the face and smile knowing you have such hate and/or contempt in your heart for your fellow man. No one on earth is perfect. God bless everyone here and lets make our country better instead of pulling apart. Much love.
Well said. I am a third generation Sailor who proudly served my country for 23 years. When overseas and interacting with other countries I was seen as a representative of the United States. My great-great grandfather was a slave owner but despite the variouse social challenges faced by four generations of my family, we all for most part have been public servants seving as educators, police officers to military and consider ourselves proud Americans.
Amazing, truly amazing. BBQ and grilling is the oldest known form of cooking known through the anthropological records. Grilling, BBQ, and smoking was the most effective method for preserving food until folks figured out that salt could do the same thing. Long before anyone decided to draw imaginary lines to mark their territories, long before the land bridges opened and vast migrations of hominids across the planet, long before slavery, long before white people, long before humans turned to CNN for such nonsense articles.....
Who cooks the best? Well folks, that depends on your own personal tastes, and has not a damn thing to with race
Y'all gots yer hood on a little too tight Jethro.
Your counrty? Are you an Indian...last time I look "YOUR" people have run this counrty to the ground...
The best Bar-B-Que in Texas is made at my house. The second best is made in Lockhart or Luling but I haven’t been able to determine a sure winner. The fourth best Bar-B-Que is made by a Black Pit Master near Austin, Texas
Just saying, my opinion is as valid as any other. Color has noting to do with good Bar-B-Que, I have had it all over the United States and many times the cooks were black but I never thought that anyone's race was a determining factor of them being good at cooking or not.
Fulshear Meat Market & Dozier's down southwest of Houston. Opie's up North of Austin isn't bad also.
I have tried Dozier's and liked it, I will look up Fulshear next time I am in Houston.
There are a lot of folks who spell their names just like you do in and around the Gonzalez, LaVaca and Colorado counties area that cook up a great plate of Bar-B-Que
well said Keith.
Bah, Texas barbecue is garbage...
Some people are too dumb to learn anything; others can discover tricks and talents of others and improve themselves. It is a personal choice I suppose.
White-washing is racism. Pure and simple.
Good 'cue knows no color boundaries...it simply is.
Amen, I don't care who cooks the meat. As long as its delicious I'm eating it. In Irving Tx, there is a place called hobbi's. Asian guy runs it. Don't exactly know if he is actually cooking it but I could care less. Its good food.
The video was mouth-watering. There's such variety of talent and enterprise in the U.S., in food and otherwise; frequently, though, what's brought forward media-wise is based on the experience and comfort level of producers, and so the coin often is shown only on one side, b/c it takes time to flip it over to expose the whole story, which reveals that wonderful variety I mentioned. I love lots of types of BBQ and well know that white and black southerners are its masters; but if you don't know much about the cuisine's tradition and watched the shows mentioned above you probably wouldn't get that. Does is matter that only one part of the story is told? Does that truncated story-telling create troublesome mischief and misimpression? Does it keep folks from exploring all that's available to them in our country?
My experience is that BBQ is generally some inedible burnt offering that you choke down at requisite social events just because that is what the lord intended us to do. The thing experienced African American cooks make in my part of the country....East Texas...is quite edible and readily shared any time, therefore I am not sure you are insulting them by leaving them out of this teledocumentary. Maybe they don't want to be associated with burnt shoe leather...just wondering. Maybe they could have their own show on delicious meats cooked outdoors.
Bob, You poor thing! If your experience with BBQ is burnt meat, then you have never been to a REAL Southern BBQ! Real Southern BBQ is SSSLOWWWW cooked to be juicy and tasty, but NEVER dry and burnt! It is all about slow smoking while keeping the meat juicy! You can choose whatever sauce you want, but the sauce should ALWAYS be added LAST! Some BBQ lovers skip the sauce and just eat the juicy smoked meat! If your BBQ is swimming in red soupy stuff, it is NOT real southern BBQ!
Everyone who is a TRUE BBQ connoisseur knows the best BBQ is made by the black southern Pit Masters (Mistress?). I have been known to take my (white) family to areas that most people would call "sketchy" to get the best BBQ in any given southern town. YUM!! Nothing racist about it. Good food knows no racial boundaries.
I bet you have no idea how racist you sound, Mr. Miller. Hopefully this flood of similar comments will encourage some introspection on your part... but I'm not holding my breath.
Yes, I feel the same way when 10 people on the NBA or college basketball court are black.
How racist is that? Saying its whitewashed?????
If someone wrote an article titled "stop blackwashing basketball" CNN would have stopped this before it was even posted.
Liberal reverse discrimination at its best.
Guess you've never heard of Jeremy Lin, huh?
What does an asian (one of what, 3 in the NBA) have to do with that comment? The name you've chosen to comment under speaks volumes to your intelligence. I'd wager that "Huh?" comes out of your mouth quite a bit.
Now you are black listed.
