Send Feedback

Gossip & News

 

?uestlove Defends Chef & Black History Month Menu

Written by Bill Johnson on February 8, 2010 1:08 pm

questoandchef

After accidentally igniting a national debate with a simple photo posted to his Twitter account, ?uestlove has come to the defense of the chef responsible for the controversial Black History Month menu in the cafeteria at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in NYC.

On Saturday, The Roots drummer and musical director for NBC’s “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” posted the following statement regarding what he calls “Soulfoodgate.”

in the past 3 days a twitpic went from being a funny observation to a national issue. every blogger and his mom weighed in on the issue. in the beginning it seemed harmless enough. but with nbc office employees weighing their two cents in without all the facts and the little bit of hate mail i been getting from uninformed individuals i decided to put this baby to bed with a final 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 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. “online journalists”, site commenters, even comedians (see wanda sykes on leno) have now taken my snapshot of leslie’s missionary zeal and retooled it for their own racialized – “let’s bash nbc for their conan sins” – flogging mission. 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?????

?uestlove, ever the nice guy, personally apologized to the chef for the unwanted attention and presented her with flowers, and a gift certificate to an upscale NYC spa.

RELATED: Wanda Sykes Is Scared Of NBC’s Dessert Options

RELATED: Is NBC’s Cafeteria Lunch Menu Racist? (NBC Chef Speaks)

Share with Friends!
  • BlackPlanet
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • email
Tags: ,

DAILY LINKS

 
  • http://theurbandaily.com/music/billjohnson/john-mayer-says-his-jimmy-is-racist/ John Mayer Says His Jimmy Is Racist | The Urban Daily

    [...] ?uestlove Defends Chef & Black History Month Menu TAGS: john mayer Share with [...]

  • http://ipowerrichmond.com/national/news-gossip/theurbandaily/john-mayer-says-his-jimmy-is-racist/ John Mayer Says His Jimmy Is Racist | iPowerRichmond – Power 92.1

    [...] ?uestlove Defends Chef & Black History Month Menu Share with [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/eveiyah/ eveiyah

    When are our people going to wake up to the fact that we are descendants of the hebrews who were going to be taken into captivity as bondsmen and bondsmaid when no one shall by us .

    One of the curse is that we would be by words, there fore oppressors know who we are and is fascilting the curses right now ,YAH state he would give the hebrews over to the wicked man if they did not live righteous ,and inorder for the hebrews to be identify in the later days their will be a sign to the whole world ,they will have children and they will not enjoy them ,the oppressor will benifit from their labour ,they will worship gods there fore father did not know and the list goes on DUET28.The only way out is to regain our identity by first denounced calling on the gods of the oppressors get a name that connects to The Almighty Yah and declare our soverignity to all nations google kingdom of yah of hosts.com.

    THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE CHANGE the curses are turning on them right now. Yah words never change he states woe unto them that lead my children astray ,but they come and blind the people eye with mythical fantasy religions.YAH LOVE

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/eveiyah/ eveiyah

    Judah – So-called Afro Americans or Black American – Gen 49:8-12 – The other tribes, Judah Brothers shall praises him for all his accomplishments in sports, academia, politics, economics, entertainment, law enforcement and military. Judah’s hand shall be in the neck of their enemies (European America Government) meaning America is the top ruling nation in the world (North America) America is the head. The neck of his enemies of all the tribes Judah is the most prominent position to over take their enemies. The other tribes shall bow down before Judah. To give respect and credence.
    (9th verse) A lion’s whelp represents a young courageous lion. The prey represents the bible. They have gone away form the truth of the bible. Thou art gone up. Means they have gone into the ways of the Europeans American and learned and accustomed themselves to his way of life, custom and traditions, and also to the ways of African traditions he stooped down, he couched as a lion. He is preparing to prance upon his enemy. But eventually all of his endeavors were stopped by the U.S. Government under the F.B.I., CIA and Illuminati by using infiltration tactics, drugs, and coin telpro operations. As an old lion who shall rouse him up? A more fight, spunk and courage. After the late 70′s Judah fell asleep again, and became very complacent with their enemy. The prophecies of the bible shall rouse him up.
    (10th verse) The Royal staff shall not depart form Judah. The scepter represents royalty that will not depart form Judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet. Administrating justice, order, and rulership until Shiloh come. So up until Christ came on the scene Judah still had maintained the rulership. Until it was taken by the Romans. Unto him, is “Christ”, shall the gathering of the people be. (11th verse) Binding his foal unto the vine bringing Israel back to the Most High, back to the covenant that the Most High made with Israel. Washing his garments in wine, shows the characteristics of Judah drinking large amounts of wine, and getting his clothes immerse in wine.
    (12th verse) His eyes shall be red with wine; the pupils of his eyes are red, being consumed with wine. “To perceive and receive wisdom, knowledge and understanding”. The White teeth characteristic of Judah.
    (Duet 33:7) – Moses blessing Judah, the most hears the prayers and requests of Judah and gathers him unto his people. Let his works be sufficient for him for survival. And finally in the final analysis the Most High is going to protect and deliver us from our enemies (all nations including the European American).
    I Chronicles 28:4 – The Most High chose Judah to be ruler of Israel. I Chronicles 5:2 – Of Judah came the Chief Ruler, which is seen amongst the so-called Afro-Americans. Zechariah 12:7 – The Most High shall save the tents of Judah first, that the other tribes magnify not themselves against Judah

blog comments powered by Disqus
?>