Posted on 06/16/2022 10:19:47 AM PDT by Salman
Cherlisa Starks-Richardson was disappointed when she learned that the beloved children’s museum in her community was selling a “watermelon salad” in celebration of Juneteenth.
Starks-Richardson, who often took her daughter to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum growing up, said she expected the museum would be more focused on educating the public about Juneteenth – which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans – instead of serving themed foods. To make matters worse, she said, watermelon has historically been used as a racist trope against Black Americans.
“People were very offended by it,” said Starks-Richardson, an educator in the Indianapolis area. “Everybody is trying to capitalize off Juneteenth to make money. But we don’t need the food. I want education. I want people to understand the purpose of (Juneteenth).”
The Indianapolis Children’s Museum has since apologized and removed the salad from its food court. In a statement, the museum said it routinely relies on a food vendor to create “thematic menu items” and that the “inappropriate” name and label on the salad was not reviewed by museum staff.
Other organizations and major retailers are also receiving backlash for their attempts to monetize Juneteenth with new products since President Joe Biden signed a bill declaring it a national holiday last year.
From the Indianapolis Children’s Museum’s watermelon salad to Walmart’s swirled red velvet and cheesecake flavored ice cream to Dollar Tree’s Pan African-themed plates and napkins, inclusion experts say corporations are missing the mark with Juneteenth. By failing to provide any historical context with these items, the companies don’t appear to have considered how they could promote stereotypes or offend Black people, experts say.
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The whole point is: You cannot win.
“Hey, man, I see you did something. Why you gotta be so racist?”
I also don’t like watermelons, but I don’t get offended when they’re offered to me.
One year ago, I had never heard of Juneteenth (or is it Juneteempf). Now, it’s our most important national holiday.
What in the world?
Yep, the best way to celebrate Juneteenth is to serve sliced watermelon and fried chicken. Oh… and let’s not forget to schedule twerking and rap contests.
No effing kidding you cant win. If a company did not offer anything special, they would be racist.
“But we don’t need the food. I want education.”
Great. Stop complaining and read a book.
It is a very important (and Republican) holiday.
It is the day that Republican bayonets finally reached Galveston freeing the last of the democrats slaves.
I mentioned on another Junteenth thread that a local grocery chain in my town has chicken and ribs on sale this week.
Paid for in blood by White Americans. Never Forget.
I keep thinking the name of Jo Jo’s holiday is “umpfteenth”. The Goofy Let’s Go Brandon holiday. Sort of a Kwanzaa in June.
Never put a hyphenated woman in any position of power, authority, or influence.
It’s impossible to celebrate a black holiday without somebody deciding you are being racist. So why try?
Big news. Some people are offended by everything or anything. They are known as Liberals.
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