What a ridiculous article. Real barbecue lovers recognize that race has no bearing on the quality of the 'cue. We recognize any pit master – black, white, Asian, female, male. It does not matter. The problem lies with those damned competition shows on Food Network. It seems they only feature white pit masters.Those who seek out the best look everywhere.
So much of TV is just fake, staged drama meant to look like authentic competitive interaction. Even the so-called cooking "competitions." TV is so far from real that it is laughable to imagine anything about it is genuine. Everybody is a caricature, blame it on "Reality" TV.
Or how about this.. Instead of sitting on your high horse writing this article and making a race issue out of nothing.. why don't you go interview great pitmasters and include african american without making an issue of it? Quit dividing and start uniting. Use your position responsibly for once.
What is it about folks in the news always making it a race issue. Seriously?! African Americans make up just 12% of demographics. If one is an outstanding pitmaster, I'm sure that will stand on it's own two feet and he will get recognition. Let it go guys... Let ... it... goo......
Nah, if there is "white-washing," it needs to be called out – wherever it is.
Attention everyone! Attention everyone! The white picket fence on Maple Street is racist.
I'm sorry, but it's a silly article that smacks of racism. Having any type of thing, and then expecting a 'shout out to African Americans/Native Americans/Martian Immigrants' does not show appreciation to that race, it shows that you didn't expect to see them there, so you think to 'shout out' to them. That's not the event being racist, that's the person expecting a 'shout out' being racist. Since when is cooking meat over a fire related to the color of your skin? Yes, lots of black people barbeque, but it's not like it was invented by African Americans, or even Americans in general.
Pretty funny take on bbq. I agree. I want to hear some black folk perspective on bbq too lol.
...dont' whitewash ...oh but thats not offensive ... not at all how ever if it were directed towards blacks it would be ... Stuipid C00Ns when will they learn their place in my fields picking cotton
So, how long have you been with the KKK?
Dang. All that money to send send you to 5th grade and for what?
If you go back far enough, ALL our ancestors were black. Thank you, great, great, great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great,great, great, Grandpa!!!
Or Grandma!!!
then why are the palms of your hands and feet white? We all started white skinned, the sun took care of the rest.
Your fingertip hold on reality is slipping.
But over 50,000 years of evolving in an opposite enviroment where people had to farm/plan/store/build in order to survive the winter, instead of just running faster when lions are around helped asians and whites plan and build better than they can run.
Well then that explains my out there loud behavior.
And these black ancestors were descended from . . . .
Always crying
Thank you CNN for letter these people having a voice here, the black American, the white American, the Hispanic American, and what-ever American they want to be. BBQ doesn't belong to anyone, no more that Atlantians own the mythical city Atlantis, BBQ belongs to everyone, and Adrian Miller is giving a point of view, and it looks like the rest of you took that opportunity also. How many of you spilled you own blood next to a fellow soldier to insure that each and everyone of us has the right to voice our opinion? As we approach July 4 you may want to take a moment and think about that, and while your at it think about that group of men in the 2nd Continental Congress that started a the ball rolling towards those freedoms of speech and eventually the rights of all men and woman, LGBT, Christian, Jew, Islamic, Buddhist. And those rights include cooking BBQ and civilly talking about what we believe in. So go out and cook some family heirloom BBQ recipe, and if you have some neighbors you don't like because of their race, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, or freckles, ask them over and offer them a peace. Whoops, I mean piece. You might like them better than you think, and what have you got to lose? I can tell you you have everything to gain.
You are ridiculous. Really, really ridiculous.
Well said Ranger. It's not about race. It's about good food, friends and neighbors.
wow
I haven't heard any Spanish-Americans complaining about not being given public credit for having invented barbecue in the first place. Food should always be about gathering together to share and enjoy.
The Spanish invented cooking meat over a fire? Who knew.
BBQ isnt simply cooking meat over a fire, its cooking meat (generally cheap cuts) over low heat to melt the fat off. Thats the distinction between BBQ and grilling.
People were probably BBQing long before writen languages. The romans and egyptians could make ice overnight without electricity
Most etymologists believe that barbecue derives from the word barabicu found in the language of the Taíno people of the Caribbean and the Timucua of Florida, and entered European languages in the form barbacoa. The word translates as "sacred fire pit." The word describes a grill for cooking meat, consisting of a wooden platform resting on sticks.
From the french, meaning from the beard to the tail.
That is the most ridiculous bunch of cr ap that I have seen written today.
Keith,
and you know its wrong because????
Well, at the in-laws it's about tater salad, macaroni salad, inedibly charred hot dogs, and burgers so overdone it's like eating a hockey puck. It's a "starch and charcoal" kinda menu. Nothing like real down home 'cue, dear lord forgive them for they really have no idea what they are doing. Amen. Sigh.
Isn't that what BET is for? They will continue to cry me a river.
You're missing the point. BBQing in the US was a trend set off primarily by African Americans at family reunions and after Church service. No doubt Whites contributed as well, but BBQing today especially in the South is dominated by African American pitmasters.
No it isnt. And even if it was, their skin color has about as much to do with it as their big toe.
