So earlier this week, black folk had their panties all in a bunch after Roots drummer ?uestlove posted a picture on Twitter of the NBC network’s cafeteria menu honoring Black History month – the menu items included fried chicken, collard greens, and cornbread, all dishes stereotypical of black culture. It turns out the culprit in all this is a woman named Leslie Calhoun…NBC’s black chef. Caught completely off guard by the backlash, Calhoun defended her good faith attempt at honoring our culture:

“All I wanted to do was make a meal that everyone would enjoy—and that I eat myself.”

I hear ya girl, I love me some cornbread my damn self. Anyhoo, in an attempt to quell a situation that was rapidly getting out of hand, ?uest released the following statement:

“When i saw the sign i have to admit….i was DYING. like literally LMAO!!! maybe it was juxtaposition of the words: collard & history, jalapeno & honor, fried, black and nbc?? maybe it was the acculturative stress of having 28 days for this food that represents you but come march…pot roast for life kid!

Whatever the case, I found this funny and when I find something funny I like to let the world in on the joke (twitpic anyone??). in NO way did i ever think that this was some cruel insensitive joke on behalf of jeff zucker [President and Chief Executive Officer of NBC Universal] and his comrades at nbc (the cafeteria isn’t even owned or operated by nbc).”

“I kinda get where leslie calhoun (our culinary rosa parks) was coming from; fried chicken as a fragrant, tasty, honorable metaphor for the struggles and accomplishments of america’s black masses.

The problem is..in the blogosphere, things can take on a life of their own….. my twitpic was just me poking fun, a Questlove still life that was clearly intended as a joke. What’s even funnier: race issues in post racial America. Potluck anyone?????”

The legendary hip-hop drummer took it a step further by releasing a picture of him presenting Calhoun with a bouquet of flowers and spa gift certificate…she’ll need a good massage after dealing with all that drama; you know how you black folk can get when you think racism is involved, LOL:

Tweet This Post