LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Feb. 25, 2009
Mayor Hits Rough Patch Over Watermelon Pic
Calif. Official E-Mailed Photo Of White House Lawn Planted With Watermelons
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The image that was sent to Keyanus Price from Mayor Dean Grose's personal e-mail account. (www.ocregister.com)
Local businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, who is black, said Tuesday she received the e-mail from Mayor Dean Grose's personal account on Sunday and wants a public apology.
"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price told The Associated Press. "I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."
The Orange County Register first reported the e-mail on its Web site Tuesday night.
Grose confirmed to the AP that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn't mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.
He said he and Price are friends and serve together on a community youth board.
"Bottom line is, we laugh at things and I didn't see this in the same light that she did," Grose told the AP. "I'm sorry. It wasn't sent to offend her personally - or anyone - from the standpoint of the African-American race."
Grose, who became mayor in December, said he sent an apology e-mail to Price and her boss and also left her a voicemail apology.
Regardless, Price said it will be difficult for the two to work together.
"Now I am like - wow, is this really how he feels?" Price said.
Los Alamitos is a 2¼-square-mile Orange County city of around 12,000 people. The mayor is elected by fellow members of the five-seat City Council.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- Some calloused minds can't see past the "bAss-ackwardness" of their own skewered thought processes.
That's true, kalifani6, but there are plenty of others as well who think they're so clever when they feign innocence; many of them have posted in this thread.
I take satisfaction in the knowledge that bigotry will continue to become even more marginalized with time. The "brave" individuals who come onto this discussion forum to trumpet their bigotry wouldn't dare tell their infantile jokes in the company of anyone outside their trusted circle of like-minded bigots. Think there's nothing wrong with the hash you're slinging here? Why don't you go tell it to your boss at work? I especially encourage you to do so if your boss happens to be African American! - Reply to this comment
- That's tellin' him Sporadicus!
The ignorant think that just because blacks have crossed yet another great hurdle in this world of senseless oppression w/ the election of a black man that it somehow erases the past and nullifies our ability to hold them accountable.
Some calloused minds can't see past the "bAss-ackwardness" of their own skewered thought processes. - Reply to this comment
- Hey Lady....
The Race Card no longer works
That ended when BO was elected President.
The rules have changed...
Get over it.
B
Posted by Bob896 at 6:55 AM : Feb 27, 2009
The rules have NOT changed; bigotry is always in poor taste. In fact, the mayor in question ADMITS that it was in bad taste; he also announced that he will resign at the city council meeting on Monday, March 2nd.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29423045/from/ET
A racist clown called on his stupidity. Can YOU get over it? - Reply to this comment
- Does any one know if he was a dem or a pub? I'm just curious and none of the news sites have mentioned it.
- Reply to this comment
- you know what im so sick of hearing all the freakin whining!!!!!!!!!!
Get over it PPL!!!!!!!!! im not making it racist but some ppl need a history lesson! I have blacks in my family and they laugh at everything! so whats PPLs problem!!!!!!!!!! Grow UP!
Posted by shorty011685 at 7:30 AM : Feb 27, 2009
What ever happened to mutual respect and dignity? People who go around doing things like this know before they do it, unless they were raised in a cave, that its offensive to Blacks. Anyone, like myself, who rode those buses to Alabama during the 60's and witnessed this kind of thing first hand knows how it hurts people. People who find humor in this kind of thing are, by nature, outright offensive and do not care about anyone else. - Reply to this comment
- watermelons on the white house lawn are funny? why is that funny? why is it watermelons? why isn't it broccoli, or potatoes, or maybe pumpkins? i'm thinking pumpkins would have been funnier ... if that's what they were actually shooting for.
Posted by bobnjersey at 7:51 AM : Feb 27, 2009
I think your point is the most valid I've read yet! - Reply to this comment
- Hey Lady....
The Race Card no longer works
That ended when BO was elected President.
