MSM NY school, food vendor apologize after serving chicken and watermelon for first day of Black History Month

[medic38572]

Some one has a sense of humor...


NYACK, N.Y. (TND) — Both a middle school and a food vendor in New York have reportedly apologized after serving what students said was a culturally insensitive chicken, waffle and watermelon lunch on the first day of Black History Month.

Nyack Middle School's principal called the meal an "unfortunate situation" in a letter sent to parents on Thursday, the Rockland/Westchester Journal News reported, adding that the principal claims it was the food vendor Aramark who made a last-minute change to the meal without telling the school's administrators.

We are extremely disappointed by this regrettable situation and apologize to the entire Nyack community for the cultural insensitivity displayed by our food service provider," Principal David Johnson reportedly said in the statement. "I am disappointed that Aramark would serve items that differed from the published monthly menu. Especially items that reinforce negative stereotypes concerning the African-American Community."

Fried chicken and watermelon are well-known racist tropes that have been used against Black people.

If they had served chicken and waffles by itself, I don't know that we would be having this conversation. But the moment you add in the watermelon, that changed the whole complexion, literally," Wilbur Aldridge, a member of the Nyack NAACP, told CBS News.

Multiple parents were reportedly outraged by what they called a culturally insensitive lunch on the first day of Black History Month. One parent said it was "really disappointing" the meal wasn't caught or prevented, according to the Journal News.


The school district’s food vendor, Aramark, also reportedly released a statement on Thursday, a day after the meal was served.

While our menu was not intended as a cultural meal, we acknowledge that the timing was inappropriate, and our team should have been more thoughtful in its service," Aramark said in the statement, according to the Journal News. "This was a mistake and does not represent the values of our company, and we are committed to doing better in the future."

Interim school superintendent James Montesano told CBS News that Aramark has agreed to partner with the school to have its employees undergo cultural sensitivity training.

Apparently, this isn't the first time Aramark has made a culturally insensitive gaffe.

In 2011, the company offered a meal at UC California-Irvine called the "MLK Holiday Special" which was chicken and waffles, according to Fox News.

Aramark also reportedly offered BBQ, cornbread, collard greens, Kool-Aid and watermelon-flavored water at New York University during Black History Month in 2018, CBS News reported.

The National Desk reached out to Nyack Middle School regarding the meal and its partnership with Aramark, but has yet to hear back.

If a response is received, it will be added to this article.

NY school, food vendor apologize after serving chicken and watermelon for first day of Black History Month

Apologies are being issued after a New York school reportedly served what students said was a culturally insensitive meal to kick off Black History Month.

local12.com

 

[marymonde]

Whoever served this, had to look pretty hard for watermelon in February. I know none of our grocery stores carry it in the winter.

 

[Jake Grey]

Just wondering if Maola company (I think it was them) still makes the little cartons of Jungle Juice? Some of my former coworkers 30 plus years ago lived on that stuff. The o.p. brought those days back to my mind.

 

[Samuel Adams]

I say he should have apologized……

No basketball motif napkins or drinking cups ?

 

[Catnip]

Shit happens when food is used as a weapon.

 

[Trouble]

Hilarious, truly. Screw monkey history month and every monkey on the planet. Whiney assholes look for any reason to be pissed off.

 

[packyderms_wife]

So will they get reparations now of chicken, waffles, and watermelon?

 

[Bumblepuff]

​

 

[babysteps]

Someone at Aramark is laughing their butts off.

Especially since it's happened more than once.

 

[20Gauge]

Some one has a sense of humor...


NYACK, N.Y. (TND) — Both a middle school and a food vendor in New York have reportedly apologized after serving what students said was a culturally insensitive chicken, waffle and watermelon lunch on the first day of Black History Month.

Nyack Middle School's principal called the meal an "unfortunate situation" in a letter sent to parents on Thursday, the Rockland/Westchester Journal News reported, adding that the principal claims it was the food vendor Aramark who made a last-minute change to the meal without telling the school's administrators.


Fried chicken and watermelon are well-known racist tropes that have been used against Black people.


Multiple parents were reportedly outraged by what they called a culturally insensitive lunch on the first day of Black History Month. One parent said it was "really disappointing" the meal wasn't caught or prevented, according to the Journal News.


The school district’s food vendor, Aramark, also reportedly released a statement on Thursday, a day after the meal was served.


Interim school superintendent James Montesano told CBS News that Aramark has agreed to partner with the school to have its employees undergo cultural sensitivity training.

Apparently, this isn't the first time Aramark has made a culturally insensitive gaffe.

In 2011, the company offered a meal at UC California-Irvine called the "MLK Holiday Special" which was chicken and waffles, according to Fox News.

Aramark also reportedly offered BBQ, cornbread, collard greens, Kool-Aid and watermelon-flavored water at New York University during Black History Month in 2018, CBS News reported.

The National Desk reached out to Nyack Middle School regarding the meal and its partnership with Aramark, but has yet to hear back.

If a response is received, it will be added to this article.

