A center college in New York discovered itself in scorching water final week after serving an “inexcusably insensitive” menu firstly of Black Historical past Month.
Directors in Nyack say center college college students had been served hen and waffles, with watermelon as a dessert, final Wednesday, the primary day of Black Historical past Month.
The college’s principal issued an apology to oldsters, explaining its meals vendor supplied a deviation from the listed lunch printed on the month-to-month menu.
“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,” Principal David Johnson stated.
Menu screenshot of Nyack’s lunch for Feb. 1.
“Yesterday’s lunch menu should have consisted of Philly cheesesteak, broccoli, and fresh fruit. 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, the meals vendor, stated in an announcement the incident “never should have happened.”
“We have apologized for our mistake, are working to determine how it happened and make sure it never happens again,” the statement said. “Our team at that school should have been more thoughtful in its service.”
The corporate’s “inexcusable mistake” echoes one made in 2018 when New York University students were served cornbread, collard greens, Kool-Help and watermelon-flavored water, additionally throughout Black Historical past Month. Aramark was additionally the seller behind that menu and apologized on the time. It stated then that two staff had independently selected that menu.
In 2011, Aramark served hen and waffles on Martin Luther King Day on the College of California, Irvine.