A public middle school in New York and a food service company apologized after being scolded by parents for serving watermelon and chicken for lunch on the first day of February, America’s ‘Black History Month’.
According to CNN on the 6th (local time), on the 1st, food distribution and service company Aramark, which provides meals to Nyak Public Middle School in the United States, changed the lunch menu. According to the official lunch table, the lunch menu at Nac Public Middle School on the 1st was ‘Philly Cheese Steak, Broccoli, and Fresh Fruit’. However, the actual food the students received was ‘watermelon, chicken, and waffles’.
In America, there is a racist notion that ‘black people love watermelon and fried chicken’. There is a theory that the origin of fried chicken comes from the food that black people mainly ate in the 17th century, and that watermelon was a plant that slaves cultivated for their livelihood outside the master’s rule system.
“Some parents and students were very angry and confused about the lunch menu,” one parent said.
It was found that school officials and catering companies did not discuss when and why the lunch menu was changed.
The catering company explained that it was not intentional. In a statement, ARAMARK said, “We sent out the wrong menu due to unintentional frigidity on February 1st, the first day of Black Month. However, it was absolutely not done intentionally,” he said.
Johnson David, principal of Nyak Public Middle School, said in an apology, “I am very sorry for this situation.”
“The Nac region has long been committed to advancing equity,” said James Montenasso, interim superintendent of Nac Public Schools. .
Lunch table for February 2023 at Nyak Public Middle School, USA. On the menu for February 1st, ‘Philly Cheese Steak, Broccoli, Fresh Fruit’ is written. Nyak Public Middle School Official WebsiteARAMARK has previously been criticized for offering offensive food to blacks on its lunch menu. In 2018, New York University offered watermelon-flavored water, mac and cheese, and cornbread as a special Black Month menu. In response, New York University terminated its food distribution and service contract with ARAMARK.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.