Found in Malcolm X Park: Homegirls Potato Chips
“Found in Malcolm X Park” is an occasional feature on a piece of trash recovered from the park. The park’s seasonal maintenance attendant makes certain that I don’t have a lot to choose from, but stuff occasionally gets by him. Today’s item is an empty bag of Homegirls “It’s All That” Potato chips:
The front of the bag features characters Maria, Rasheeda and Kathy, identified as “sweeties.” The back has the usual nutritional information along with a series of “inspirational” apothegms like “NO RING…NO THING!”
A brief search reveals scant information about Homegirls Potato Chips. A 1992 article from Black Enterprise magazine indicates that Chumpies Homegirls and Homeboys Distributing Co. was founded in 1991 and within a year had already grossed half a million dollars. By 2002, according to this 2002 AP article, the chips were being distributed by a Philadelphia company called “It’s a Winner” and manufactured by King’s Potato Chips at a factory in Amish country:
Sold in mom-and-pop corner stores, Rap Snacks, Chumpies and Homegirls target urban youth immersed in hip-hop culture.
“Potato chips aren’t exactly ethnic, but it’s the way you package them and present them and the flavors that makes them different. Everybody eats chips, so you might as well eat the ones that appeal to your eyes and psyche,” said Glenn Weber, owner of King’s Potato Chips, which makes Chumpies and Homegirls for the Philadelphia-based company It’s a Winner.
The bag indicates that the chips are now distributed by “African Cajun Restorant” at 401 West Cayuga Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, but that address appears to be occupied now by either “Joel’s Steak” or “Northside Pizza.” None of the outfits producing or distributing these chips seems to have any web presence, though this bag has been scanned and commented on elsewhere for years. (Rap Snacks are promoted by an elaborate website, but they don’t seem to be involved with Homegirls. Check that link out, by the way. The animated intro features a guy wading through a dark sewer, climbing up a ladder, and lifting up a manhole cover under an image of the Philly skyline in order to recover a bag of Honey Barbecue Rap Snacks. Then the name Rap Snacks and “the official snack of Hip Hop” is superimposed over the scene. I guess these snacks are “underground?”) It’s all very mysterious.
MR MIKE said,
August 1, 2007 @ 12:36 pm
What a great find! I remember eating my last bag of Homeboy Chips in 1993, watching Mitch Williams help the Phillies lose the World Series to the Blue Jays.
Zoo Shooter said,
August 2, 2007 @ 10:19 am
such diversity on the bag! If i was gonna be on of the homegirls, i think i’d be maria, gotta get me some red shoes!
malcolmxpark.org » Found in Malcolm X Park: Rap Snacks said,
December 24, 2007 @ 12:41 am
[...] feature on a piece of trash or other discarded item recovered from the park. This, our second Found snack feature, is an empty 1oz. bag of Rap Snacks potato chips featuring Romeo (formerly Lil’ [...]
Nicole said,
November 12, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
I was just thinking what ever happened to homeboy and homegirl potato chips. I live in Memphis, TN and I was in junior high school when the chips came out. I remember eating the chips then putting the chip bags in the oven and shrinking them to put on a key ring.
Milf. said,
January 23, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
Milf….
Milf hunter. Milf. Milf next door. Milf seeker. Milf camps. Milf mature milf….
hyedrollicks said,
March 1, 2009 @ 1:47 am
i just bought two bags of homegirls today. i live in philly, and i can honestly think of about 4 stores that sell them. you gotta look hard for them in the corner stores. but they are by far my favorite kind of chips. too bad you can’t buy them in larger bags cuz these tiny $.25 bags just make you mad
Jasper said,
May 6, 2009 @ 9:55 am
I ve been traveling 130 miles from Scranton Pa. to Phila. every month for a box of homeboys my wife eats the homegirls.
A bold move, a brief rant and a City Feed tote full of trash. « Yes, Melynda said,
November 11, 2009 @ 2:16 am
[...] coffee cup, a broken keyfob, several candy wrappers, a piece of paper with phone numbers on it, one of these, three receipts, a BB, a small, smooth stone, an empty cigarette box, a AA-battery, and an [...]
wana_b said,
February 6, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
I was just here sitting with my 12 yr. old son asking him what happen to the chip’s he use to eat called (lil romeo or homeboyz). I use to eat the home girl’z and chummpies. i was like 12 when the last time i had a bag to. i use to live in wilmington,delaware and Mr Smitty’s use to sell them. now im in Harrisburg and they don’t have them at all round here. I need to buy a big a$$ kase and bring them round my neck of the wood’s and throw a bag around and see if they start toseal these.lol