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- May 23, 2004
A German frozen food company seeking to capitalize on President Obama's popularity recently began marketing a new fried chicken product called "Obama Fingers," sparking outrage from African-Americans on this side of the Atlantic.
"It's racist and inappropriate," declared Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), calling for a boycott of the company's products. "We should do all that we can to see to it that no [company] disrespects the first black President."
Judith Witting, a sales manager for the company, Sprehe, said the connection between Obama and fried chicken - a stereotype long associated with African-Americans - never occurred to her.
"It was supposed to be a homage to the American lifestyle and the new U.S. President," Witting told Spiegel Online, a German media outlet.
"We noticed that American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment," Witting said. "Americans are more relaxed. Not like us stiff Germans, like [Chancellor Angela] Merkel."
While the company alleges it didn't intend to offend, African-American leaders here in the states called on the company to rename the product and apologize.
"Without a doubt it does raise concerns that are rooted in the history of racism and stereotypical types of characterizations of AfricanAmericans," said state Sen. Bill Perkins (D-Harlem). "It reminds us that [Obama's] victory does not automatically end that which we've been struggling against."
Todd Shaw, assistant professor of political science and African-American studies at the University of South Carolina, said the stereotype is blatant and "broadly offensive" to African-Americans.
"This sends a shiver down the spines of Germans and Americans, given our interesting histories of race and racism," he noted.
According to the product packaging, the fingers are "tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast, coated and fried." It comes with a tasty curry sauce.
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I have to admit..its a bit funny..but then I thought about it..has any other president received this much "acclaim"