Racial Composition of Teams???? (Interesting Split)

[Bigmista]

If I had to guess I'd say a combination of disposable income (and that term couldn't be more correct in competition cooking) and available time.

That could be it. I know I couldn't afford to compete by myself. At least right now, anyway. But that's why we put together our team to share the expense. Maybe that is the issue right there. It always pains me that we don't have enough trust in our communities to work together. It's an, "If can't have all of it, I don't want any of it" attitude. I see other ethnic groups working together and getting ahead and we just can't seem to work it out. Maybe the BBQ circuit is a small reflection of society at large.

(This is a generalization. I know there are exceptions to the rule both good and bad.)

 

[Sawdustguy]

We are easy. Our heritage is in our name. We are just a couple of Polocks. What could be easier?

 

[big brother smoke]

Partial Theory (I also agree with the city slicker theory): Same reason we do not have a lot of black members on the BBQ forums. I was a little apprehensive about joining BBQ forums earlier this year (join some, but never stayed for more than a coupla weeks), because I knew I could hear some uncomfortable discussions from folks who rightfully/wrongfully are stereotyped as "rednecks."

However, I got a few friends who consider themselves "rednecks" and I get along with them just fine.

Additionally, I bought a home 2.5 years ago in a rural area and had the same aforementioned apprehension. I got over it after a month or so of meeting the neighbors and such. Now it will be easier/more comfortable for another black family to move to the area.

I also was reluctant about competing, but Mista has got me feening to enter a comp or two. So, as more folks like Mista and me get out there the more black folks will join as well.

BTW: I do feel at home here and stayed on because the day after I joined I realized Mista was like me. Remember the Spaghetti porn thread started by Joe in May. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17531

Mista said Joe's spaghetti was "white folks spaghetti" and then folks like Hodedo, Fat Daddy, Qman, Sledneck and few others said they must be black because they make black folk spaghetti too. Well that's the day, I knew I was in the right place for me.

Just my .02, thanks for listening!

 

[arlieque]

Mista, we had several teams at the Autry last year and I know all but one are coming back. Darrell isnt coming due to the need to spent more time with his wife and kids. I have been thinking about your question and dont have a answer for you but what I was wondering was who told you you could cook good bbq? Just kidding, love you man and see you in April. I will also be in town in late Feb if you want to meet at Roscos for chicken and waffles? Yep I know were a brother likes to eat! Been there many a time!

Arlie

 

[Merl]

I dont't know about this tread, but I know two Moe's one from Grand Rapids and one from Des Moines. They will kick your butt.

I rarely notice the ethinicity of a team,
but I do always pay attention to the pretty girls,
especially those petite skinny ones, and the not so petite ones, and the.... well I just pay attention to all the bbq babes on the circuit, cause they are hot and spice. I love them all.
Opps now dont tell Carol. Oh wait she might be one of the petite ones.
Merl

 

[arlieque]

Merl, You are like me: I give equal attention to all. Big, Tall, Fat or Small!

 

[big brother smoke]

Merl, You are like me: I give equal attention to all. Big, Tall, Fat or Small!

Talk about diversity!

 

[jgh1204]

In my area, there are very few blacks period. It is kind of weird. I think the population is 85% hispanic, 14% white and 1% other.

 

[Sawdustguy]

It definetely sucks. There is a whole bunch of people who don't compete or for that matter, judge. Instead of us sitting on our ass, trying not to hurt each others feelings, lets make this work and figure out how we can get more of every nationality involved. I could give a chit less who parks themselves next to us and starts competing. Hell lets cook, drink and have a good time. I don't care if you have green skin and burp through your navel.

 

[Bigmista]

Mista, we had several teams at the Autry last year and I know all but one are coming back. Darrell isnt coming due to the need to spent more time with his wife and kids. I have been thinking about your question and dont have a answer for you but what I was wondering was who told you you could cook good bbq? Just kidding, love you man and see you in April. I will also be in town in late Feb if you want to meet at Roscos for chicken and waffles? Yep I know were a brother likes to eat! Been there many a time!

Arlie

Looking forward to it! MrsMista used to work at the one on main. WAAAAYYYY in the hood! I'd be proud and honored to take you there.

 

[Bigmista]

Please believe that I am not trying to start any controversy. But I do like to stimulate conversation. I've never felt the need to bite my tongue here and I think of the folks here as family. I've never felt excluded, exploited or singled out in any way. I just want to promote BBQ as a cuisine, a sport and a way of life because Q'ers are some of the best people in the world.

They're also a bunch of farkers, but that's another thread.

