Collard greens: Only $66 at Neiman Marcus
11/19/2016, 12:20 p.m.
By Lauren Northington
First, cultural appropriation Twitter police called out the popular food blog “Thug Kitchen” in 2013 when a 29-year-old white couple from Hollywood revealed themselves as the anonymous authors of the highly acclaimed blog written largely in black vernacular English.
Then earlier this year, Black Twitter blasted Kylie Jenner for cooking her beau, Young Money recording artist Tyga, common soul food staples like candied yams, macaroni and cheese and chicken.
Now, the cultural appropriation police on social media are calling foul once again — this time on luxury department store Neiman Marcus.
The company, known to many Americans as “Needless Markup,” is selling $66 collard greens.
With shipping charges, the $81.50 order of four 12-ounce trays of frozen, seasoned collards serves 8 to 10 people.
For those challenged in the kitchen and looking for help for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s too late; Neiman Marcus collards are sold out.
Nonetheless, scores of people took to Twitter to express outrage at the price point of the down-home staple and to accuse Neiman Marcus of appropriating black food culture.
“[They] better taste like unicorn tears and Prince’s bath water,” The Root wrote on Twitter in response.
Several people commented using the hashtag “gentrified greens.”
“What type of gentrified hot mess is this?!” one Twitter user wrote.
“WalMart will sell you collards $4/lb, pre-washed …Your grandpa might have greens in his backyard,” wrote another.
“I hope every one of my ancestors haunts the mess out of the person at Neiman Marcus who thought of gentrified greens,” said another post.
“The food that was considered poor people’s food, or Southern food, or black food, is now being advertised and sold by a luxury brand,” Nicole Taylor, author of “The Up South Cookbook” told The Washington Post earlier this month.
While the collards are all gone, shoppers with expensive tastes can turn to other Neiman Marcus offerings: $92 tamales and $38 cornbread that feeds four.
This week, the tamales are 25 percent off at $69 — shipping and handling not included.