False. African Americans invented, and perfected BBQ. The only difference between the United states, and places like Canada, Australia, New Zealand is that the US was 1/3 Black at one time and the Black people are why America became great.
Lexe...you may be the most ignorant person I've seen on these boards in awhile? America was 1/3 black? False. African-Americans invented and perfected BBQ? False. Just because they cooked it alot "after church and at family reunions" doesn't mean they invented it, tard. Guess that means they invented fried chicken and watermelon too? And yes, there is no such thing as an African-American, Latin-American, or Irish-American...unless that person was born in that country and became a US citizen later. Most African-Americans couldn't name five countries in Africa. I guess I should start calling myself an Czech-American, and wear their colors, and wear chain around my neck with the outline of the country, despite the fact that I've never been there and can't name a single ancestor from there (like African-Americans with Africa). Get over yourself. Less than 2% of the population owned slaves in 1860. LESS THAN 2%!!! And there were also 4000 blacks who also owned other black slaves. And it was 150 years ago!!! So PLEASE PLEASE stop interjecting your racist garbage and focusing your entire life on being black, because less than 2% percent of the population owned slaves 150 years ago, and bought them from blacks in Africa who sold them. America didn't because great because of African-Americans, it became great despite them.
No its not. Making a t-shirt so everyone knows you went to a family reunion was invented by blacks. The rest wasn't.
Aaaaand the Tea Partiers and assorted whiners come out to play. Life must be brutal for them, having to live in a society that caters to them 98% and still have to suffer the indignity of someone piping up to suggest that perhaps the world is a bit more complex than that.
You are a black racist. There is no such thing as an "African-American". If you live in America legally, you are an "American". Get over this "I was born a poor black child"crap" and get to work being part of society.
I live in Texas and doubt the author can meet my standards for BBQ.
Lived in Texas, lived in Florida, lived in California. Hands down the best BBQ I've ever had was BBQ I didn't cook myself.
So there is no such thing as Irish-American, or Latin American either ? You white racist .
You are pretty racist. And dumb"
Could you whine anymore? And stop with the race card crap.
And where is Stubbs bbq headquarters ?
And who is Stubbs ?
Bbw Earl Campbell used to make some good hot links.
I'm not sure what TV the author was watching. I wasn't keeping track but I saw several Food Network shows that featured BBQ restaurants and/or black chefs.
I come on here to maybe see a few recipes, and found out it's nothing but a racist article.
What's going to be your next article CNN? Don't whitewash the carne asada this Fourth of July?
Agreed. I'm thinking this will be some awe inspiring 'cue talk, instead I get intense bickering about race relations. Thank you for mentioning carne asada, it gets my mind off the bickering.
Even a simple article about food has to carry the CNN agenda. It is pathetic.
I agree with e, why are we still called African Americans? Africans don't often don't see us as being connected with them and like most foreigners don't much like us due to the media and I really don't like them that much, just call me American or black.
http://www.dropthedash.com is still pushing to drop these silly hyphens that only qualify our Americanism.
Pertaining to this article, yes, you are hypersensitive. I am a southern black and enjoyed the Food Network show. I knew it could've – maybe even should've – included more representatives of the art. But, maybe, they just didn't have the time or applicants or whatever to cover it all. Sometimes, these shows are just thrown together on a whim, ya know?
Then pick a darn name for yourselves and stick with it. Half the time I use the term "black" and get sidewise glances, and when I use "African American," I don't make anyone happy either. I will call you anything, really. JUST PICK SOMETHING.
How about " Previous Owned American"?
Don't let the whites mess up your thinking. They have Europe, we have Africa, the land of gold, diamonds, exotic tropics, and glorious unspoiled nature as our ancestral homeland
Then why the hell are you here? If your not living off government entitlements then you have no reason not to go. I mean everything is so superior there, it makes no sense to stay here.
Amen
Then why have not the natives used any of that. I mean I have drank from a still working 2000+yo aqueduct still supplying a european city with water but charities need whites to fly to africa to dig wells.
Yes,you do.The land of ongoing religious strife,civil wars,disease,genocide,illiteracy,and absolutely poverty.Yes,the Motherland!
Don't forget decade long civil wars, AIDS destroying the population, corrupt warlord "presidents" that murder entire villages on a whim, people still living with no electricity and running water... the list goes on. If you love Africa so much, move there and see how well received you are by them. Fact is, most Africans dislike American black people more than a lot of racist whites do. They see you as uneducated, fat, family abandoning, greedy and very undeserving of all the hand outs and special treatment you receive. They see you over here, getting all the help in the world and you STILL can't make anything of yourselves.
How about if I just call you Scott? I know, I tend to think outside the box.
Thats a fair assertion. My travels through the deep south have found many small town family restaurants owned and operated by black/african american cooks. Sometimes Im nervous to go in as a single white traveler but hunger overtakes that. Its usually the mother who gives me the warmest welcome, her kids waiting tables, and dad or grandma back in the kitchen tending the smoker or prep. Not saying its just them and no white counterparts, but in fairness at least around 50/50 in racial mix... noteworthy for fair coverage. And the cornbread, collards and fried okra does seem to taste better sorry...
