My Take on "Obama Waffles" - An Attempt at Political Satire That Is Actually The Result of Both Cultural Conditioning and Racism

I caught a snippet of this on the news today.

This week, The Family Research Council, a Christian right non-profit think tank and lobbying organization, held the Value Voters Summit in Washington, D.C. In the conference's exhibition hall, conservative organizations displayed an array of programs and products to make their points.

One of the products on display was something called Obama Waffles. (See website: www.obamawaffles.com)





(On the right: Portrait of Nancy Green as "Aunt Jemima" by A. B. Frost)

What do you think about this product "Obama Waffles"? Is it racist? Is it just two freelance writers, who happen to be white, that are trying to make a point about Senator Obama's views? Or are the journalists even in their attempt at making a product to make their point about Obama's views, culturally conditioned to believe, that white is superior, black is inferior, and that Black people should always be undervalued, underestimated and marginalized in how we are portrayed to the world whether it be in politics, humor or political humor or political satire?

Is this supposed to be funny? Is this funny to you? Does this cross the line? What do you think? What do you think their intention was? Is this borderline? If the Presidential Candidate was a Caucasian politician who they believed "waffled" on his issues, would they have portrayed him in the same way? In this way? What do you think?



When they say "waffles" they say in this clip that they mean as in, "waffling." As in, they believe Obama has been "waffling" on his issues. They used the word "waffle" and just took it from there. That part I get.

But when they thought "waffle" what does it tell you that the first product they thought of was Aunt Jemima Waffles?

Here is a link I found on the history of Nancy Green (November 17, 1834 – September 23, 1923) who was a storyteller, cook, activist, and one of the first African-American models hired to promote a corporate trademark as "Aunt Jemima". : everything2.com"



Yes, we all know that in 1989, the image of Aunt Jemima was updated by removing her headband and giving her pearl earrings and a lace collar but when the two gentlemen thought "waffle" and the first thing that came to their minds was Aunt Jemima Waffles, was it a case of cultural conditioning or just the results of a very memorable trademark that has been a part of American popular culture for almost 120 years?

Also, did they go too far with their images and words on the back of the box? "Barry's Bling-Bling Waffle Ring Recipe Rap"? Obama dressed in a turban next to the words and an arrow "Point Box Toward Mecca for Tastier Waffles"? Obama dressed in a sombrero showing his "Open Border Fiesta Waffles"?

Are these two gentlemen's attempt at political satire actually the result of a long history of racist spokesmen, spokeswomen and characters created by Caucasian people that have been embedded in American culture for over 100 years and have culturally conditioned Americans across the land all these years as a result? Is that how they can answer questions about it with laughs and smiles?

What do you think? How does their product strike you? What is your first impression and what lasting impressions does it give you?
~LT