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

[J Carter]

Seriously though......why would this man think that sending that e-mail was appropriate. Even David Duke scoffed at this article.

[christianlefty]

Give me a break, last August wearing an obama shirt, I went into Lowes & ask a gentlemen working there, where the toggle bolts where, he said to me "Ya know if that guy gets in, the whitehouse rose garden will be a watermelon patch. It made me so mad I reported him to the manager & I haven't seen him there since. I happen to be white, female & 64 yrs. old, & live in the most republican county in the state of Missouri, the worker at Lowes knew what he meant & so did this racist mayor!!!!!

[urnumbersix]

Thank you for reporting the Lowe's worker.

All people need to actively stand up to racist comments and actions. Do not tolerate them.

[NoSillyName]

Very good! Guess the jerk thought he was among like-minded bigots.

[Wiserone]

There IS strength in numbers. When I read this story, I sent an email right after to all the members on that city council and let them know that his email was racist. Oh, yeah, I also sent an email to the Governor too on this. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

[pjean]

WoodyCPM you claim that people between the age of 35 -40 "to be totally unaware of the history of racial stereotyping in the United States with all it's subtleties and nuances. " Well I fall within that age range and I'm black and I know of these stereotypes. Your defending this mayor with this dumb explanation shows me that you know not what you are talking about. I guess it's fair to say the reason you can come up with such a stupid response is because YOU are white and have NEVER been discriminated against and have lived a white life so there's nothing wrong with the postcard reflecting watermelons on the white house lawn instead of ester eggs. Question, would such a postcard have been sent if George Bush were in office. You know nothing about being discriminated against and it's obvious you know nothing about my race so please keep your freaking excuses to yourself. Lord knows that we do not need more idiots like you around. I sound harsh because your comment angers me. Elected officials who do this kind of things should be REMOVED from their position.

[lilacluvr]

If the intent was not to be racial, then why was the email even sent out? If it was not a joke, then why did this man pick watermelons as the centerpiece? This man's response is typical of when bullies get caught - they try to act innocent - but we all know exactly what happened and why.

I just cannot imagine any person being that insensitive or stupid??

[smallfish]

actually turning the whitehouse lawn into a garden would is a good idea. Obama is a first class role model. i've always felt that one way to change much of the urban mindset is to change the landscape to be more productive and less superficial (green lawns). it would change minds, i really believe that
education starting in preschool should have a agriculture teaching department. your ROOTS are in the land.

and they should change the name of the white house to the greenhouse.

[evolve already]

I find lawns disgusting....they are a symbol of materialism and excess. Grow your own food!!

[pjean]

Racism still exist and it's so sad and disheartening. Although I'm a double minority (black women) I never like to refer to everything as Racism like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. However the two incidents that has shown total disrespect for our President like referring to him as a Monkey and now this makes me realize how naive I've been all these years and it totally angers me. You can have the education, do the right things and you are still treated as if you're less then nothing.

[NoSillyName]

Sadly, some people are still ignorant. Less than before, so let's hope its fading into our country's vile past.

The republican campaign really brought the bigots out of hiding. I was shocked and appalled by Spalin & McCain not putting a stop to the foul words & actions of their rally attendees. The candidates actually encouraged such behavior. Only once did I see footage of McCain meekly correcting one ignoramus.

[thelipstickfemme]

http://www.authentichistory.com/diversity/african/chickenwatermelon/index.html

For those of you who don't know about these watermelon images that are used in stereotypical imagry that denigrated blacks and were used for propaganda, check out the link above. Education is the key.

[MNUSA]

No one that ignorant should hold public office. He should resign from the city council, too!

[clearlythinking]

Good, glad he's resigned.

[Sparty1]

He should be forced to resign from both posts for thinking that the public is dumb enough to believe that he didn't know that black folks and their love of watermelon was a stereotype.

[LizzyZee]

OK, and seriously. If he just randomly chose watermelons and made a joke that they will be growing at the White House, what is the premise of the joke? If it's not a racist symbol, there is no joke to be had. The mayor is not only a nasty piece of work, he's also an idiot. Meet the real Chimp.

[lmvd3]

And so he's STILL lying about not knowing it was raci*st?!? We all know that the guy is ly*ing. They need to remove him immediately from the City Council--what an embarrassment and an overt show of rac*ial intolerance for that city. Shame on them if they keep him in ANY capacity, on taxpayers money.

[MANK]

I emailed the mayor and now the council. While I was at it, I went on the Secret Service web site and emailed them that the "What kind of revolution do you want?" on the Sean Hannity website is bordering on inciting a riot. It may be time for a visit from the secret service. Maybe we need a multi prong attack to take back our Constitution.

[newyorkid]

I'm so surprised. I had no idea it was a racial stereotype either. Still I ask myself, how can it be? I'm white and like watermelon in the summer. I supported enthusiastically Obama's candidacy. And interpret the major post card as a reminder of the economic crisis. BTW, courtesy of the republicans. So I think the major should not resign. Resigning will set a bad precedent of fear expression, and therefore is a threat to freedom of expression.