It isn't clear from your comment whether you're *from* the Deep South, but down there, a love of good food is truly one of the great social equalizers, not not just in a racial sense but in economic and cultural ones as well. It's extraordinarily common to find restaurants in heavily black (or white) areas where the clientele is far more demographically diverse than the surrounding area would suggest. I'm white and I've been going to black-owned-and-operated restaurants all my life without thinking anything unusual or discomfiting about it. The people running these places have, without exception, been friendly, welcoming and fun to talk with. It's just how things go down there.
I am a Caucasian whose earliest memories are largely about food, and BBQ in particular. I have yet to eat any white BBQ that came anywhere close to that I've enjoyed at black BBQ restaurants. My research has been done in forty-nine American states (most of which wouldn't know BBQ if it bit them in the butt), and I stand by it.
Well hurry up and make a show about it so they will stop crying about how unfair t.v is.
No your not. White people don't refer to themselves as caucasians. I know. I'm white. I can, however, offer a similiar observation regarding barbecue. I've had plenty. If I had to racially rank the top ten ,the best and 2nd best were made by black folks. The third best was made by koreans. Then four through ten were almost all made by my fellow whites, with eight being a brazilian restaurant . These were all restaurants BTW. No homemade stuff.
I am angered by the underrepresentaion of white people in the NBA, olympic track and field, the prison population, flash mobs, AIDs patients, welfare recipients, unqualified government hires, looters
Like good barbecue, my annoyance over this subject has been burning like a slow fire, and it hit a flashpoint today.
Brilliant comment. This guy is racist.
actually, there are more white welfare recipients and unqualified government job holders than any other group. More in prison, too.
There are more black people PERCENTAGE WISE in prison and on welfare. Of course the number of whites will be higher because they make 75% plus of the population. I hate it when ignorant people make that statement. Do research.
Just to inform the ignorant racists among us, when people are denied equal opportunity to work, and earn a living, the next option is welfare, when that option is not adequate all that is left is crime. The crime is the result of whites preventing Blacks from access to good jobs, education , etc... And don't pretend it isn't true.
Thats right Lexe, whites people keep blacks from having jobs and it makes them turn to crime and welfare. These horrible whites also brainwash blacks into eating BBQ, becoming unhealthy and overweight and having shorter life span than whites. If Obama loses in November, it will be beacause of racists whites too.
Whites cant be unqualified for govt. jobs as they have to get in on merit not affirmative action. Its funny in 90% black Detriot there are often all white jurys as those that write down criminal convictions on the jury duty card dont get picked
Wow. the story was about barbecue and the contribution black folks have made to the art form. everybody's gotta get all bent outta shape about that. amazing. there is this simmering hatred which runs through people these days. they're angry about the economy. they're angry about jobs. they're just pissed off at everything. and the slightest word or phrase comes along to open that wound and BAM!, you get a race war. jesus, people. grow the f**k up.
welcome to todays America Bill. Were most everyone has to hate something and someone or they just dont feel right about themselves. Its no longer United states, its the Divided states. And it shows.
If this article wasn't about race you might have a point.
So sick of blacks and latinos and chinese and all the hyphenate Americans. CNN has become so ridiculous. Maybe they just mirror how ridiculous this country has become. I have European and American Indian background, but I am American above all else. I don't feel guilty about being white, and I don't feel guilty about slavery. I don't care about shouting out to black contributions to anything. I don't give a rip about the latino vote. I also am not one of those whites that rolls over and assumes asian anyone is smarter or better than I am. If people would rather be some hyphenate culture above American, I have no use for you, and I think you should get the hell out because you are hyphenate UN-American.
then go back to Europe. no wait you have a splash of Native in you maybe we need to put you on a reservation cause with an attitude like that you dont deserve to live in our society.
"our society"? blacks can not be social or a part of any "normal" society. Its hard enough for the blacks to quit killing each other over trivial matters. According to the other black racists on this site, africa is the land of gold, diamonds, and everything good, but yet they remain here, I do not understand.
Yes, Africa may be the land of gold, diamonds, and all that. It is also the land of blood thirsty warlords, rampant AIDS, famine and starvation, rape, and brutality. That's what greed over gold and diamonds will do, people get their hands and heads chopped off by child soldiers with machetes over that milk and honey. It's a scary and tragic place.
Thats right, anyone who wants us all to simply be Americans and Human Beings does not beling in the United Racial States of Race-merica.
US blacks on welfare live better than the top 1% of natives of black nations. If they could support a 1stworld enviroment they would do so in their homelands. I have drank from a 2000+yo aqueuct still providing a european city with water yet charities need whites to fly to africa to dig wells.
Dumb title of an article. Just racist. I won't read it. I am here to complain. I am biracial lady and sick of "whitewash" this and blah blah blah that. You can't go and talk crap on other races, and why would you, but you can bag on the white guy. Nice.
