One Mic Black History Newsletter #9
Today we are going to talk about the story around Vanilla Ice Cream
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Racism Ice Cream?
The term Jim Crow originated from a minstrel show character; it soon became a term that represented the legal segregation and discrimination faced by African Americans, forcing them into the status of second-class citizens. Spanning from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, the Jim Crow era took shape in two major forms; Jim Crow laws, and Jim Crow etiquette.
Jim Crow laws, established primarily in the Southern states following the Reconstruction era, were legal rules that severely oppressed African Americans, even after their supposed 'freedom' from slavery. These laws covered all aspects of life, from voting rights to public transportation, and were strategically designed to marginalize African-Americans.
Jim Crow etiquette, on the other hand, was a set of unwritten rules dictating how African Americans should behave in white society. This could vary significantly from person to person, but some common norms included not allowing a black male to offer a handshake to a white male or display any friendly gesture to a white woman, and avoiding eating together with whites. If by any chance they found themselves eating together, whites were to be served first. These forms of violent and subtle dehumanization were a grim reality of the time.
One such peculiarity that exemplified Jim Crow’s absurdity was the claim that Black people were prohibited from eating vanilla ice cream, except on Independence Day.
However, historical evidence directly refuting or confirming this claim is sketchy. There is no law or ordinance which expressly barred African Americans from consuming vanilla ice cream. This claim, rather, seems to have emerged from the Jim Crow etiquette.
In such a society, the simple act of eating became a hotbed of racial tensions. The historical account 'Behind the Backlash: White Working-Class Politics in Baltimore, 1940-1980' by Kenneth D. Durr provides insight into this issue. Durr mentioned that segregated dining experiences were the norm, asserting that "Black people could not even eat vanilla ice cream in the presence of white people, except on the Fourth of July, when everyone could eat anything". This statement implies that this regulation wasn't formalized or written down, but rather emerged from oppressive societal norms.
The ice cream parlor, a bustling social hub for white Southerners, was typically off-limits to Blacks. If served at all, they were often relegated to a separate window and prohibited from eating their purchase on premises. Historians have noted that etiquette often drove the racial separation in ice cream parlors, highlighting the deeply social nature of racial segregation under Jim Crow laws.
What specific role vanilla ice cream played in these customs remains ambiguous. Perhaps the consumption of the popular flavor was merely seen as a privilege reserved for the dominant group. Arguably, the restriction on vanilla ice cream served to mark a clear boundary between whites and Blacks—another degradation meant to humiliate and remind them consistently of their secondary status.
Digging deeper, the specificity of allowing vanilla ice cream consumption on Independence Day suggests symbolic connotations. Fourth of July, a day denoting liberty, perhaps offered a begrudging, temporary reprieve from the perverse racial etiquette, thus underscoring its cruelty.
Hence, the Vanilla ice cream paradox serves as a metaphor showcasing the unnerving racial realities under Jim Crow. It emphasizes the arbitrary and absurd extent to which racism infiltrated every aspect of lives, even tainting innocent activities such as enjoying an ice cream. Despite the paucity of explicit historical evidence, this narrative paints a grim picture of a deeply divided society.
Ironically, this forced preference for butter pecan among Black Americans became a symbol of quiet rebellion against racial separation. It was no longer a flavor of compromise; it emerged as a declaration of identity. Consequently, butter pecan ice cream has become an icon of resilience and adaptability in the face of systemic racism. To understand how butter pecan ice cream became a symbol of protest, we need to look into history and see how it evolved into a favorite among the Black community.
Butter pecan ice cream is a delectable dessert that fuses the taste of roasted pecans coated with butter, and the creamy smoothness of vanilla ice cream. Roasted pecans were a favorite for Native American communities long before they were incorporated into desserts. However, the credit for popularizing butter pecan as a culinary delicacy goes to the southerners, especially New Orleans, in the 18th century. Renowned for its buttery, sugared pecan dishes, the combination of butter pecan with ice cream seemed a natural way to introduce variety to ice cream flavors.
Interestingly, during the Jim Crow era, when racial segregation was at its peak, this southern dessert became popular among African Americans. Most ice cream shops were inaccessible to black people during this time, and vanilla, the ice cream flavor seen as basic, was often hard to find. So, to still enjoy a frozen treat, African Americans derived unique flavors from their own food traditions and heritage. Out of these flavors emerged butter pecan ice cream. Hailing from the South, it was both highly available and satisfying for the black community.
Shaquille O'Neal, the famous basketball player, recounted in his 2001 autobiography "Shaq Talks Back", that his father would scold him for wanting vanilla, insisting they only ate butter pecan. Celebrity chef Gerry Garvin, who is well-known for his cooking in the American South, recalled butter pecan ice cream being a regular part of his African American family tradition. Former NFL star, Albert Haynesworth, famously called butter pecan the "Black people ice cream."
These personal stories from renowned members of the black community highlight the historical context and significance of the preference for butter pecan within the African American community. The preference for butter pecan ice cream in the African American community carries a deep significance, not just because of its sweet taste, but due to the historical context that marked its popularity. The love for butter pecan extended beyond dessert and become a quiet act of resistance against racial segregation.
Back in time, some tried to devalue black people by withholding simple pleasures like vanilla ice cream from them. In response, the African American community embraced butter pecan. This was not just about liking a new flavor. It was their way of saying that they didn’t need validation to enjoy what they wished to. So, they savored a flavor that was unique to them — butter pecan, which many people consider even tastier than vanilla.
Butter pecan ice cream is more than just a dessert for many people, especially within the Black community in America. It has a rich history and cultural significance that many people may not be aware of.
This tasty treat is a symbol of the resourcefulness and strength of African Americans. It's about making the most out of what you have and showing your identity and culture in the food you eat. Sometimes, people who feel left out make their own norms and traditions to create a sense of belonging.
In the past, picking an ice cream flavor such as butter pecan was more than just about what tasted good. During times when African Americans faced a lot of racial discrimination, choosing this flavor symbolized their unique identity and resilience.
The shift from popular flavors such as vanilla to butter pecan among African Americans marked a stand against racial prejudice. It was a subtle way of resisting unfair treatment and keeping their African roots alive during difficult times.
Choosing this particular ice cream flavor was a badge of courage for African Americans. It was a symbol of their journey to rise above discrimination and strive for a better future.
Even today, enjoying a scoop of butter pecan ice cream is a reminder of this history. It's like tasting freedom and recognizing the sacrifices that were made for it. The shift from vanilla to butter pecan was never just about the flavors. It's a symbol of the struggle for justice and equality, the belief in one's rights, standing up against discrimination, and hoping for a better tomorrow. It's an important lesson that every small act of resistance counts when working towards a society that treats everyone equally.
Thank you so much for joining us today, I hope you have a wonderful day, If you like stories like this you can find more stories like this at One Mic History.
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-Countryboi