The mayor of Los Alamitos is coming under fire for an e-mail he sent out that depicts the White House lawn planted with watermelons, under the title "No Easter egg hunt this year."

Local businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, who is black, said she received the e-mail from Mayor Dean Grose's personal account on Sunday and wants a public apology.

"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price said. "I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."

Grose confirmed to the Associated Press that he sent the e-mail to Price and said he didn't mean to offend her. He said he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.

He said he and Price are friends and serve together on a community youth board.

"Bottom line is, we laugh at things and I didn't see this in the same light that she did," Grose told the AP. "I'm sorry. It wasn't sent to offend her personally - or anyone - from the standpoint of the African-American race."

"If the mayor didn’t know about stereotyping black folk with watermelon, then why use watermelon in the first place?” Gregory Clay, an editor and columnist for McClatchy News Service, told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “Why didn’t he use tomatoes or squash or apples or corn, or any other item from the vegetable or fruit garden? Some people just won’t let stereotyping go, whether it’s with food or cars or language."

Los Alamitos is a 2¼-square-mile Orange County city of around 12,000 people. The mayor is elected by fellow members of the five-seat City Council. According to 2000 Census data, the city is 77 percent white and 3.2 percent black. Voter registration, according 2003 records, is fairly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, although the city is located in a heavily Republican county.

Grose’s contention that he was unaware of the link between black people and watermelons didn’t wash, either, with Keith “Keef” Knight, cartoonist and creator of "The K Chronicles."

“He's lying about being ignorant about the watermelon thing,” Knight told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “I think there's a huge learning curve for a lot of ignorant folks.  A lot of people in leadership positions in America today grew up in a time where white people could say and do whatever they wanted and get away with it.”

Knight said he didn’t think this was an isolated incident.

“There'll be plenty more of this stuff,” he said. “Maybe it's a right-wing plan to keep everyone distracted.  Hopefully, decent  folks will rise above the foolishness.”

Grose, who became mayor in December, said he sent an apology e-mail to Price and her boss and also left her a voicemail apology.

Regardless, Price said it will be difficult for the two to work together.

"Now I am like - wow, is this really how he feels?" Price said.

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i now see why all the real black people have left this site, you have got to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
watermelons, sambo, monkey,**** all go side by side.

by   
Sisreal
February 26, 2009, 11:15 am
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I agree with Jiggy5 and Mr. Kennedy. Obviously someone was confused about the "friedndship." If they have joked in the past, what was the big deal about this? We can often be over sensitive. I have a close Mexican colleague and we joke ALL the time. We talk about race, food, husbands, it all. Once she "crossed the line" when asking HOW my granny/mom/aunts had such long pretty hair. She was serious though. Not joking. Claimed she didn't know that we could have hair like that. I checked her and we moved on.

by   
SansNicole
February 26, 2009, 10:48 am
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if he didn't know it would offend Black people why did he send it to just Ms Price. He's in the same class as Sarah Palis and Bobby Jiindal; talk about ignorant.

by   
Txguitar
February 26, 2009, 10:23 am
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I make jokes 2. But I do not PUBLISH them! I said that there will be barbecues in the whitehouse from now on. And say it proudly. But i never would send that out for all of the world to see! Yes it was racist and yes, he knew! I say they are ALL haters cuz they are not in Pres Obama's shoes!!! Ha Ha Ha, and they never will be. Can't bring him down wit words world! He is far to intelligent for that! Keep thinkin', cuz that did not work!

by   
Pjasper
February 26, 2009, 10:02 am
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This guy is more green with envy that those watermelons are green. These people are just angry and jealous and this is all they have. They cant stop him (The President). I pity him (this mayor). He probably thinks about President Obama when he wakes up in the morning and until he lays his head on his pillow at night. He is just miserable. and he has at least 4 to 8 years to sit around and mope. I am loving it !!!!!! The angrier he is and others like him, the better. That's how we know that we are doing well. Watch out if he turns happy.

by   
Tnwankpa
February 26, 2009, 10:01 am
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I have to admit some of this stuff is funny. I think sometimes the black community is over sensitive and that's why the racist keep this up......It's similiar to your kid sister or brother sticking thier tongue out at you when you were kids.....the more you say stop it The more determine he gets to irritate the hell out of you. Lets not get distracted by this bull spit. Freedom of speech also applies to non-threatening speech towards the POTUS. Empower Yourself



True dat gurl. Lighten up peeps. Freeze his****est....knee growth please!

by   
Jiggy5
February 26, 2009, 9:49 am
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I'm a Black Man and if you don't want whites to tell some jokes, then don't let them tell you any jokes at all. Like he said he has told her jokes before but this time he cross the line.

by   
Mr. Kennedy
February 26, 2009, 9:46 am
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I have to admit some of this stuff is funny. I think sometimes the black community is over sensitive and that's why the racist keep this up......It's similiar to your kid sister or brother sticking thier tongue out at you when you were kids.....the more you say stop it The more determine he gets to irritate the hell out of you. Lets not get distracted by this bull spit. Freedom of speech also applies to non-threatening speech towards the POTUS. Empower Yourself

by   
Reality_Check
February 26, 2009, 9:38 am
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R U KIDDING ??!!! This guy needs to do more than apologize for his "insensitivity". Where's the fine or the Secret Service showing up at his office. Freeze his aasets, put hiim under investigation. I like fredom of speech just like anyone else but sometime it goes too far. Since it was directed at the President' s race, could it not be meant as a hate crime or race crime. Well I guess with a last name like GROSS, he has been at the****-end of more than few stininging jokes throughtout his life.

by   
Jbird222
February 26, 2009, 8:41 am
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Crush it at it's start!!!

by   
RaaSaa
February 26, 2009, 8:40 am
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It's not about having thicker skin, it's a matter of what you will and won't tolerate. This type of issue is how it usually starts so they can see how much they can get away with. If you let a person know what offends you, it's nipped in the bud and there should be no recurrence from the offender (if we lived in a perfect world).

by   
Mkrep
February 26, 2009, 8:20 am
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Peeps we gotta have thicker skin.

by   
Jiggy5
February 26, 2009, 7:36 am
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