The Odessa Barbecue Flap: Where's the Beef?

This morning, I called upon my great ancestors to find out what they think of the Odessa, TX barbecue flap.

 The Associated Press reported " that leaders of the Black Cultural Council  say volunteers and  the black community felt "humiliated" after two health department food inspectors threatened to put a stop to a Juneteenth celebration over questions about food preparation for 600 free barbecue sandwiches."

My ancestors were not very happy when I shared this report in the weekly conference to seek their counsel and draw upon their eternal wisdom.

 I could hear my late grandmother, Marie, whose mother was born a slave,  saying: "Let's see, Linda. Children are dying. People are losing their homes. Schools are under-funded. And the community is complaining about  barbecue sandwiches?"

Diversity and inclusion require two things of us: First, that we understand other cultures and their views, and secondly, that we  willingly account for our actions. 

Cultural collisions often occur  because we fail to complete one or both of these tasks. That is what happened here.

The Black Cultural Council seems far too willing to overlook the fact it apparently violated state law by distributing food in public  that was prepared and cooked at an individual's house. And the health inspector needs to show us he treated this group like any other. We need to know that he has shut down countless other community events and church picnics by showing up  at the last minute, and taking away their food.

Not long ago, I chaired the social activity committee at my condo association. Our condo attorney wouldn't let the owners hold a potluck supper, where residents make and bring a favorite dish. He made us contract with a licensed and bonded food provider - which raised our costs tremendously.

The upside is it  protected us from nasty lawsuits. With all these food scares out there  - a little extra insurance is not a bad policy. One tainted sandwich could shut the Council down, which would have been a loss for the community it serves.

The County health inspector needs to account for his actions. Did he just happen to be passing by the site - and see people unloading  trays from cars? How did he know to show up here? Did he or someone else  target this group? Has he interrupted events held by white groups as well (church groups on picnics, neighborhood jams, etc? If not, why not?  One would expect he would be equally vigilant.

What's needed is a frank conversation about our duty as citizens, and a honest talk where people can freely admit to the mistakes made.

That's the type of conversation that would have made the Odessa Juneteenth 2008 celebration an affair we'd all remember.

It could have been the date the city broke free from its divisions, and finally found common  ground .

 

Comments

[Lance_K]

I agree that if potluck picnics are now considered a threat to public safety, then it would have been much less aggravating to those involved if the word had been spread before hand via public service announcements. If the food was confiscated, that is unconscionable. A verbal warning for a first time offense seems appropriate here.

My only other response is this: I yearn for the good old days when people just accepted that life is full of risks, and that some risks are worth taking. Do we really want a society where all of life’s little joys have been litigated out of existence by the greedy and the paranoid? We wouldn’t wrap our children in big plastic bubbles, so why do we insist on doing that to ourselves as adults?

[Linda]

Thanks, Lance, for your insights.I should note the group was allowed to keep its barbecue sandwiches - but only after the police were called.