School food vendor apologizes — again — for 'inexcusable' Black History Month menu

[alaskanseminole]

Chicken & Waffles? Man, I wish our school lunch was that good growing up!

School food vendor apologizes — again — for 'inexcusable' Black History Month menu

A vendor that provides food service to schools apologized for the "unintentional insensitivity" of its Black History Month menu, echoing similar apologies it has made for more than a decade amid backlash over racially insensitive menus.

www.yahoo.com

I swear, when my cracker a$$ is seen walking in, I better get biscuits and gravy with some sweet tea, baby!

In other news, Southern school is outraged because none of these items were available during black history month.

I'm sure we'll hear all about this on Bill Maher's next monolog.

 

[Pete Malloy]

This episode of “As The Snowflake’s Turn” is brought to you by the Woke Corp makers of imaginary outcry.

 

[DropitlikeitsHawk]

Sounds good. Too bad you have to wait until March 1st or you’re a racist. Oh well short month.

 

[globalhawk]

Sounds good. Too bad you have to wait until March 1st or you’re a racist. Oh well short month.

Do you know that the South used chicken and waffles to denigrate Black Americans? Kind of like the old watermelon jokes. How young are you?

 

[McLovin32]

Not a big deal IMO, but it does look kinda bad and I can see why folks would get upset about it and it shouldn't have happened.


I don't know why, but this reminded me of the Juneteenth soul food contest event that some town in Arkansas scheduled last year, and then announced that the entire panel of judges were white folks.

 

[Colonoscopy]

I just love the cultural "production value" of events like these.

The lunch menu offered on February 1 at Nyack Middle School in Rockland County was “inexcusably insensitive and reflected a lack of understanding of our district’s vision to address racial bias,” David A. Johnson, the school’s principal, wrote in a letter to parents.

The incident is the latest example of how Black people continue battling misguided stereotypes about their fondness for certain foods and racist tropes against them.

James Montesano, the interim superintendent for Nyack Public Schools, told CNN the district has a longstanding commitment to equity.

“It is our hope that this incident on February 1st will be an opportunity to expand collective knowledge – beyond ‘sensitivity training’ – regarding the racialized systems in which we all live; and ultimately work towards undoing the negative impacts of these systems on our students, staff and school community,” Montesano said in a statement.

Aramark has been behind similar menus on past holidays commemorating Black people that sparked controversy at two universities going back more than a decade. In 2011, Aramark served chicken and waffles on Martin Luther King Day at the University of California, Irvine.

It said at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times, that the company would conduct cultural sensitivity training for all managers and chefs.

 

[NewVicHawkeye]

Hillbillies are known to eat basically the same food. They even wrote a song about it.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Do you know that the South used chicken and waffles to denigrate Black Americans? Kind of like the old watermelon jokes. How young are you?

While true, it doesn't make the food itself racist and more often than not specific foods become cultural (like curry to Indians). I sent this article to my buddy who lives in Dade Country (so I'm not sure it's considered "the south") and he thought it was frack'n ridiculous. He said his mom served collard greens, corn bread et al dang near every Sunday. He, personally, doesn't care for Chicken and Waffles (together), but Fried Chicken is another staple on his mother's table. No, he didn't send pics of his mom for you twats.

 

[IowaPackFan]

I thought chicken and waffles was a Dutch thing.

 

[alaskanseminole]

I thought chicken and waffles was a Dutch thing.

I thought it was simply a southern thing. Personally, I don't get the hype. I prefer my fried chicken with mashed taters and a glass of sweet half/half tea. (I'm getting too old for all that sugar).

 

[Colonoscopy]

Hillbillies are known to eat basically the same food. They even wrote a song about it.

View embedded media

Yeah, I thought that was southern cuisine in general. But then there were some racist depictions of black people enjoying typical southern dishes and you have this now. Maybe, since many black persons have their roots in the south, there is more fondness for that cuisine amongst their population? But... so what?

In a way it feels like you're letting the racist win by even associating black folk consuming traditional southern cuisine with those negative depictions. Like... is that something we want to make weird for our ensuing generations?

It's like...welp... no southern meals during the month of February because some racist assholes 70 years ago ruined it forever. It's just a bit bizarre to think about.

 

[IowaPackFan]

Maybe we need to make a list of the racist foods

• Chicken and waffles
• Watermelon
• Grits?
• Pig feet?
• Fried chicken?

 

[NewVicHawkeye]

Intention is important.

Food can bring people together. I remember an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies where granny and a black gal discover they cook the same meals.