Oh right...BBQ Got a boot on da neck do dey?
What a ridiculous article from a pa,t hetic race baiting loser.
Black's, if you buy into this, you will buy anything.
Then again 90% of you voted for Od, umbo sooo nevermind.
Ya know why you never see Hispanics Having a BBQ? The beans keep falling through the grill.
You're lame.
"What's regularly missing in these features are shout-outs to African Americans."
Look, if any media outlet put up a picture of a black person holding up some barbecued spare ribs, the whole place would explode with accusations of promoting a negative racial stereotype. So the media stopped doing it. Now you're complaining because the media isn't doing it. There is just no way to please *anyone* anymore, is there?
i sorta agree. us blacks are hypersensitive sometimes. like i didnt see nothing wrong with the Mary J Blige chicken commercial for KFC. SENSITIVE.
amen
Get over it. Blacks do not need to be in every part of the entertainment sector. Considering Blacks account for 13% of the population why are they part of over 50% of the entertainment industry.
if you think black account for 50% of entertainment, then your not that bright.
a little sidetrack but here's a question. why is the term 'african american' still used? if someone is born in america they're american right?
The best 'Q I ever ate was from the Front Porch in Panama City, FL. An African American retired Airman & his Wife made the best ribs I've ever eaten. And let's be real here folks, BBQ like the Blues & Jazz owes a huge debt and much gratitude to African Americans. And that's all that's all this white boy has to say about that!
I live there now, where was that so I can get some?
Glenn's just outside Panama City had somem absolutely awesome BBQ
I live in Panama City, have had Glenn's, and rate it fair to middlin. have had BBQ from kcMO, TX, GA, and the Carolinas. The best by far IMO, was a small BBQ truck in W. Palm Bchon Southern blvd
I forgot to mention Memphis
But the fact that Glenn was black did absolutely NOTHING to make his BBQ taste better!
CNN has found a great way to get people to come to their website. Create silly articles that incite peoples worst attributes.
If a show about barbecue without a black person is insensitive than what do you call a channel made specifically for blacks (BET)?
... its called making up for the 5 major networks not having hardly any black shows.
The population of the United States consists of 12.6% Black. Yet blacks should have more shows catering to the black population than the whites? What is the magic number of black shows that needs to be aired before people stop crying about equal opportunity? I know...until the majority of shows, job positions, and wealth are held by blacks, the crying about equal opportunity will never end. The sense of black entitlement held because of slavery is the only argument some blacks bring to the table. Did you know that slavery existed throughout the history of man? White on white even? OMG! Did you know that black on black slavery has existed throughout the 20th century in Africa?
yo are so right. i am sick of hearing about equal opportunity. we should act the way your ancestors did and just take yours. thats right take your money, land stuff, enlsave you keep you oppressed, make laws that prevent your descendents from learning for generations, feed you bad food, and instill a breeding program so we only get the hot looking women from you when we want them after all you have to be good for something since you are too lazy to work (history shows american whites are lazy just ask the business people who keep shipping jobs overseas). yup thats what we should do. no point in getting along or even trying to show that color means absolutely nothing when it comes to talent. we are smarter, stronger and better than you in every way when given the exact same environment to grow and excel. statistics show that. but that is the big secret so shhh....take your penis envy and go away.
THey are only 13% of the population but they are overrepresented in rape/murder and every other crime but DUI.
Only black people barbecue? Why are some people offended when a black person is not on every show? Silly article meant to stir the pot. Good Job CNN. With 24 hour news we now have to make up articles to make people fight against each other.
This article and the comments it's given birth to has left me with only one thing to say...
LOLWUT?
Let's get real here... barbecue isn't just putting chicken and ribs on the grill. It's actually about the placement and displacement of heat. The "race card" gets played all the time and across any topic that Blacks want to make fools of themselves and claim their territory. If you ask a question or challenge a fact, it's a racist comment, according to them. We've created a monster over fifty years ago, folks and it will only get worse. The last time the Black community was working and truly contributing to society in some form was during the existence of slavery – it's a hard, cold fact.
Solo=Racist.
I think that although harsh, Solo makes a real point that is based in truth and we know it (we may not want to say it out loud, but today, there is a lot of anger towards how things played out historically.)
The only people angry are southerners, and they don't count because they got pwn'd in the Civil War.
That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Considering there are more whites on welfare, I think we contributed a lot. Rock and Roll, Blues, Jazz, the cotton gin, Peanut butter, civil rights, we fought in WWI and WWII and countless of campaigns.
I hate to say it, but I don't think that the comment from Solo is racist – it's a bit harsh but still true in some form – I've looked up the rates on welfare dependency and Blacks have by far the largest percentage of initial filing and then remaining on the social program. It's an entitlement mentality that costs millions every year. Plus, the birth rate for Blacks out of wedlock and in prisons is far more than any other race combined.
Hey Sean?
I hate to burst your bubble of misinformation but...... George Washington Carver didn't invent Peanut Butter, at all. It was invented by the Aztecs in about the 15th century and Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin in 1794.
