Black woman is allergic to watermelon. "Just let that sink in your mind" say Lemony Snicket

[Liberal_in_LA]

(CNN) -- Jacqueline Woodson's big win at the National Book Awards on Wednesday was briefly eclipsed by a racially charged joke.
After Woodson accepted an award for her memoir "Brown Girl Dreaming," host Daniel Handler shared an anecdote he learned over the summer: that Woodson, who is black, is allergic to watermelon.
"Just let that sink in your mind," said Handler, who writes popular children's books under the pen name Lemony Snicket.

The non sequitur elicited a few laughs and uncomfortable titters from the audience. Handler went on to say that he advised Woodson to write a book that featured a black girl with a watermelon allergy. Watermelon is historically evoked as a favorite food among black people in racist jokes, and it's considered by many to be an offensive reference.http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/21/living/national-book-awards-woodson-handler-watermelon-joke/index.html

[KitSileya]

1. Yeah, not only was it an incredibly racist remark,

What's worse, it was said about her at a moment where she was being honored for her work. He took her moment of triumph and shat on it, to say it frankly. And then goes on continuing with the offense by a fauxpology about how it was "an ill-conceived attempt at humor." This wasn't a joke that fell flat. It was cruel racist take-down of her at the very moment where she was to be honored for her accomplishments.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. Yeah, he's now admitting it was racist and is donating $ to some organization

[KitSileya]

3. Yeah, looking up the case after posting last,

I see that he has now made a proper apology, instead of a weaselly one, and has donated $10,000 to a charity that works for increased diversity in books. He also offered to match donations up to $100,000. That is a lot better than in most cases of this kind. Let's just hope that he learned his lesson, and uses the backlash he got as an impetus to growth.

[deutsey]

4. I remember when I was a kid being absolutely baffled about that stereotype

Someone told me a "joke" with it as the punchline (I won't bother retelling it here), and I just looked at them wondering why they thought it was funny.

I understand its historical context now, but I'm still just as baffled.

[Fred Sanders]

5. The whole thing is taken out of context I think. Some "journalists" are abusing their powers.

[BklnDem75]

6. You think? It's a highly offensive stereotype...

If you're unsure, perhaps the default position shouldn't be to defend the racist remark.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. What is the proper context as you see it, Fred? Can you be specific? I think he's a racist buffoon.

Place this shit into what you think is the correct context. Be specific.

[Fred Sanders]

8. Since you asked so nicely and clearly want to debate the issue......no.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. That's because you can't. There is no context that makes that comment less than fully racist.

And yet you claim others misunderstand it. I don't want to debate the obvious, I just would love to hear your reasoning around this particular statement which you posted of your own free will.

[bravenak]

10. It is racist no matter the context.

I expected better from you.