NY school, food vendor apologize after serving chicken and watermelon for first day of Black History Month

Apologies are being issued after a New York school reportedly served what students said was a culturally insensitive meal to kick off Black History Month.

local12.com

In other stories it appears the school district sold out of food on the 1st day of black history month

 

[PghPanther]

and within the article.......

"To make amends........... tomorrow we will have a school wide field trip for a special lunch at Chuck E Cheese off the intersection of MLK Blvd and Grape Drank Ave.....located in the King Cobra / Shoot n' Loot shopping plaza."

 

[SousJo]

They should apologize for using Aramark. They might be the worst caterer on the planet. Think prison cafeteria, boxes of food labeled INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY. Not fit for man nor beast. And if you think its bad they don't care about the quality of their food, that's okay because everything else about them sucks too.

 

[PghPanther]

They should apologize for using Aramark. They might be the worst caterer on the planet. Think prison cafeteria, boxes of food labeled INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY. Not fit for man nor beast. And if you think its bad they don't care about the quality of their food, that's okay because everything else about them sucks too.

and their trains wreck a lot too................hehe

 

[NoDandy]

I say he should have apologized……

No basketball motif napkins or drinking cups ?

Also, why no Popeyes, chitlins, greens, hog feet, MD 20-20, or even some night train. Damn, how inconsiderate !!

 

[coalcracker]

I remember the penny candy store from the days of my youth.

Remember those little black gummy candies coated in sugar? I bet you do. Well, at least we can still call the fish “Swedish fish,” right?

 

[PghPanther]

Also, why no Popeyes, chitlins, greens, hog feet, MD 20-20, or even some night train. Damn, how inconsiderate !!

 

[Bumblepuff]

​

 

[PghPanther]

I remember the penny candy store from the days of my youth.

Remember those little black gummy candies coated in sugar? I bet you do. Well, at least we can still call the fish “Swedish fish,” right?

 

[rhughe13]

These things happen in the most historically racist parts of the country.

 

[Raggedyman]

y'all are krackin up an ol hillbillie naw

 

[summerthyme]

I say he should have apologized……

No basketball motif napkins or drinking cups ?

Cotton balls instead of napkins?

Summerthyme

 

[NoDandy]

They can also use Red Fox's suggestion. Mix up a pot of champaign and Ripple, call it Champipple.

 

[PghPanther]

They can also use Red Fox's suggestion. Mix up a pot of champaign and Ripple, call it Champipple.

What do you got there Fred?

I got the good stuff..................Cold Duck!!

 

[bev]

Now the caterers have to go through cultural sensitivity training.

Is there blowback from the community when other culturally-identified foods are served? For example:

Taco Tuesdays
Mardi Gras
Asian-Pacific American month
Hispanic Heritage month
Native American month

 

[Hfcomms]

NYACK, N.Y. (TND) — Both a middle school and a food vendor in New York have reportedly apologized after serving what students said was a culturally insensitive chicken, waffle and watermelon lunch on the first day of Black History Month.


I'm not black and I like chicken, waffles and watermelon too. Maybe I'm faux black??


I swear that people go out of their way to be offended today.

 

[Publius]

It does not matter what they are feed a few will complain and someone else will make it look like all of them are complaining.

 

[Meadowlark]

This article was posted in another forum. This was one of the comments "Want real 'black history' food? Make the boys go kill their own 'bush meat' with a spear, while the girls walk 30 miles to the watering hole with a clay jar on their head."

Despite my better judgement I laughed.

 

[rob0126]

I like chicken and waffles with watermelon.

I have to ask, do asians get offended if you serve them shrimp fried rice?

Do mexicans get offended if you serve them burritos and tacos?

What does not offend?

Personally, I think its just something else to complain about, for whatever reason.

Acting like a bunch of babies.

 

[anna43]

I'd bet that the kids were thrilled to have watermelon and the "connection" would not have occurred to them had not some adult gotten their panties in a twist.

 

[TKO]

On the flip side, I never knew black folks that turned down fried chicken or watermelon. Me neither! It's good food!

 

[ChicagoMan74]

 

[ChicagoMan74]

 

[mzkitty]

 

[Imrik]

Fried chicken and watermelon. Collard greens and corn bread
It’s not raycists. It’s prime southern cuisine

 

[mikeabn]

Isn't there some chain that offers chicken and waffles?

 

[Hfcomms]

Nah......more like the real purple drink that they seem to like. Good old Mad Dog.

 

[AddisonRose]

I was responding on Instagram to a post and happened to say ‘you people’ which was not pointing out any specific race and some black chick goes ‘well you would say that on the first day of Black History Month.’ Can’t win.

 

[SmithJ]

Chicken and Waffles done right is GOOD EATING!

 

[Elza]

Piss on 'em. Stereotypes exist for a reason. That reason is the actions of a large group.

Besides that, fried chicken and watermelon is GOOD eatin' anytime.

 

[Old Greek]

Piss on 'em. Stereotypes exist for a reason. That reason is the actions of a large group.

Besides that, fried chicken and watermelon is GOOD eatin' anytime.

yes - like the Irish and whiskey. (I am part Irish)