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."
If you like cornbread, try Mexican cornbread (google for recipes)...outstanding with lot’s of butter.
We yanks don't understand why certain politically left-leaning ethnic groups become furious if you even mention something that is linked somehow to their own culture. They almost invariably react as though it were a demeaning insult, even if they don't actually feel insulted by it because, in fact, there is nothing to be insulted about.
I guess they feel the get a certain amount of attention and political leverage out of the "victimness" they feel since they also, almost invariably, complain to whatever authority is in charge in order to get "recognition" and special treatment. Often they seek "damages" from the people who mentions a cultural fact. (Beats working, I guess.)
Maybe it started out decades ago with a legitimate purpose but it has long since become an irrational reaction to ordinary events and conversations.
Don't worry. In short, it makes no sense to anybody anymore.
I hope you’re staying at the Hilton and get a chance to enjoy the Roof Bar overlooking the Bosphorus at night. ;-D
[P.S. Do NOT order a hamburger ...it’ll be mutton]
Oh Noes! Gotta have pierogies!
My HS didn’t even have a cafeteria ...we had to brown bag ...oops! I’m a racist for even saying that........sorry.
...highly insensitive in light of certain hurtful cultural stereotypes still harbored in parts of our society.
Yea - the hurtful cultural stereotypes held by people like Jennifer Holladay.
lulz
Me too...made them New Year’s Day and have more to make this weekend. I like to cook my with ham hocks. Shared my NYD batch with the neighbors who’d not had them before (they’re from Iowa...not that it should matter), they didn’t care for them.
I've been a performing musician my entire life, well, at least since first grade. I have a degree in music.
Pop/Rock is cute. Millions enjoy it. It ain't my genre. The best rock album was A Night At The Opera and nothing new musically has been written since. As far as pop music goes Paul Simon is the Mozart of the Baby Boomer generation as far as musical inventiveness and craftsmanship.
I prefer renaissance ensembles, Baroque concertos, Germanic symphonies, Maurice Andre, Louis Armstrong, Bill Chase, Rob McConnell and the Singers Unlimited.
Viva la Vida is the latest pop tune that I really liked.
There. I've given you some attention. Will you now please explain what your music links have to do with daffynition's thread?
Unrelated links, especially to video, are annoying and eat up bandwidth for people who don't or can't access broadband.
Can't you just start your own thread for people who like posting random pop tunes?
ok..you first. I am not very techliterate
What?? No Chittlin’s.
Did you spot the FReeper in the vid? :)
For victory we ride.
Everyone here knows I am not that bright.
Can I have a hug anyway?
I can sense the pride in your reply.
No hug? :(
Harry Reid wants to know if it's white or dark meat?
You haven’t done your homework yet. No hugs till you tell us why you’re hijacking daffynition’s thread which is very poor FReeper form. Our little discussion will be noticed.
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