Patti Labelle’s sweet potato pies sold out of Wal Mart stores all over the country last week after a social media review of the pies by James Wright went viral. The pies instantly started flying off shelves as buyers wanted to experience them for themselves. The pies have been out since September but sold an estimated $2.3 Million pies after the video surfaced. Who knows if they’ll be available for the Thanksgiving holiday this coming Thursday. Ms. Patti, as we affectionately call her, the iconic muscian who has been a household name since before we were even thought of, gave a personal call to Wright, thanking him for telling the world about her pies.
However, interestingly enough, the power of Patti’s pies raises another discussion on not only black culture but the buying power of blacks in the United States. Things we sometimes mark as stereotypes should’nt be because they are near and dear to our hearts. Black people love Patti Labelle and sweet potato pies. And as these pies are completely gone, we all know, black people’s money had a lot to do with it. They’re even being sold on Ebay at this point. Will they be back on the shelves for the upcoming holiday season? Mention @HCHamptonU on Twitter and let us know if they made it to your table.