Mayor Who Sent Obama Watermelon Email Quits

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — The mayor of a small Southern California city who was criticized for sending an e-mail showing watermelons in front of the White House says he will give up the mayoral post but remain on the City Council.

Los Alamitos Mayor Dean Grose heard calls for his resignation this week when he forwarded an e-mail showing a watermelon patch on the White House lawn under the title: "No Easter egg hunt this year."

Grose has apologized and said he wasn't aware of the racial stereotype that blacks like watermelon.

Officials in the Orange County town say Grose will officially resign as mayor on Monday. But Grose told KCAL-TV on Friday that he intends to remain on the City Council.

The mayor is a council member chosen to serve in that position by fellow members of the five-seat council.

Comments

[Blackbuddah]

12:38 PM on 03/01/2009

this is ridiculous , does he really expect people to believe he didn't know that watermelons and blacks were a stereotype? if he is that discennected from reality he definitely does not deserve to be a leader in any community.

[gonzaga43]

08:50 AM on 03/01/2009

How embarrassing for Los Alamitos.

This fool should be completely out of a leadership role in that community. He fits in--say---Selma.

[grata2ude]

01:36 AM on 03/01/2009

I'll give this to republicans, they sure know how to lie.

[RTIII]

12:47 AM on 03/01/2009

...Like most of you, I'm disgusted by this type.

I do, however, want to point out something about this type of thing.

I grew up in the south where people who are racis.t are very up-front about it. They don't hide it.

I've spent enough time in the mid-west and east coast to know that there's just as much racis.m there, but people don't openly admit it.

...I think I prefer those who are open about it because at least you know where you stand rather than get surprised by a knife in the back...
.

[Over50WhiteWoman]

10:07 PM on 02/28/2009

Ok. I believe the guy. I am married to a black man, and I just found out a few years ago that 'watermelon' is some sort of racist sterotype for blacks, though I still don't get it. Apparently the idea is that blacks prefer fried chicken, watermelon, barbecue, and ribs, red beans and rice, and what else? Gee, I don't know. But who DOESN"T love all that stuff?

I used to live in Lincoln, IL, a town 'christened' by Abraham Lincoln with the juice of a watermelon. There is a model watermelon in the town square to commemorate the event. People in small towns--who haven't the same sophistocated education you Huffposters have could easily not know about that stereotype.

I actually have thought of suggesting the Obamas start a victory garden on the White House south lawn, like the Roosevelts (I think it was them). Why not? It would be a great example for the rest of us, and they could use the food for the state dinners, and donate to the local food pantries.

Maybe that was what the guy was thinking of. He surely didn't draw the drawing himself--but got it from someone else. It looks kind of pretty, actually.

[Strepsi]

05:02 PM on 03/02/2009

OK, fine, Over50WhiteWoman -- suppose you're right -- BUT the idea you suggest is hardly hilarious, it's actually quite green and serious -- here's the question the mayor fails to answer:
"IF HE DIDN'T SEE A RACIAL CONNECTION, WHAT EXACTLY DID HE FIND FUNNY?"

[urfree2speak]

08:11 PM on 02/28/2009

Okay...okay.........I get it! we like watermelons........O ....my............God....thats so ...like clever!
I mean ...can u imagine.all those African Americans fighting overseas....reading about this ........this elected official.......Oh, and I know.....we BLACKS are supposed to just "grin and bear it" but it really is getting .kind of pathological...........

[oldandintheway1]

08:10 PM on 02/28/2009

I'm beginning to think that living in the SOUTH, doesn't make me racist anymore.(not that i ever was)
But then again Southern California is about as "conservative" a place as one can find in America..these days.

[dissanayake]

06:14 PM on 02/28/2009

Disingenious at best.

[shockmagog]

04:45 PM on 02/28/2009

From the Los Alamitos press release:

"We are saddened that this incident has reflected poorly on the heart and soul of our
unique community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to those we serve and will
work to prove this is not symbolic of our spirit."
http://www.ci.los-alamitos.ca.us/pdf/2-26-09Press%20Release%20-%20Email%20Controversary.pdf

Mayor Dean Grose has made the list of "Famous Los Alamitos Residents":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamitos,_California

Mr. Grose is going to have to resign from the City Council entirely.

[shockmagog]

04:44 PM on 02/28/2009

From the Los Alamitos press release:

"We are saddened that this incident has reflected poorly on the heart and soul of our
unique community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to those we serve and will
work to prove this is not symbolic of our spirit."
http://www.ci.los-alamitos.ca.us/pdf/2-26-09Press%20Release%20-%20Email%20Controversary.pdf

Mayor Dean Grose has made the list of "Famous Los Alamitos Residents":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamitos,_California

He's going to have to resign from the City Council entirely.

[Aranxa]

04:40 PM on 02/28/2009

Since he didn't know of the stereotype what an amazing coincidence that he picked watermelon and not a patch of zucchini or tomatoes. What a maroon. May the good people of Orange Co redeem themselves by voting him out.

[POLINUT]

04:08 PM on 02/28/2009

Sends the same message as "I am stepping down as Principal, but will remain your child's teacher"...

[farmgirl]

01:02 PM on 02/28/2009

I am aware of the stereotypical idea that black folks like watermelon. In fact, I once had a black friend tell me that he was going to bring watermelon to our backyard party, but didn't want to be seen carrying one in a white neighborhood. Still, when I saw the headline about watermelons on the White House lawn, I didn't make the connection. It just seemed dumb. I didn't get that it was racist until the next day when the headline was the councilwoman's objection.

It absolutely was racist. And he should have known. But my point is that sometimes it's hard for white folks to keep in mind all the stereotypes that people suppose that we have. And, really, if he had registered that it was racist, would he send it to a black colleague?

That being said, without the racist ridicule, it's hard to see what he found funny. Farming the White House lawn in hard times? I don't know. I think not mindlessly forwarding emails was a really good lesson to learn from the whole thing. I wish some of the folks I know would learn that.

[Doris]

12:53 PM on 02/28/2009

So what did he think the watermelons meant? He needs to explain why he sent it around if he didn' t understand it.

[micro]

12:49 PM on 02/28/2009

he'll remain on the City Council? what message does that send?