New York school apologizes served watermelon and chicken waffles on first day ... trends now
A food vendor in Rockland County, just outside of New York City, has apologized after it provided lunch for children at a school celebrating Black History Month that was deemed to be insensitive.
Students at Nyack Middle School were offered chicken and waffles with watermelon for dessert on February 1st, the first day of the month that honors the triumphs and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history.
The menu is said to have elicited confusion and outrage from some students together with their parents who saw the menu as reinforcing negative stereotypes about the African-American community.
'They were asking people if they want watermelon and I remember being confused because it's not in season,' said student Honore Santiago to ABC7.
The school's menu stated that day's meal was to be Philly cheesesteak, broccoli and fresh fruit but students were served chicken, waffles and watermelon
Alunch of chicken and waffles with watermelon for dessert, which a student claimed 'reinforced negative African-American stereotypes'
The school's menu even stated that day's meal was to be Philly cheesesteak, broccoli and fresh fruit but for some reason the menu was changed at the last minute.
When Santiago got home and told her mother they were both outraged by the message they believe it sends to the school's black students.
'Didn't think the company was capable of making us feel bad...especially the kids my color,' Santiago said.
'If they had served chicken and waffles by itself, I don't know that we would be having this conversation. But the moment you add in the watermelon, that changed the whole complexion, literally,' said Wilbur Aldridge, with the Nyack NAACP to CBS News.
'They were asking people if they want watermelon and I remember being confused because it's not in season,' said student Honore Santiago, pictured
The school district expressed disappointment with the vendor Aramark's 'lack of cultural sensitivity'.
The school's principal said the menu was changed without the school's knowledge and noted the food 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
