NJ school district slams ‘offensive’ watermelon graphic on Juneteenth menu

New York Post ^ | June 5, 2026, | By Ariel Zilber

[ConservativeStatement]

Families in a New Jersey school district were left outraged after a cafeteria menu distributed for June displayed a watermelon graphic on Juneteenth — prompting school officials to condemn the image as racially offensive and demand immediate action from the district’s food-service contractor.

Montclair Public Schools said the image appeared on a June cafeteria menu prepared by food-service provider Sodexo and sparked complaints from students, families, staff and community members.

Superintendent Ruth Turner said those who saw the menu were “hurt, disappointed, and offended” by the graphic’s appearance alongside the June 19 holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

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TOPICS: Food; Society
KEYWORDS: datrayciss; education; fruit; juneteenth; menu; newjersey; nj; triggered; watermelon

[Alas Babylon!]

Everyone of the foods shown in this colorful picture are also the home foods of whites from Alabama. There are no black foods, just Southern foods.

[I-ambush]

“Juneteenth”

Can we please change the name to something a little less ghetto?

[dfwgator]

It’s about white liberals and their “White Knight” syndrome, always having to speak for the “oppressed” peoples of the world.

[EvilCapitalist]

I’m all for calling it “Julius and Ethel Rosenberg execution day,” but that’s a little long.

[dfwgator]

That’s the picture that’s causing the uproar?

[FreedomPoster]

I’m having some Publix fried chicken for dinner. I suppose that is racist to some of these idiots, somehow. Don’t care. Wish I had a little watermelon to go with it, now that I think about it. That’s probably extra racist, somehow. Don’t care.

[FreedomPoster]

I have a suggestion for how to celebrate:

[TexasKamaAina]

The first time I ever heard of "Juneteenth" was in 1975. I was working at an office in LA, where I was raised. The staff were predominantly black and they were talking about it. None of them could tell me what it was about but they said it was a Texas thing and was celebrated with "red soda pop and watermelon."

I know "pop" is a yankee expression but that is exactly what they said.

[Craftmore]

dey sellsabrate juneteemph cuz dey caint sellsabrate fadders day

[dfwgator]

Further proof that it’s only white liberals that get offended at this stuff.

[jmacusa]

You want ‘em, you can have ‘em.

I live in NJ and I'm sick of this crap. We're not all raving liberals here any more than Southerners are all Klansmen.

[j.havenfarm]

That’s not the deeply offensive image, is it? Ive looked at 7 different stories online, and none show the wretched graphic. It’s just too awful, don’t you know.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

This is a very important squirrel to squeal.

Turns out....

"Some residents have vocally supported the proposed tax hikes — despite Montclair’s $21,631 average property tax bill — while others say they can't afford to pay more."

Embattled N.J. school district starts slashing jobs to combat $20M budget crisis

A little over $1,800 a month in PROPERTY taxes in that school district.....

Bonus question: is her dress watermelon-colored?

[xp38]

Well I looked up how they were executed. Electric Chair. Julius first and he died smoothly but Ethel took 3 charges and was still alive. It took another to do her in. To use a favourite term here on FR how about Zot Day or Commie Zot Day?

[I want the USA back]

Anyone who is offended by a picture of a fruit is insane.

[faucetman]

I will never forget when Trayvon Martin’s mother was asked what his favorite food was, she answered “fried chicken”

[Adder]

How about now? It's generally ok to make all kinds of hilarious fun of Italians. Yeah...I do take offense...

[Texas resident]

June 19, 1865. Proclamation was made in Galveston TX.
Lincoln’s proclamation was in 1963. Took a while to get to the island.
Juneteenth has long been a celebration on Galveston island and sometime in the 70’s it spread to most of east Texas.

Biden made it a national deal to garner support. Most of the US has no clue of what Juneteenth is at all.

[Jim Noble]

“Why is there a menu for 6/19. School should be long over”

Snow days

[hanamizu]

June 19, 1865. Proclamation was made in Galveston TX.
Lincoln’s proclamation was in 1863. Took a while to get to the island.

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The Proclamation only covered slaves held in Confederate-controlled territory, it specifically excluded slaves held in Confederate states under Union control on Jan. 1, 1863. It simply took that long for the Union Army to reach Galveston. I imagine the slaves held further inland got the news even later.