Black History Month Chicken Edition The Black People & Chicken Stereotype Is Rooted in Racism Not Reality.The stereotype linking Black people to fried chicken didn’t come from culture it came from Jim Crow–era racism and propaganda.After slavery ended, many formerly enslaved Black families raised chickens because:• Chickens were affordable• They didn’t require land ownership• They could be sold for income• Fried chicken was easy to prepare and sellBlack women in particular became successful entrepreneurs selling fried chicken to travelers, rail workers, and towns. It was one of the first ways many Black families built economic independence after slavery.That success threatened white businesses.So during the late 1800s and early 1900s, racist caricatures began portraying Black people as:• Greedy• Dirty• Uncivilized• Obsessed with chickenThese images were spread through:• Newspapers• Minstrel shows• Postcards• Cartoons• Early moviesThe goal was simple: turn Black success into a joke so it could be dismissed and disrespected.Today, fried chicken is a global food enjoyed by every race, yet only Black people were turned into a stereotype for it on purpose.This wasn’t accidental.It was manufactured racism used to dehumanize.📚 Truth: The fried chicken stereotype is a product of America’s post-slavery backlash against Black freedom, mobility, and entrepreneurship.🧠 Lesson: When you see a stereotype, always ask who created it, and who benefits from it?