The Most Dangerous Fruit in America

It's the epitome of summertime: there’s nothing like a cold, juicy
slice of red watermelon on a swelteringly hot day. But, once upon a
time, watermelons were neither red nor sweet—the wild watermelon
has white flesh and a bitter taste. This episode, we scour Egyptian
tombs, decaying DNA, and ancient literature in search of
watermelon's origins. The quest for tasty watermelon continues into
modern times, with the rediscovery of a lost (and legendarily
sweet) varietal in South Carolina—and the Nigerian musical secret
that might help you pick a ripe one. But the fruit's history has
often been the opposite of sweet: watermelons have featured in some
of the most ubiquitous anti-Black imagery in U.S. history. So how
did the watermelon become the most dangerous—and racist—fruit in
America? (encore) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
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