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."
Oh, now THAT’S funny!!!!! How stupid can you be?????
Great stuff - not a big IM fan - really jazzed up this AM - thanks...
LOVE IT! Metallica is the best...
Hey hon, this is something we struggle with CONSTANTLY and will for a long time to come...kind of like a Scot at a Queen’s garden party asking for haggis! I don’t think we yanks have cornered the market on stereo-types...aye?
Oh for goodness sake, pauly - lighten UP!!!!! It’s great stuff, you ole fart, and fun to watch on a Sat AM...if you don’t want to watch, don’t hit the link...your prune juice is waiting...
She shoulda pulled a .40 cal. out of her purse and busted a few caps in his ass.
You are free to start your own thread, not to hijack someone else’s just because you like music.
You can have one from me - I love it!
Try this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H_nDj4mp-4&feature=related
(I’m not too good at linking...sorry)
Oh, come on...get a life! Plenty of room for everything - don’t go there if you don’t want to...sheesh...
Perhaps Dr. King’s memory would have been better served had Ms. Halliday used her (apparently considerable) extra time and energy to concentrate on his message and not on the school lunch menu.
> I don’t think we yanks have cornered the market on stereo-types...aye?
(BIG GRIN!!!) Touché, with bonus points!
Cheers to you!
How much would you like to bet that if roast beef and mashed potatoes had been served, this same school would’ve been accused of insulting the memory of MLK by serving white “cracker” food?
This racial sensitivity crap has really jumped the shark!
Teh Stupid...IT BURNS!!!!
The lunch, planned for Friday, was to include southern-style chicken, collard greens and a biscuit in honor of King.
I'll bet brother King would have liked that lunch. I, as a white guy raised Southern would have sure enjoyed it. Are we supposed to have sushi or Mexican food on MLK's birthday?
What’s the big deal. The US Naval Academy did the same thing a couple of years ago.
WTF????
LOL You ever make it to the states, drop by eastern nc. I’ll fix you all the fried chicken and collards you want. Even throw in some home made biscuits and mashed taters. If you don’t like that, we could try some fried shrimp with hushpuppies and cole slaw and spoonbread. If you don’t like that... LOL again
Some people! Sheesh!
Why do so many Blacks like fried chicken? Because its good! Only a stupid Yankee would think a dish is racist. Same goes for watermelon. It aint about food—its about freedom—and that includes eating what you want.
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