 

[globalhawk]

While true, it doesn't make the food itself racist and more often than not specific foods become cultural (like curry to Indians). I sent this article to my buddy who lives in Dade Country (so I'm not sure it's considered "the south") and he thought it was frack'n ridiculous. He said his mom served collard greens, corn bread et al dang near every Sunday. He, personally, doesn't care for Chicken and Waffles (together), but Fried Chicken is another staple on his mother's table. No, he didn't send pics of his mom for you twats.

I completely agree. However, it was used (inaccurately) to insult a certain group. I don't get upset or really care but just being honest.

 

[McLovin32]

Maybe we need to make a list of the racist foods

• Chicken and waffles
• Watermelon
• Grits?
• Pig feet?
• Fried chicken?

Ffs, nobody said the food itself is racist, and you know that. We all know that. The purpose behind serving that specifically for Black history month has a racial tone to it. That's the issue. If this food service served chicken and waffles year round, I don't think anyone would have an issue with it.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Maybe we need to make a list of the racist foods

• Chicken and waffles
• Watermelon
• Grits?
• Pig feet?
• Fried chicken?

I don't think people are saying those are racist food, but they're basically saying if there's anything black and about the circumstance, it's insensitive to offer up such food lest you be making a statement that may be viewed as insensitive or worse, racist.

And you could see a situation where some asshole would put something like that on the menu to cause trouble.

However, the sentiment in my first paragraph probably needs to be tamped down a good bit. It's assuming the worst all the time and is unintentionally propagating the notion that one should be offended even if there is no 'real' offense taken.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

It’s about understanding history and context. Ask Fuzzy Zoeller.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Ffs, nobody said the food itself is racist, and you know that. We all know that. The purpose behind serving that specifically for Black history month has a racial tone to it. That's the issue. If this food service served chicken and waffles year round, I don't think anyone would have an issue with it.

A racial tone, cultural or neither? If my Indian friends come over for dinner and I fix curry, is that a racial stereo type? I guess it really depends on who's getting offended. As I said above, I sent this article to my HS buddy (yes, he's black...duh) who provided the above response.

 

[SolarHawk]

This shit is so fvcking dumb. How is waffle and chicken racist? That shit is fvcking delicious.

 

[globalhawk]

A racial tone, cultural or neither? If my Indian friends come over for dinner and I fix curry, is that a racial stereo type? I guess it really depends on who's getting offended. As I said above, I sent this article to my HS buddy (yes, he's black...duh) who provided the above response.

I don't think people get angry over this. I think a lot of people just think it is odd. Why do it on that date?

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

A racial tone, cultural or neither? If my Indian friends come over for dinner and I fix curry, is that a racial stereo type? I guess it really depends on who's getting offended. As I said above, I sent this article to my HS buddy (yes, he's black...duh) who provided the above response.

Come on man, you sound like Tucker Carlson here

 

[McLovin32]

A racial tone, cultural or neither? If my Indian friends come over for dinner and I fix curry, is that a racial stereo type? I guess it really depends on who's getting offended. As I said above, I sent this article to my HS buddy (yes, he's black...duh) who provided the above response.

This isn't a friend making food for a friend. If I made chicken and waffles for an African American buddy that came over, he'd probably think it was hilarious because we're friends.

This is a food service vendor providing meals for freaking middle school kids. It's just not a good look.

 

[SolarHawk]

This isn't a friend making food for a friend. If I made chicken and waffles for an African American buddy that came over, he'd probably think it was hilarious because we're friends.

This is a food service vendor providing meals for freaking middle school kids. It's just not a good look.

Look, I can see how this can be construed as racist, by the same types that literally look for anything to get triggered or offended. Chicken and waffles are served at all kinds of restaurants here in Florida, and they are definitely not exclusive to “black” restaurants, if that’s even a thing.

 

[Colonoscopy]

A racial tone, cultural or neither? If my Indian friends come over for dinner and I fix curry, is that a racial stereo type? I guess it really depends on who's getting offended. As I said above, I sent this article to my HS buddy (yes, he's black...duh) who provided the above response.

Well I thought it was that people poked fun at black folk in a belittling way over their enjoyment of said cuisine.

So that's what made it dicey, I'd think... trying to decipher the intent.

All that said, a menu from a major food vendor that just happens to align with a date in black history month is really unlikely to be some intentional act of old-timey bigotry.

At some point you'd think that the default response would be to assume that this was just dumb random occurrence.

 

[globalhawk]

Look, I can see how this can be construed as racist, by the same types that literally look for anything to get triggered or offended. Chicken and waffles are served at all kinds of restaurants here in Florida, and they are definitely not exclusive to “black” restaurants, if that’s even a thing.

