Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Food vendor under fire for serving chicken, watermelon for Black History Month

Food vendor Aramark has embarrassed itself — yet again — with a culturally tone-deaf meal served to middle school students for Black History Month.
Food vendor Aramark has embarrassed itself — yet again — with a culturally tone-deaf meal served to middle school students for Black History Month. Photo by iStock /GETTY IMAGES

Food vendor Aramark has embarrassed itself — yet again — with a culturally tone-deaf meal served to middle school students for Black History Month.

People Magazine reports that on Feb. 1, students at a Nyack, N.Y. school were served chicken, waffles and watermelon for lunch, a meal that was served after the district’s food vendor changed the original lunch menu without notice.

From our newsroom to your inbox at noon, the latest headlines, stories, opinion and photos from the Toronto Sun.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

School principal David Johnson told parents in a letter sent last week, “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. 

“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.”

Aramark apologized, calling the menu incident a mistake in a formal statement that included their intent, “to deepen understanding on the impact of systemic biases and negative stereotypes concerning the African-American Community.

Aramark has done this before.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

In 2018, the company served NYU students a “Black History Month Menu” with ribs, collard greens, cornbread, smashed yams, mac and cheese, red Kool-Aid and watermelon-flavoured water. There were complaints.

In 2011, the food-service company offered students at the University of California Irvine a “MLK Holiday Special: Chicken and Waffles,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

There were complaints then, too.

At the time, officials with Aramark Corp said they would conduct cultural sensitivity training for all managers and chefs.

  1. “It’s always a special moment, in February, when we take time to look back and think about things,” said Carla Beauvais, co-ordinator of the Round Table on Black History Month.

    Black History Month is 'a catalyst to allow Black culture to shine'

  2. A wax figure of Booker T. Washington is seen on exhibit at the the National Great Blacks in History Musuem in Baltimore, Maryland, 13 February 2006.

    ELDER: What left-wing educators don't teach during 'Black History Month'