...and white people didnt discover America. so whats your point?
@Reese: Ok, you've raised a few good pojnts on this particular diatribe. However, just to be fair, it was in fact Caucasians that walked across the Bering Straight. So yes, "white" people DID discover America.
Get a life
Maybe the shows are for a white demographic? Maybe black people don't like to watch people BBQ on TV? Maybe Food Network auditioned a bunch of people and picked the ones they wanted on their show without regard to race and these are the picks? Maybe this is just a very poor attempt at inflammatory journalism (just typing the word "journalism" while in a CNN thread made me throw up in my mouth a little). Maybe you picked just ONE show from like, two hundred and are trying to make something racist out of nothing. Sorry, no matter what you were trying, you came out with nothing. Nothing at all.
Solo, some of what you say is true until you get pretty racist, and quite uninformed about Black contribution to society, but this is not surprising most white people are truly racist, some don't even know it..
Most whites are no less "racist" than most blacks, you only see the racism you want to see, and thats the problem with our country's race problem and why we will never get over it, until we start being fair that is. If Solo is racist, so is the author of this article, except one has a louder voice.
I'm actually a very accepting person – what I don't tolerate is abuse of my hard-earned tax dollars and those who cheat the system. I can't change facts and call it as it is. If those in the Black community object or don't care for the stats, please, by all means – work for change. (Or, just work.)
I'm a graduate history student who has read Solo's posts – pretty right on, actually in facts.
Oh, guess what? After the law mandated that Blacks had to paid for their labor, guess who could not get a job, last hired first fired, etc...? We didn't come over here on vacation, clown. Think.
Adrian Miller should be fired for writing a dumb article like this. As a black man living in America, it saddens me to read an article like this.
Let me get this straight…A white women states her opinion about barbeque and now black folks are playing the race card. Also, the article never mentions that black people “invented” barbeque. Some of you need to take a good reading comprehension course. Your school system failed in educating you.
Did they invent fried chicken and watermelon too? Oh wait, that's racist. But honestly, I'm tired of my fried chicken being blackwashed. What a trolling article.
LOL!
Playing the race card when talking about barbeque "leaves a bad taste in my mouth".
What he said!
Basketball was invented by a white man, but all the greatest players are black and have been for many, many decades. Was it "blackwashed"?
Culture crosses boundaries, Korean people may start BBQing next. Live with it.
Koreans have been BBQing for ages. Its called BULGOGI. Check it out.
So now they claim they invented BBQ? Sorry, it was not the blacks who invented BBQing. It was the native Americans who invented BBQing as we know it in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBQ
I watch a lot of food shows, and I've noticed that most of them accurately reflect our demographics. It was food shows that woke me up to "asado" (Southern Southern barbecue, so to speak). Also, this writer needs to remember that there are several adult white people in the U.S. for every adult black person. One show on the Food Network doesn't establish a case for racist bias on all "mass media" food shows.
So true. In spite of all the attention black and Hispanic people get in media, the country is still roughly 70% white. Therefore white people are going to be represented much more in most things. It's just basic math. Stop crying racism over every little thing.
Nobody ever gave blacks credit for rock and how Elvis basically copied off black artists but got the fame.
Your chitlin's are burnin'.
I think they make a medicated cream that helps clear that up.
Actually I see and read quite often where black people are credited for this. You need to read more.
Kind of like how Blacks are credited for Jazz and not the Jews, right?
Wrong. I bet you get all of your historical "knowledge" from comic books.
Bill... you obviously know nothing at all about music. By the way, how is your cousin David doing?
That's nonsense. Everyone with a greater than room temp IQ acknowledges the Black roots of Rock 'n' Roll.
There is a good point in this story whether you want to admit it or not. That FN show was the six best in the country; ACCORDING TO WHO though???
Most of them were never heard of except for Dave, thanks to Famous Dave's. The rest were handpicked by some stuffy research team, who didn't bother to do their homework, I bet. Not ONE black pitmaster??? That's racist!
I think they choose people who won big BBQ competitions, they weren't just randomly drawn out of a hat.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF RACE for cryin' out loud. It's BARBEQUE!! Geeze, anyway.
Jenn, great point and comment! I watch the barbecue contest on FN all the time and never see my people featured. I just knew that we had to have some excellent barbecuers out there! This is a fantastic article. Oh yes to those who say this isn't about race, IT REALLY IS!!
Famous Dave's is the McDonalds of BBQ...
Agreed, well said. Not bad, just commercialized, consistent but lacking character.
She is not doing BBQ. Down south, this is how we cook / steam oysters. Get a big piece of thick sheet metal (not galvenized), get it really hot. Then spread out oysters in the shell and cover them with a piece of heavy burlap that has been soaked in water. In about 10 minuted, the oysters start to pop open from the steam. Yummy.
We call that a "clam bake" up North (the name is misleading – it's supposed to be all kinds of shellfish and crustaceans). And you're right – it's marvelous.
