Surfin’ The Web With Ray: BBQ Becky

Memes make up the backbone of the internet. Some are merely vertebrae (Ugandan Knuckles, Internet Grandpa), while others serve a more vital role, as the internet would cease to work the same way without them (Pepe, Michael Jackson Eating Popcorn). However, some memes transcend their typical use-case, becoming more than just a Facebook photo comment or Tinder conversation- starter. One such example is the BBQ Becky meme.

For those not in the know, Oakland resident Jennifer Schulte is a middle-aged white woman (and a liberal university graduate) who, while visiting Lake Merritt, parked her car between a passed-out junkie and a stray dog, walked past piles of heroin needles, abandoned buildings being used to house raves where teenagers snort molly, empty shell casings and heaping mounds of trash, only to report a group of people who were barbequing in the park...because, in her words, "coal barbeque grills are a safety hazard to the community."

If you can guess the racial makeup of the people she called the cops on, give yourself a cookie.

So, new week, new racist bullshit, right? Well, not quite—as opposed to most racially charged news headlines (police shootings, reports of discrimination in department stores, etc.), there was absolutely zero disagreement among the extremes. Everyone— from Trump supporters to radical feminists— came together in our Imagine moment to hold hands, as one, while laughing in the face of bored, racist white ladies everywhere. It’s been heartwarming, to see both Feminist Frequency and Infowars take the same stance on anything, let alone annoying white ladies who want nothing more than to call the cops on anyone and anything. As a cherry on the top of the sundae, the cop who arrived at the scene was equally appalled at Schulte’s waste of police resources. And, as a cherry on top of that cherry, a few days later, Oakland residents threw the biggest block party the area has seen in years. Yes, there was barbequing going on. No, no one died.

Of course, the internet has produced some of the best responses ever, thanks to the wide-reaching appeal of BBQ Becky’s meme-ability. My favorite is this one:

Next up, a classic page from the history books:

... and another:

Sadly, Jennifer Schulte was never allowed to participate in the Soul Train dance line:

And, of course, I had to update the meme to reflect current events:

What does the BBQ Becky meme say about the current cultural climate? Well, it’s bringing us together—and that’s what matters. At the end of the day, no one likes a snitch and we all can’t stand bored, middle-aged white women with nothing better to do. Yes, the threat of racial violence is a very real experience for black and brown people, while my white ass can sit here and meme the whole thing without much fear of being shot by a cop who mistakes my mouse pad for a gun. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, to hold hands as a nation and put a racist soccer mom in her place. John Lennon would be proud.