We could see how some people could take offense . . .
A city press release that promised a ''Ghetto Style Talent Show'' and ''Watermelon Eating Contest'' during a summer camp picnic in the heart of Miami's black community drew sharp outrage on Monday from some Model City residents who live near the park where the events are scheduled.
The press release said, "campers who think they know the true meaning of ghetto style will take to the stage to prove just how ghetto they are.''
''We're not trying to be ghetto, we're trying to come out of the ghetto and be a civilized people,'' said Model City resident Grady Muhammad, who added that the billed talent show portrayed the neighborhood's youth as ''subhuman'' or "animals.''
But the man in charge, Ernest Burkeen, the Miami Parks Director, is black and doesn't see a problem:
Burkeen called the watermelon issue "probably an old stereotype that dates back to the 1950s. This is 2005.''
''We didn't look at it as a stereotype,'' Burkeen told the Herald. "We looked at it as another food contest, like bobbing for apples or something.''
''Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously,'' he said.
Burkeen also said that the words and images blared across the world by rap music artists are ''far more damaging'' to the image of African Americans than the use of the term ''ghetto'' to describe a talent show.
''When you talk about some of the sex and violence that's around in this rap music -- that's played every day, that's celebrated every day,'' Burkeen said. "It's about perspective.''
