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School Sorry For 'Insensitive' MLK Jr. Lunch; [Lunch Would Have Included Chicken, Collard Greens]
WFSB.com ^ | January 15, 2010 | staff reporter

Posted on 01/16/2010 2:50:20 AM PST by Daffynition

DENVER -- Denver Public School officials are apologizing after a parent complained that a school lunch meant to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was stereotypical and offensive, reported KMGH-TV.

The lunch, planned for Friday, was to include southern-style chicken, collard greens and a biscuit in honor of King.

Survey: Lunch Menu Insensitive?

Denver Public Schools spokesman Michael Vaughn released a statement that said: "The plan to serve a Southern-style meal in recognition of Martin Luther King Day was well intentioned but highly insensitive in light of certain hurtful cultural stereotypes still harbored in parts of our society."

Organizers of Denver's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Marade, a combination march and parade that honors King every January, did not consider the menu inappropriate, considering that King came from a southern background, but said there are other, more meaningful ways of honoring him.

"When you reduce it to the 'I have a dream' speech and a fried chicken and collard green lunch, you have just destroyed everything that Dr. King stood for," said Vern Howard, chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission.

But in barber shops and soul food restaurants in Denver's historic Five Points district, the tone was decidedly more relaxed.

"To me, I don't see that much wrong with this," said Franklin Stigal, owner of the Afro-Styling Barber Shop. "A lot of people are just griping to be griping."

Chereka Dickerson, who helps run the soul food restaurant Welton Street Café, said the criticisms were over-the-top.

"If that's the food that's really associated with black people in America, why not celebrate it instead of trying to make everything negative?" she said.

Denver Public Schools changed the Friday meal to the manager's choice for Friday. Jennifer Holladay, the parent who originally complained about the menu, e-mailed KMGH a statement that said: "I'm confident we'll see stereotype-free menus in the future."

Howard said the incident is an opportunity for the school system to become more involved in the annual Marade. Howard said the Denver Public School district has shown low interest in the festivities in past years and it's time for them to get involved.

The Houston School District has offered fried chicken and collard greens on Martin Luther King's birthday for years. Last year, in response to questions, they issued the following statement:

"The Food Service Department often runs a promotion in celebration of his birthday. The promotion includes posters and public-address announcements promoting the special meal served in the cafeterias, as well as his message of remembering to celebrate with the spirit of giving back to the community ... 'a day on, not a day off.' A menu committee researches all promotions and has utilized the MLK Center of Atlanta as a resource for information about this famous leader. Elaine Hall, from the Archives Department at the King Center in Atlanta, has informed the committee that Dr. King's favorite meal includes fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread and sweet potato pie."


TOPICS: Education; Food; History
KEYWORDS: friedchicken; hypersensitivity; mlk; urban
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To: Daffynition

bacon greasebomb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kf7MB_u55o


21 posted on 01/16/2010 3:23:25 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

22 posted on 01/16/2010 3:24:32 AM PST by Daffynition (What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
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To: Daffynition

bombed/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrhZmmdIaGU


23 posted on 01/16/2010 3:26:19 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: Daffynition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZC67wXUTs


24 posted on 01/16/2010 3:27:30 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: paulycy
HAHAHA!


25 posted on 01/16/2010 3:29:49 AM PST by Daffynition (What's all this about hellfire and Dalmatians?)
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To: Daffynition

For many years I thought I had done a pretty good job of understanding you Yanks. I even thought I had figured out the reasons behind the fetish that Americans have with what you call “Race” (but what you really mean is “ethnicity”). But now I read this article and I discover that I have much yet to learn.

“Stereotypical food” is something to be done away with — it’s right there, in the article — for reasons that make no sense at all.

Do away with, say, “Italian food”? Over my dead body! I grew up in an Italian neighborhood, as a Scot, and I know whose cuisine I prefer!

Do away with Chinese food, too? Thai food? Vietnamese food? French food? Tex-Mex? All of those are to be done away with? That’s nuts!!!

The article says so:

> Jennifer Holladay, the parent who originally complained about the menu, e-mailed KMGH a statement that said: “I’m confident we’ll see stereotype-free menus in the future.”

I reckon Jennifer Holladay fancies an ethnically-safe, unvarying diet of boiled soy protein and distilled water: anything else would be tainted by ethnic stereotypes.

