Knew This Day Would Come....

It all started one day as my older cousin gave me a ride home after we finished doing our dance teaching gig. She was screaming some song at the top of her lungs and I'm just taking in the sites when a green and white awning catches my attention. I make a groan that originated deep in my abdomen and by the time it pasted my lips sounded like a thoroughly wounded animal. "Oh God The news is going to swarm the block. How long has that been there!" My cousin turns down her music and brings her screeching to a halt. "What? Oh that! They changed it on Thursday"

The "that" was the new sign outside the chicken spot around the corner from my childhood home. As far back as I can remember it was originally called Mama's Fried Chicken and then when I was maybe a Junior in HS it changed its name to Royal Fried Chicken. Its new name? The name that my procrastinating behind was going to ask you all what you thought about on Monday instead of today(Friday)? Its 'Obama Fried Chicken' **let the groaning commence**

You see I'm torn. I kept asking my siblings and cousins as well as my Spiritual Counselor (who also doubles as my LS) and another friend if I should be offended. Obama Fried Chicken!?! This business has sat there for over 20 years and they have never had a problem with the community as far as I know. Its where I fell in love with those $1.50 Sweet Potato Pies. There is a Crown Fried Chicken that opened up directly across the street from it when I was in undergrad and they have been struggling to stay open competing with them for customers hankering for a dose of heart disease. I can't help but wonder if they did it to drum up business. According to some of my neighbors they(the neighbors) did encourage them(the store owners) to change the name to Obama Fried Chicken. My sister (who hasn't decided if she is offended yet either) who still lives on the block says that they have an Obama Hardware as well and a slew of other stores... But THIS is Fried Chicken!! I don't know what to think of this.

Now I wake up this morning and am alerted by text that my prophecy is now a reality. "The Obama Fried Chicken spot by your mom's place is on the front cover of AM New York" http://www.amny.com/media/acrobat/2009-04/23136028.pdf And all I could do is verbalize that low groan again but through text... Read a little something like this: 'Uggggghhhhhhhhhhh'. And almost a week since I saw the offending(?) sign I STILL haven't decided if I'm offended yet. Now it's in the paper.. Oy Vey! Honestly if it were a Chicken Spot someplace else I'd of probably been offended but its MY Chicken Spot!! O woe is me... **hangs head in shame**


P.S. That is NOT Brownsville its the 90s of East Flatbush!! **Insert another low grown here**



P.P.S. According to AMNY They are taking the sign down on Sunday. Due to Black Leaders in NYC staging a protest on Monday if it isn't gone.