I'm going to explain the stereotypes to the best of my knowledge. Don't kill me anyone.
Fried Chicken:
-Courtesy of Wikipedia-
"Whichever way it was introduced to the American South, fried chicken became a common staple. Later, as Africans were brought to work on southern plantations, the slaves who became cooks incorporated seasonings and spices that were absent in traditional Scottish cuisine, enriching the flavor. Since most slaves were unable to raise expensive meats, but generally allowed to keep chickens, frying chicken as a special occasion spread through the African American communities of the South. It endured the fall of slavery and gradually passed into a general Southern dish. Since fried chicken could keep for several days more than other preparations and traveled well in hot weather before refrigeration was commonplace, it gained further favor in the periods of American history when segregation closed off most restaurants to the black population. Fried chicken continues to dominate as this region’s selection for "Sunday dinner," among both blacks and whites. Holidays such as Independence Day and other gatherings often feature this dish."
Watermelon: If you've spent all day working on a plantation with boiling hot southern weather, wouldn't you enjoy a cool, moist watermelon? The crop also originated in southern Africa if that counts...
Ribs: Going back once again to the early 1800s, the slave owners generally ate the good parts of the meat (whether it be beef, pork, etc). The slaves were forced to eat the less appealing parts of the animals, and I guess back then, the ribs were considered far less appealing than the other parts of the animal.
Kool-aid: Uhhhhhh, I don't know? It's cheap and tastes okay. Really have no clue on that one.
