Google Accused Of Subtle Racism Over “Black Guy Running On A Watermelon” Doodle

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I'm sorry, where's the heat, cause I see no fire?
 
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Track and field and the olympics are racist, didn't you know?
 
No lie, I saw that when it appeared on Google and immediately thought it looked like he was running on a watermelon.

National Watermelon Day was this week, though, and so I thought that might have been why. I looked up the exact date of National Watermelon Day, and it turns out that wasn't it (it had passed a few days earlier), so I was just confused.

The possibility of it being racist didn't really dawn on me though.
 
What makes it look like a watermelon and not a track are the seeds. All the little dark spots, which you don't typically find in a track

I think they were just trying to make it look a bit run down, like some of the chalk on the outside has been effaced, showing the grass, but the end result does look odd.
 
Maybe it's because I'm Australian, but I don't get the reference. Why is a black person running on a watermelon racist?
 
Maybe it's because I'm Australian, but I don't get the reference. Why is a black person running on a watermelon racist?

During the slave era the popular argument was that the African-American slaves were essentially stupid and lazy (a stereotype that might strike you as familiar!), which is why the plantation lifestyle was actually good for them. This was commonly depicted with the image of black people lying around and eating watermelons. Why watermelons, specifically, isn't really clear, but it's become an enduring stereotype, despite the fact that black people actually eat less watermelon than the average person (probably at least in part because of discomfort about fitting the stereotype).

That said, while I don't want to say anybody is being oversensitive, since I haven't experienced what they've experienced...I really don't see racism here. And I tried!
 




I would also like to point out the white hurdle, which represents oppression from the white people standing in the way of his dreams. Note that he is jumping over it onto the watermelon. I cannot say with certainty if the watermelon represents freedom, or is just a watermelon and Google is implying that is the extent of black peoples dreams. Someone phone the Reverend.
 
You don't run all over something you like. It doesn't even match the stereotype.

I would also like to point out the white hurdle, which represents oppression from the white people standing in the way of his dreams. Note that he is jumping over it onto the watermelon. I cannot say with certainty if the watermelon represents freedom, or is just a watermelon and Google is implying that is the extent of black peoples dreams. Someone phone the Reverend.

Wait, now it's racist.
 
Just another old stereotype that it's one of black people's favorite foods. Like how fried chicken got tied to black people.
I don't understand why some people automatically link stereotypes and racism, anyway. Lots of stereotypes are just stereotypes - not really good or bad. That "black people like chicken" or "black people like watermelon" are stereotypes, but says nothing positive or negative about the group, so I'm not sure how it could possibly be racist.
 
This is stupid... Still up in the air about the monkey ad tho...
 
I don't understand why some people automatically link stereotypes and racism, anyway. Lots of stereotypes are just stereotypes - not really good or bad. That "black people like chicken" or "black people like watermelon" are stereotypes, but says nothing positive or negative about the group, so I'm not sure how it could possibly be racist.

Look up the racist imagery yourself... There are hundreds of years of "art" that makes these stereotypes hurtful and racist..
 
Whaaaaat?

I would also like to point out the white hurdle, which represents oppression from the white people standing in the way of his dreams. Note that he is jumping over it onto the watermelon. I cannot say with certainty if the watermelon represents freedom, or is just a watermelon and Google is implying that is the extent of black peoples dreams. Someone phone the Reverend.
I died.

I don't understand why some people automatically link stereotypes and racism, anyway. Lots of stereotypes are just stereotypes - not really good or bad. That "black people like chicken" or "black people like watermelon" are stereotypes, but says nothing positive or negative about the group, so I'm not sure how it could possibly be racist.
Oh God. Not this again.
 
my co-worker the other thought it was racist that they nicknamed Gabby Douglas the Flying squirrel. hate idiocy like this. trying to start race arguments or accuse everyone of racism because of an overactive imagination. anyone who thinks like this needs to jump off a bridge.
 
How was the Olympian's race determined? Isn't jumping to conclusions about someone's race inherently racist? For all I know that Google Olympian could be from South America, South Asia or a person from the Jersey Shore crew.
 
I would also like to point out the white hurdle, which represents oppression from the white people standing in the way of his dreams. Note that he is jumping over it onto the watermelon. I cannot say with certainty if the watermelon represents freedom, or is just a watermelon and Google is implying that is the extent of black peoples dreams. Someone phone the Reverend.
Ahah.
 
There are a lot of subtle hidden meanings/images tucked away in simple things like that so I would put it past being very intentional.
 
Oh God. Not this again.

Well, isn't the fact itself the runner is black racist then ?
This implies all black people are good athletes / stronger / better at sports !

Also, tbh, watermelon is the first thing i saw when i opened google the other day too, then i just brushed it off since i didn't see what the meaning would be and concluded it was just the palette.
 
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