The rules have changed...
Get over it.
B
Posted by Bob896 at 6:55 AM : Feb 27, 2009
You can't possibly believe this... do you? Anyone who thinks Racism is dead in this nation isn't paying attention. Just because the majority of American's look past the Skin Color of President Obama doesn't mean there are ignorant people out there who can't figure it out. - Reply to this comment
- Grose confirmed to the AP that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn't mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.
I find it very hard to believe that someone could grow up in this country and say something like this. If you are going to lie you should at least try to make it believable. - Reply to this comment
- Racism never dies. When someone thinks because they don't use the n-word it's okay. Mayor think about if the comment was in reference to your heritage would you still think it was funny?
We need to boycott businesses that condone these forms of racism and we need to educate our nation so that we can truly be THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Reply to this comment
- mayor you need to get a life and be a role model instead of a jerk.
- Reply to this comment
- [Watermelons growing on the white house lawn is funny. Dead chimp on the NY Post is funny. My goodness get real. If this is a real racist mean spirited country as some of you whine about, why would Obama be the President and Burris be a Senator and this new mistake of Attorney General be in office? Why is Al Sharpton allowed to keep surfacing? Get real you poor picked on minorities. Boo Hoo whaaahh.]
[Posted by lili50441 at 4:44 AM : Feb 27, 2009 ]
watermelons on the white house lawn are funny? why is that funny? why is it watermelons? why isn't it broccoli, or potatoes, or maybe pumpkins? i'm thinking pumpkins would have been funnier ... if that's what they were actually shooting for. - Reply to this comment
- you know what im so sick of hearing all the freakin whining!!!!!!!!!!
Get over it PPL!!!!!!!!! im not making it racist but some ppl need a history lesson! I have blacks in my family and they laugh at everything! so whats PPLs problem!!!!!!!!!! Grow UP! - Reply to this comment
- Hey Lady....
The Race Card no longer works
That ended when BO was elected President.
The rules have changed...
Get over it.
B - Reply to this comment
- What is funny about a dead chimp? Or watermelons on the White House lawn? I guess our ideas of "funny" are radically different because I didn't even chuckle.
If he didn't know the stereotype, then I want to know exactly why he found it funny too. - Reply to this comment
- What the h*ll?!!! White America: are we really on polar opposite pages about what constitutes racially offensive images? Let's settle this once and for all. Here's our criteria: any myths, imagery, stereotypes or tropes created during slavery, Jim Crow or colonization to perpetuate the beliefs that blacks are an inferior race, worthy of oppression, will offend us. We hate that isht because it reminds of us the time -- the 400 years or so -- where we had to grin and bear it or die -- Emmit Till style -- because we defended ourselves. Do I need to make a dictionary of fighting words and images so mofos can have a reference tool before they jump out the box with something crazy? Any time you bring up some mess like this, be ready to experience our wrath.
- Reply to this comment
- Using the N-Word ?? Forbidden ??? Whewwwwwww First of all,,, all Italians root in Italy...So What ??? All African Folks originally came from Nigeria...Soooooo ????...I hear more Black Folks use the word more than I hear white folks use it....If the Black folks stop using the word then perhaps the white folks will follow by example...
- Reply to this comment
- I dont hang out with Black Folks because I dont know any that I would want to hang out with, Dont hang out with Mongolians either.....does that make me a Racist ??? I have the choice to hang out with whomever I please Thank You....If that makes me a recist, then so be it....
- Reply to this comment
- RACISM..is a coin with two sides...So, how come only white folks only are accused of it ????
- Reply to this comment
- SOOOOOOOOO Whats the Big Deal....Italians have been the Butt of hundreds of Spaghetti jokes for over a hundred years and we never got angry,,,,,Soo watermellons get you angry ???? DUMB
- Reply to this comment
- Black folks don't like watermelon? Why not? Good stuff on a hot day.
- Reply to this comment
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