Kids fed chicken, watermelon on first day of Black History Month. NY school apologizes
Students at a New York middle school were served chicken, waffles and watermelon for dessert on the first day of Black History Month, its principal said, sparking outrage among parents.
Administrators at Nyack Middle School pointed the finger at food vendor Aramark, which apologized for its “unintentional insensitivity.”
“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,” the company said in a statement. “This was a mistake ... and we are committed to doing better in the future.”
The lunch blunder occurred Feb. 1 at the Rockland County school, where about 15% of students identify as Black or African American, state data shows.
“They were asking people if they want watermelon and I remember being confused because it’s not in season,” student Honore Santiago told WABC.
After school, Santiago alerted her mother who was equally upset over the menu district leaders said plays into hurtful stereotypes about Black people.
“If they had served chicken and waffles by itself, I don’t know that we would be having this conversation,” Wilbur Aldridge with the Nyack NAACP told WCBS. “But the moment you add in the watermelon, that changed the whole complexion, literally.”
Principal David Johnson also apologized and said Aramark changed the lunch menu for that day without the school’s knowledge. Students were supposed to be fed Philly cheesesteak, broccoli and a side of fresh fruit, he said.
“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,” Johnson said in a statement posted on the school district’s website.
This isn’t the first time the food services provider has been accused of being racially insensitive. In 2018, New York University cut ties with Aramark after students were fed barbecued ribs, collard greens, Kool-Aid and cornbread, WCBS and WABC reported.
Aramark said it will use the latest incident as an opportunity to understand the “impact of systemic biases and negative stereotypes concerning the African-American community.”
Nyack is about 30 miles north of New York City.
Domino’s manager mimicked a slave owner at work and was later promoted, feds say
Clemson students’ ‘affirmative action bake sale’ prompts backlash. ‘Sick behavior’
Juror assigned 30-page essay after skipping jury duty for work trip, Georgia judge rules
