The Northern Californian Carondelet High School for Girls issued an apology to parents for a seemingly offensive lunch menu featuring stereotypical food choices.
According to Time, the private school received harsh criticism from parents and students about the inclusion of fried chicken, cornbread, and watermelon into what was meant to be an honorary celebration of Black History Month. School Principle Nancy Libby stated, ““I’d like to apologize for the announcement and any hurt this caused students, parents or community members,” following with “Please know that at no time at Carondelet do we wish to perpetrate racial stereotypes.”
NBC Bay Area originally reported on the story, highlighting that the incident brings to mind racial propagations of the past, including the era of “black face” cartoons that depicted African Americans eating the dishes in question. University of San Francisco James Taylor sympathizes with the intent, despite the racial uproar that has swept in.
“"Chicken, watermelon, collard greens — these stereotypes of black Southern culture that come from the same place where the N-word comes from."
A diversity assembly is expected to take place at the school sometime this month. The dean and the principle have since refused to speak to the press directly.
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