 

[JohnMcD348]

I haven't read every post here yet, but I promise I will.


You kow, my wife asked me that very same question when she went to her first Competition here in Lakeland. PigFest is one of the larger cmops around these parts and it also happens to sit right in the predominantly black neighborhood. She asked me a couple of days after the comp and I couldn't really come up with a logical answer. To be honest, I hadn't even thought of it until she asked. It wasn't even that there wer not any predominantly black competitors, the crowd there was very predominantly white. the best I could come up with was maybe a reverse aversion to stereotyping. I don't know, it's late and I guess I really need to take time to collect my thoughts so they don't sound so much like jibberish right now. been working for quite a few hours straight with very litttle rest between takes.

 

[3970010]

Just so you guys know, I am a proud REDNECK. Yep. Nothin but trucks in the driveway. Weapons in the house like you wouldnt believe. Dare I say I love the Confederate flag? I do. Its part of my heritage and believe it or not the civil war was not fought over slavery like is taught in history class.

Do I think slavery was right? Heck no.
Am I hatefull to other races? Heck no
Do I believe its like the Bible says and all men are equal? Yes I do.
Am I proud to be White? Yep.
Do I believe in affirmative action? No, its wrong. (remember-all men are equal)

So, think of me how you want to. I like everybody. Dont care what color you are. I am not gonna rubber stamp everything though in an effort to get along. Ifin its wrong its wrong.

 

[tjus77]

Don't compete here, but have gone to numerous competitions. I stated at the last one... damned shame their ain't more black teams, my favorite bar bq in town are both run by old black men (on the side of the road). If you are from the NW side of Harris county, you probably know Mr. Campbell. Learned about as much from them as I did from my days working in resturant.

 

[tjus77]

Just so you guys know, I am a proud REDNECK. Yep. Nothin but trucks in the driveway. Weapons in the house like you wouldnt believe. Dare I say I love the Confederate flag? I do. Its part of my heritage and believe it or not the civil war was not fought over slavery like is taught in history class.

Do I think slavery was right? Heck no.
Am I hatefull to other races? Heck no
Do I believe its like the Bible says and all men are equal? Yes I do.
Am I proud to be White? Yep.
Do I believe in affirmative action? No, its wrong. (remember-all men are equal)

So, think of me how you want to. I like everybody. Dont care what color you are. I am not gonna rubber stamp everything though in an effort to get along. Ifin its wrong its wrong.

AMEN!!!!!!! and let me add, I HATE being PC. Don't get me wrong, I don't TRY to be offensive, but you know.... no matter how careful you are SOMEBODY will take offensive, just because this is America and you can.

 

[MilitantSquatter]

Moderator Note:

Mista brought up a valid observation about competitions and the low turnout of black people participating in these contests and the reasons that may cause this...

Let's keep the posts on topic and not turn this into a bunch of posts about our personal beliefs, beliefs of what or what was not US history etc.

Thanks - MilitantSquatter

 

[Q Haven]

My initial thought is that most competitions are held in rural or suburban areas, where mostly white people live. I feel that if more events were held in cities, or at least were more heavily promoted in cities, there would be a lot more diversity at competitions.

I think as BBQ continues to grow in popularity, you will see more participation. After all, I'm sure many would agree that some of the best Q restaurants out there are black owned, and I'm sure they will see that well attended competitions are a great way to promote their business.

 

[3970010]

Moderator Note:

Mista brought up a valid observation about competitions and the low turnout of black people participating in these contests and the reasons that may cause this...

Let's keep the posts on topic and not turn this into a bunch of posts about our personal beliefs, beliefs of what or what was not US history etc.

Thanks - MilitantSquatter

Fair enough.

 

[3970010]

If you are from the NW side of Harris county, you probably know Mr. Campbell. Learned about as much from them as I did from my days working in resturant.

Where exactly is his resturant? I would like to try it. I dont think I have ever been in a BBQ establishment that was owned and run by a Black man. I did see on the history channel how Blacks helped bring BBQ along. I was reading on the SBCA's website how they believe it was the Spanish and the American Indian who came up with BBQ in South Carolina. Little confused myself as to which one was correct. It could be interesting to find out. I have heard that ribs were a throw away meat and that Black slaves were the ones who discovered how to cook them. It does make one wonder why there is not more involvement with minorities. There is a huge Hispanic turnout here in the Houston area cookoffs.

 

[Spydermike72]

As Merl stated earlier, there is a few all Black teams in Michigan, Big Moes, Donnies Smokehouse and I belive a fellow named Charlie here in the Flint area. They all compete here in Michigan. And as Merl also stated, they are dang good!!