She wants her head examiningL her upstairs seems to have done the bolt!

But, strangely, enough Americans would agree with the hapless Ms Holladay that the Southern Fried Chicken is coming off the menu for the school, all because “blacks” like to eat it and so did MLK Jr. Blacks are also reported to like to eat watermelon, so I guess that won’t be permitted, either.

I happen to *like* Southern Fried Chicken AND Watermelon, and if those were on the menu, I’ll have seconds, thanks. Haven’t tried Collard Greens or Sweet Potato Pie, but I’ll give ‘em a go.

Why ban something from the menu if black people like to eat it, too? That just sounds wrong-headed, and it sounds inherently racist not to let blacks eat food that they enjoy, especially on a day celebrating one of their heroes, MLK Jr. I thought you Yanks had grown out of that.

How would Americans like it if I could ban Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and that abominable stuff you lot call “Beer” but what the rest of the world calls “American Beer”, just because they seem to like it? I can faithfully predict that you Yanks would have your guns out lickety-split, baying for blood!

I clearly have alot to learn about you Yanks. I will keep trying, tho’, because you are a fascinating lot, especially at your most baffling best.


26 posted on 01/16/2010 3:30:01 AM PST by DieHard the Hunter (Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fàg am bealach.)
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To: Daffynition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WccfbPQNMbg


27 posted on 01/16/2010 3:30:57 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: DieHard the Hunter

oh lawd..what up cuz! auckland lulz


28 posted on 01/16/2010 3:31:59 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: happinesswithoutpeace

Here’s an idea.... next time you do one of your little stunts... have a point! It’s so much more interesting for the rest of us.


29 posted on 01/16/2010 3:32:14 AM PST by paulycy (The Liberals' DOUBLE-STANDARDS are HATE CRIMES.)
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To: Daffynition; Irenic

Please Please STOP!

You guys are driving me crazy. I’m over in Istanbul on a company trip and cant get any collards and you guys are TORTURING ME!!!! No corn bread, no bacon, salt pork, fat back, not even spam .... aaaaaaaaggggggghhhh!


30 posted on 01/16/2010 3:33:07 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: Daffynition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OxqnrFea8I


31 posted on 01/16/2010 3:33:16 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: paulycy

Stunts?

What?


32 posted on 01/16/2010 3:34:01 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: SonOfDarkSkies

“How is a simple gesture a denigration”

Watch it. Some New York committee woman will have you fired for that.


33 posted on 01/16/2010 3:34:57 AM PST by MestaMachine (Healthcare reform: Lobotomies for liberals. Aye for an aye. Get it? Ohhhhh, that's bad.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj


34 posted on 01/16/2010 3:35:24 AM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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To: Daffynition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7T7wsX5BH0


35 posted on 01/16/2010 3:35:33 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: happinesswithoutpeace
Stunts? What?

Is this music "bombing" of apparently unrelated rock tune links some sort of inside joke or are you just being obnoxious by wasting our time?

Clearly I don't get it. Pointlessness is very, very boring.

36 posted on 01/16/2010 3:37:28 AM PST by paulycy (The Liberals' DOUBLE-STANDARDS are HATE CRIMES.)
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To: Daffynition

“I’m confident we’ll see stereotype-free menus in the future.”

Does this mean no more pierogies?


37 posted on 01/16/2010 3:37:52 AM PST by MestaMachine (Healthcare reform: Lobotomies for liberals. Aye for an aye. Get it? Ohhhhh, that's bad.)
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To: paulycy

omg.

you don’t like music>?

: (

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mn1WN5yeag


38 posted on 01/16/2010 3:38:46 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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To: Daffynition

“The lunch, planned for Friday, was to include southern-style chicken, collard greens and a biscuit in honor of King.”

Man, I never got anything that good for lunch at my high school!

BTW, I had Hoppin’ John and cornbread for dinner last night. Do I need to attend diversity camp now? /sarc.


39 posted on 01/16/2010 3:41:52 AM PST by DemforBush (Now officially 100% ex-Democrat.)
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To: paulycy

kk spot the freeper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU7XsoQXSW8


40 posted on 01/16/2010 3:43:28 AM PST by happinesswithoutpeace (sage/i/Pocos Pero Locos)
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