Watermelon... A Four-Letter Word?

Written by: Marshai R

29 August 2025

Is this harmless?

My youngest son has been tending a garden since he was three. It's an activity he shares with his grandfather, creating a special bond between them. Both men, who are always on the move, consistently work on their respective gardens. When grandpa visits, it's time to weed the garden. They bond in the typical way men do, working side by side in silence. Now at 11 years old, my son eagerly anticipates the first sign of a pumpkin bulb he planted. He should have a good harvest ready by Halloween.

This motivated me to delve into the history of Black farming immediately following the Civil War. The agricultural expertise that formerly enslaved individuals brought from Africa and refined for American soil during their enslavement was crucial in their attempts to build wealth and achieve independence. 

One crop with a notably controversial history is the watermelon. The watermelon’s history in the U.S. is complex, transitioning from a symbol of freedom and economic independence to an instrument of sabotage and financial oppression. Many accounts trace the origins of watermelon to modern-day Sudan. Enslaved Africans are believed to have brought watermelon seeds with them as a means of survival.

Following the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery, newly emancipated Black Americans embraced farming as a route to independence. Watermelons were an excellent crop choice:

• Easy to cultivate: They did not require costly equipment or extensive land.

• High demand: The fruit was inexpensive and popular, enabling Black farmers to sell them at roadside stands and local markets.

• Source of income: Selling watermelons enabled many Black families to accumulate wealth and sustain themselves.

  
  

This newfound economic success was revolutionary. For a time, the watermelon became a symbol of Black achievement, self-reliance, and the literal fruits of their labor. Watching formerly enslaved individuals attain economic success posed a direct challenge to the myth of racial hierarchy in the United States. Consequently, a calculated and hostile campaign was initiated to undermine this emblem of Black liberation. Beginning in the late 1860s, a surge of racist imagery appeared in popular media:

• Minstrel shows and "coon cards": These postcards featured caricatures portraying Black people as lazy, disorganized, and childish, with an obsession for eating watermelons.

• Mudslinging in print: Cartoons and advertisements depicted Black people as stealing or fighting over watermelons, turning a legitimate business into a symbol of absurdity.

• Sabotaging business: The aim was to undermine the thriving watermelon businesses and disgrace Black merchants.

  
  

This coordinated effort successfully transformed the watermelon from a symbol of liberation into a potent tool of mockery and dehumanization. The stereotype-induced shame led many Black Americans to avoid eating watermelon in public for generations, despite its role in fostering economic freedom and wealth. 

This was wealth.

Today, there is a powerful movement to reclaim the watermelon's legacy as the true history is revealed. For Black farmers and communities, the fruit is a reminder of our ancestors' entrepreneurial spirit and a celebration of their resilience.

Observing the impacts of propaganda and industrial sabotage mentioned above, I can't help but consider how similar tactics are applied today to items like hip-hop and chicken & waffles. These were initially demonized and later monetized by other groups. I've been to upscale restaurants that offer their own take on the once marginalized "chicken & waffles".

How effective is your ability to detect propaganda? Have you ever felt ashamed of an aspect of your culture that others have adopted and profited from?