This article title is sort of offensive... Imagine the hulaballu (sp?) that would erupt if a CNN reporter were to write an article entitled 'Don't Blackwash the Jello Fruit Salad'
Ha, that's funny.
"Ha, that's funny." I think not!! It's educational and very true. You all have a great day.
I think of barbecue as a Southern thing, not as a racial thing. As someone pointed out, the primary styles in barbecue are Carolina, Texas, Missouri, and Tennessee. Those are states. Not black, white, hispanic, etc. I'm not sure how it's a black thing when a common way whites celebrated in the 1800s South was with barbecues. I actually HAVE seen blacks on Food Network barbecue shows, including a Throwdown with Bobby Flay episode and several Challenges. Further, Down Home with the Neelys (a black couple) often features barbecue and other soul food creations as does Big Daddy's House (a black male who was on The Next Food Network Star). Huh. I think I just realized I watch far too much tv lol.
Seriously, 2 questions: re: cooking bbq in the South since the 1800's...
1: WHO do you think cooked those original barbeque meals? What color do you suppose their skin was?
and 2: Where do you think the whites (mostly from England, a land and a culture not really known for knowing how to slow cook meats over open flame the way bbq is usually done) learned to cook bbq?
There may not have been any contestants of color who made the contest cut, but it DOES seem quite odd that there were NO people of color on the show. Might need some attention there, Food Network.
answer 1) BLACK!
answer 2) mamma
Mike in NJ thinks that every soul who lived in the south during the 1800s was a slave owner. LOL. Stop with the race card already, Mikey boy. It's barbeque, not a civil rights issue.
No sir, I do not. Consider and answer my questions. Don't just say the first nonsense that comes into your head.
Why is it that everytime a so-called African American is posted on any site, even something that is'nt bad. You all still have something to say. Would it kill you people just to read and click on to something else? Why do you comment so much on African American's? Why so much hatred? Especially when AA's and whites have absolutely nothing in common, no more than a Chinese and a French man.
Umm.. she started it.
Another point is that most of time these shows don't know the difference between grilled and BarBQ'd.... lol.
About half the time they call any steak on a propane grill barbque. It Ain't.
This should be a non-issue. I highly doubt FN casting directors set out to make an all-white BBQ show. These were the six best applicants that would make for the most interesting TV, bottom line. I agree that the strong black history associated with BBQ is important, but I've seen at least two documentaries on FN before that explicitly dealt with that subject. Aren't we at a point where the color of your skin shouldn't matter, especially when it comes to something as trivial as food preparation? I've had plenty of amazing BBQ prepared by someone who is black, but the best BBQ I've ever had, hands down, is made by a white woman in Chattanooga, TN. I will drive (and have driven!) 6 hours for that BBQ.
Native Americans were smoking meats way before the Europeans came to the Americas, and subsequently brought the Africans over...
Is it possible that the Africans.Were smoking meats in Africa too..?
Cooking was the "Slaves" job.
The parts you BBQ were always scraps.
The masters refuse.
Maybe no one of African American descent applied for the show.
Seriously? It's barbecue. There are 4 very distinct kinds of barbecue from their respective regions: Texas, Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kansas City. You can't pit them against each other because it's like comparing pb & j to pb & honey. Good, but everyone has their own preference.
Everybody eats, everybody poops, and everybody's human. That's our race. Now I'm going to go fire up my grill.
And silly me thought that "whitewashing" might refer to the omission of how unhealthy food prepared on a BBQ is. I wouldn't claim it because it's an activity that has had its day and should be avoided now that we have safer and less polluting ways to prepare food.
That is easily the dumbest most ignorant comment of the week here at CNN.
Congrats, that is no easy feat.
Barbeque? STFU, it was invented by Neanderthals about 100,000BC! Pass me a mammoth rib!
You obviously have no idea.
and you obviously have no sense of humor. It's food, not astrophysics.
Seriously? Even food has now become racially sensitive. Grow the F up people, it's food. I don't care what race you are, if the food tastes good, then I am happy. End of story. People need to stop being so over sensitive and get over it.
The only reason it might be a black thing is that blacks tend to be much more patient than whites. (for good reason) And the thing that makes good BBQ is long and slow cooking. You can't hurry it like a lot of people try. Besides, I think blacks really own BBQ. Certainly not white Texans!
You really shouldn't "think" without the proper equipment, you know. It makes you look more foolish than you actually are.
these race bating articles do nothing more then get everyone up in arms with each other, The journalists that put this smut out need to find something else to get views.
African Americans invented, and perfected BBQ, now the whites are trying to co-opt it, as usual.
LOL! as usual. give it 50 years and they'll say eminem invented rap and hip hop
I love that! Thanks Chris for keeping it funny and thoughtful!
Eminem? Please... everyone knows it was the Beastie Boys.
Kidding aside, I actually knew someone who thought hip hop was invented by Blondie because they were early fans of NYC rap battles and had one of the first "rap' songs played on mainstream radio.
CW McCall invented rap when he did "Convoy" in 1972.