They are in the North. Again, this is not a big deal but you aren't going to find chicken and waffles in Iowa other than a Soul food restaurant. There might be a few exceptions but rare.

 

[globalhawk]

Well I thought it was that people poked fun at black folk in a belittling way over their enjoyment of said cuisine.

So that's what made it dicey, I'd think... trying to decipher the intent.

All that said, a menu from a major food vendor that just happens to align with a date in black history month is really unlikely to be some intentional act of old-timey bigotry.

At some point you'd think that the default response would be to assume that this was just dumb random occurrence.

The menu wasn't made by Aramark.

 

[Colonoscopy]

This isn't a friend making food for a friend. If I made chicken and waffles for an African American buddy that came over, he'd probably think it was hilarious because we're friends.

This is a food service vendor providing meals for freaking middle school kids. It's just not a good look.

Have to have the watermelon too. This thing isn't a story without the watermelon.

 

[McLovin32]

Look, I can see how this can be construed as racist, by the same types that literally look for anything to get triggered or offended. Chicken and waffles are served at all kinds of restaurants here in Florida, and they are definitely not exclusive to “black” restaurants, if that’s even a thing.

Exactly. There's folks out there that get easily offended and triggered by stuff like this, which is why it's so stupid to do it. I read another article that said the meal was supposed to be philly cheesesteak, broccoli, and a fruit cup and the vendor changed it without alerting the school. A vendor that has had issues w/ this exact same thing, multiple times before.

Do I think it's a huge deal? As I said earlier, no. But I do think it's an incredibly stupid move by the food service.

 

[Formerly Rockymtnole]

Do you guys really not know about the history of fried chicken and watermelon being associated with racist images and stereotypes?

 

[Colonoscopy]

The menu wasn't made by Aramark.

Maybe I didn't read closely enough... but they apologized. Originally the menu was one thing, and then apparently something changed and they ended up with this. I'm sure it was probably happenstance that the fruit happened to be watermelon and that the main got switched up to chicken & waffles.

 

[McLovin32]

Maybe I didn't read closely enough... but they apologized. Originally the menu was one thing, and then apparently something changed and they ended up with this. I'm sure it was probably happenstance that the fruit happened to be watermelon and that the main got switched up to chicken & waffles.

The school's principal said the menu was changed without the school's knowledge and he says the items chosen, "reinforce negative stereotypes concerning the African-American community."

"The offering of chicken & waffles as an entree with watermelon as a dessert on the first day of Black History Month was inexcusably insensitive and reflected a lack of understanding of our district's vision to address racial bias," the school said in a letter to parents. "Nyack Public Schools administrators contacted Aramark officials to insist on a mechanism to avoid a repeat of yesterday's mistake. The vendor has agreed to plan future menu offerings to align with our values and our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. 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."

Vendor apologizes for school lunch served on 1st day of Black History Month

School officials said lunch on the first day of Black History Month was supposed to be Philly cheesesteak, broccoli and fresh fruit -- but that is not what was served.

abc7ny.com

 

[Colonoscopy]

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Don't have a dog in this fight but this whole thing just reminds me of this.

 

[torbee]

Here’s what I don’t understand - why not just ask for recommendation from the students, let them vote on it and then serve it?

It’s so easy to avoid PR disasters like this.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

View embedded media

Ahh I had the same thought.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Come on man, you sound like Tucker Carlson here

Low blow, man. ...frack'n MAGAt gator fan.

 

[alaskanseminole]

Here’s what I don’t understand - why not just ask for recommendation from the students, let them vote on it and then serve it?

It’s so easy to avoid PR disasters like this.

Not a bad idea in concept, but in execution, letting middle school kids vote on a 30-day menu? Get ready for 30 days of chicken nuggets, pizza and ice cream. LOL

 

[Colonoscopy]

Not a bad idea in concept, but in execution, letting middle school kids vote on a 30-day menu? Get ready for 30 days of chicken nuggets, pizza and ice cream. LOL

And when you tell them they have to pick a fruit for desert they'll just end up with watermelon anyway. Chicken fingers and watermelon has only happened about a billion times in school lunchrooms across the US

 

[RollingBallofButcherKnives]

Maybe we need to make a list of the racist foods

• Chicken and waffles
• Watermelon
• Grits?
• Pig feet?
• Fried chicken?

So when can I f*cking have my chicken and waffles? This is kind of stupid. Isn’t it like eating tacos on Cinco De Mayo (sp?)

 

[stout1]

They are in the North. Again, this is not a big deal but you aren't going to find chicken and waffles in Iowa other than a Soul food restaurant. There might be a few exceptions but rare.

The local Greek owned diner in my town in central Indiana serves chicken and waffles every day.