August 3rd is Watermelon Day

Say it Rah-shay By Aug 03, 2017 No Comments

I have such a love hate relationship with watermelon.

It’s refreshing!

It’s a superfood!

And, at like 46 calories a serving, who cannot get down on a chilled bowl of fruit?

But there is the troubling racist trope that comes with watermelon which causes me to ONLY want to enjoy the fruit in the company of trusted friends.

According to an article I read from The Atlantic, the watermelon was what free black people grew, ate, and sold, and in doing so made the fruit a symbol of their freedom. However, because America loves to sometimes show up and show off as AmeriKKKa, defenders of slavery used the fruit to paint African-Americans as a simple-minded people who were happy when provided watermelon and a little rest.

You know…lazy [insert racist insult].

Francesca “Chescaleigh” Ramsey decodes the stereotype of fried chicken and watermelon and offers a little education to reclaim these two foods.

While I still struggle with my feelings of eating watermelon around mixed company, I was excited that The Bee shared that she was all about chowing down on a slice of the fruit and she helped me cut up and enjoy a juicy melon I picked up at the market last week.

She said that she does not like to eat in public and that it DOES bother her that she has to think about eating fruit.

Sometimes I get so pissed that I have to have this kind of conversation with my kid.

I digress.

 

August 3rd is Watermelon Day
Earlier in the week while out with some blogging peeps at the Bonefish Grill (so good!) I tried a watermelon martini that made me want to jump up and slap my mama. Kidding..it was delish!

 

Local Philadelphia author Greg Pizzoli wrote The Watermelon Seed which ALWAYS gets laughs when I share them with my Library Littles.

August 3rd is Watermelon Day

 

In her book, “Cooking With Love” Carla Hall has a recipe for a Watermelon Gazpacho with Cucumber, Jicama, Sweet Peppers and Basil that I want to try. We have finally grown basil and peppers in the garden and upon reading the recipe I feel confident that I may be able to recreate it!

August 3rd is Watermelon Day

I suppose I can embrace the positives of watermelon and I have for the most part. Next summer I plan to plant a few melons in my garden, watch ’em grow  and be free and fabulous.

Mentioned in this post:
Watermelon’s racist history in this article from The Atlantic.

Books

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Cooking with Love by Carla Hall

Places to eat

Bonefish Grill King of Prussia

  • 160 N Gulph Rd, King of Prussia, PA 19406
  • 610-265-3415

Author

I am mom, daughter, sister, yarn lover, word lover, crazy cat lady and library chick. Find me with book or with hook and a hot cuppa.

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