[Bankenstein]

"And interpret the major post card as a reminder of the economic crisis." - newyorkid

What?!?! I'm pretty sure even one watermelon would cost more than a dozen eggs. The mayor had to have been born yesterday to not understand there is an overt racist message here.

You sound like one of them thar reverse racism types, one of them right wing apologists. We don't like yer kind round here!!!

[billbb]

If it was done with innocence and the simple not knowing the history from not having been around, it would not be an issue. This guy is at least as old as I am, and he knew. He would have to have spent the 1950s, 60s and 70s in a Tibetan monastery in order to fail to know that this would be a hurtful, painful stereotype. Obama is not very affected by these things, as he is successful, articulate and educated. But what about the African Americans that are not so lucky and talented?

I am not a politically correct sort. Some cultural stereotypes can be used for gentle comic effect, such as when Asian Grant Imahara gets kidded on Mythbusters for being a stereotypical Asian tech nerd. (An electrical engineer whose hobby is building robots and was one of the handful of R2D2 "drivers" for George Lucas would have to be considered the nerd's nerd!). Or, on MASH when Klinger's (and Jamie Farr's) Lebanese background is teased from time to time.

But some stereotypes are hateful and hurtful when misused... In the case of the watermelons, it has nothing to do with the giant fruit, and everything to do with the negative images of Blacks as simple-minded peasants with a good sense of rhythm and no other sense at all. I hope that the image of a thoughtful, intelligent and dynamic president can erase that stereotype forever, so we can all enjoy stereotype foods without silly subtext.

[SouthPrairie]

Puhleeeeeze! He should not only resign his position of Mayor, but the city council seat as well. If he did not know, then he is not educated enough to be in a position of power.

[WoodyCPM]

It's entirely possible for American younger than say 35 or 40 to be totally unaware of the history of racial stereotyping in the United States with all it's subtleties and nuances. Maybe. I doubt it, but maybe. Especially if they are the product of most public education systems in the U.S. Maybe. I mean knowing the education system as I do, it's maybe possible. Also, if the white guy went to private school, it's possible that they just didn't delve into that but you'd think he MIGHT have caught it on PBS or something. The history of racial stereotyping has been analyzed and aired on public television for fifty years.

[AnalyzeIT]

Thank you 'WoodyCPM', well stated.

[Beowoof]

And someone this oblivious of history is a represenative.

[SevenSteps2Kevin]

Woody, don't make excuses for this guys ignorance. Without a knowledge of racial stereotypes, the picture is completely meaningless. The whole meaning of it is in the context. Why not send this out last year instead of the first year a black president gets in office? Plus, the joke "No Easter Egg Hunt This Year" and the implied message: 'Black People Would Rather Grow Watermelons Than Keep The Front Lawn of the White House, Get Ready for Some Strange Times!'. None of his excuses add up. And, please, with the way that white youth has completely absorbed black culture (through MTV, Ludacris, Snoop, etc..) I would say that there is almost no chance a socially aware person could be so ignorant of the hidden message of the picture. You would have to be a hermit with no TV, certainly a mayor of a multicultural community would understand the power of the symbolism.

[Axekick]

Thank you for saying this as I was about to do the same. Many of todays youth didn't grow up hearing, learning or using derogatory racial slurs. Thanks in large part to parents like many of us, and youngsters across the country our children now listen to the same music, play the same sports, frequent the same parties, get into the same trouble. They aren't subjected to the same level of racism that many of us were.

I do not believe for one minute the Mayor's version, who would send such a picture of a watermelon patch without questioning it's meaning?

I do believe it is entirely possible Newyorkid, if young, may not be aware of such a stereotype. Myself I remember questioning many of these racial inferences myself upon first hearing them. It's absurd to think that an African American is more partial to watermelon than anyone else.

[dutchman]

Exactly

[lmvd3]

Yeah, right. Nice try, but we see you under your white hood.

[newyorkid]

I'm so surprised. I had no idea it was a racial streotype either. Still I ask myself, how can it be? I'm white and like watermelon in the summer. I supported enthusiastically Obama's candidacy. And interpret the major post card as a reminder of the economic crisis. BTW, courtesy of the republicans. So I think the major should not resign. Resigning will set a bad precedent of fear expression, and therefore is a threat to freedom of expression.

[jimmyjimmy07]

Did you know that there was a thing called slavery in the United states? (Just trying to figure out how clueless you are to begin with.)

[weatherwaxx]

It's entirely possible, if you're young enough, that you didn't know it was a stereotype.

But if Grose didn't know -- WHY in the world would he send that stupid picture around thinking it was funny?

Either he didn't know -- which makes no sense ------or he knew, and he's lying.

And good riddance.

[DaveyDavey]

His feets are doing their stuff. Good riddance.