Seriously?... African-Americans invented barbecue?! I suppose they invented fire, too. Why don't we see any media about white folks associated with "soul food"? After all, it's actually southern home cooking. I grew up on it. OBTW, my heritage is Scotch-German, but my family has been American since the early 1700's.
as a white person im not tring to co-opt anything stop assuming that of all white people please.. we all know black people dont like being stereotyped so i would ask you dont do it to us
Yeah, right. They invented Ford, apple pie, fried chicken, and watermelon too.
yes. we want bbq too.
Excuse me but BULLSH*T!!! I'm on the circuit and have competed with black competitors and there was a black contestant on "Best In Smoke" just the other day. And what about the Food Network show "Down Home With The Neely's"?
Maybe BBQ is being "whitewashed" and if so they should show more of the cross section but most of the places I've competed the majority of competitors are white.
You can't show what ain't there folks...
Very good point. Like so much in American culture, the African-American aspect and contribution tends to be co-opted by whites, whether it\'s music, cooking or a myriad of other cultural influences.
BBQ is a pretty good example of this dynamic, with the Bobby Flays of the country setting themselves up as the arbiters of what is good and bad in \'cue. To an extent, it\'s understandable that FN and other networks want to cater to their demographic, but c\'mon! Even the more well known African-American outfits get sidelined for whatever reason. Stubb\'s, anyone? Now, granted, Stubb\'s has made its way and dominates its market, but what of the \"mom & pop\" outfits throughout the South and elsewhere? They should be judged on their \'cue, of course, but there\'s something deeper that needs to be addressed, culturally. The culinary context of culture is paramount, and should always be taken into consideration, especially in matters of taste.
umm as a white person i dont co-opt anything so please stop assuming all whites do that i dont sit there and make stereotypes of black people so please dont do the same to me
I can't think of a single person on the planet who knows less about barbecue than Bobby Flay. Liquid smoke and propane?
Agreed, Liquid smoke in reference to true 'cue is counter-intuitive, and the taste of it is downright disgusting. I'd rather eat a piece of meat cooked on one of those counter top "grills." Bland but not vomit inducing like fake BBQ flavor. Ew.
Why is this woman setting cardboard on fire?
Only you can SEE the cardboard Steve.
Looks like sheet metal to me...
Steve, do the world a favor and stay the hell out of the kitchen!
If your a woman, the only place for you is in the kitchen. Get your bare feet back there.
Looks to me like a half inch thick, if not thicker sheet of metal. What that has to do with BBQ I'm not entirely sure.
You stick the pig right on the fire and the metal keeps the smoke close to the meat.
Nice – ask a question and get bombarded. Sorry, don't cook on steel plates often while using a shovel.
Then how do YOU make mashed potatoes?
@Steven – funniest thing typed on here and at least it wasn't mean spirited!!! Thanks for the lol.
The author makes a good point. You see a bunch of hicks at BBQ competitions many times. However, there are many more important issues one could be annoyed with. Bad for your health. Food should transcend race. Let's not dwell on it.
I totally agree with this author. I've also noticed the absence of African Americans in BBQ events and TV shows and thought it was quite odd considering their obvious historical contribution to this southern American cuisine.
It would seem that the TV BBQ programs are a derivative of the BBQ competition scene since the TV producers just show what they can readily find and film. The lack of black competitors in the BBQ competitions certainly doesn't seem to be any sort of discrimination, but rather a lack of time/money/interest to compete on the part of black pitmasters.
Traveling to and entering the BBQ competitions is fairly expensive and as another recent article indicated, black wealth on average is notably lower than white wealth, and I suspect the black folks who are well off also aren't particularly avid pitmasters.
I wish there was a way to keep this comment at the top for everyone to read.
This is the real reason for the author's quite legitimate observation. And as you note, it is only racism if the producers consciously excluded qualified minorities. It is self-selection bias if the minorities choose real jobs over competitions.
And the shows that go visit the restaurants show plenty of minority owned joints - because you can make a living by owning a good BBQ joint.
The name that you've used to make your comment is very appropriate. It sounds like you're full of BS!
No kidding. The black pitmasters are out there making money, not wasting their time on some TV show. As far as the person behind the ridiculous article, well CNN always seems to be out there trying to foment racial conflict these days. What a bunch of losers.
This was a stupid response. Shows your racism.
Yeah, tell it to Fred Sanford.
I disagree. I watch a lot (too many) of these shows, and while most of the contestants in the competition type shows are not black, the shows I've seen either on BBQ history or on the best BBQ joints in the country have both blacks and whites.
It looks from the posters here that compete in BBQ events that the contestants ARE mostly white. Should the producers have biased the show to have more black contestants as a retro-"shout out" to their race's invention of/contribution to the style? Wouldn't that have given a misleading picture of the racial cross-section of these present day competitions?
It may have been nice to have a short segment showing the history of US BBQ from its beginnings to present-day, but it shouldn't be required.
As McHammerpants said above, I was taught that food transcends race, and for that matter ALL cultural creations that are great just based on their own merits, not the people that invented it.