An all-boys Catholic high school in Massachusetts apologized for observing Black History Month by serving fried chicken to the students.
“We are deeply troubled and disheartened by our failure in this instance and take full responsibility for it,” read a statement from Jacob Conca, head of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood. “I offer my sincere apologies for the harm that our actions may have caused.”
Conca explained that the suggestion to serve fried chicken had been made by an African American cafeteria worker who “asked to share a piece of her culture by creating menu items that represent historically Southern Black cuisine.”
Some of the students were offended by the incident.
“Honestly, I think it’s just a big stereotype. It could be seen as a little racist,” said senior Liam Baker to WCVB-TV. “It’s the first day of Black History Month. They couldn’t have come up with a better thing than fried chicken for African cuisine? It doesn’t really make much sense.”
Student body vice president Michael Earls called on the administration to “first acknowledge that their ignorance perpetuated a racist stereotype and issue a formal apology.”
Others said the incident was blown out of proportion.
“It’s over-hyped. We eat chicken every single day for school,” said senior Oliver Waddleton. “We’re learning more about Black history. It’s something that every single school should do.”
Officials at the school said they were trying to educate their students about how some African American women who were freed after the Civil War were able to gain further economic independence by selling fried chicken.
“Regrettably, our message was poorly communicated resulting in some perceiving it as the propagation of a negative stereotype,” reads a statement from the school. “We are saddened by this outcome. Going forward, we will strive to ensure that all members of our community understand the significance of our efforts to celebrate Black History Month.”
Similar outrage ensued among black employees at an Atlanta area Ikea when the store announced a menu with fried chicken and other stereotypical food as a part of their celebration of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in America. A store manager apologized for the incident and said it was a sincere attempt to represent African American culture and tradition.
This is so ridiculous! Black and White people
love fried chicken, collard greens, and all
soul foods.
How could this be insulting to any race?
Totally agree
Preach it, Its at best maybe a “Southern” thing
Offended because they are indoctrinated instead of educated and are therefore ignorant!
Fried chicken was brought to the USA by Scottish immigrants. Why are high school students able to make Catholic authorities apologize over a ‘percieved’ mistake?
ridiculous- people will never get past racial issues if we keep dwelling on it. Enough is enough! this is so stupid!
It’s official, we have run out of things by which to be offended. This country is so messed up.
I am so saddened to see how far people will go to be offended. Remove all fried chicken from the world. If it was Puerto Rican day I guess we couldn’t have rice and beans or green for St. Pat’s day. Get over yourselves already!!
What is wrong with us. Since WHEN is fried chicken racist. In western days on to my time( I’m 73) fried chicken was a Sunday dinner after church. Some where along the line we have GOT to start using some COMMON SENSE. If the Catholic Church wants to apologize for something let it be for helpIng German war criminals get to South America .
Lol. War criminals helped, boys molested, and I nominate July as White History month as we are responsible for Independence Day being possible, leading to All races of slaves freed here at least.
My first reaction is, “You’ve got to be kidding!” After I did some soul searching about this case, my reaction is, “You’ve got to be kidding!”
So ridiculous! Fried chicken is just that, fried chicken. Stop trying to make everything racial!!!
I couldn’t agree more!!!
This is ridiculous. I love fried chicken. I don’t anybody of any color that doesn’t.
Everything we eat is not racist.
It is time to grow up people
I see nothing wrong with serving fried chicken for lunch at a school. There is nothing racist about it. Is Popeye’s or Kentucky fried chicken racist for making a living selling fried chicken? I am so sick about some people being offended by EVERYTHING. If they don’t have something to complain about, they just aren’t happy!
And the funniest part of this whole story is? A black woman suggested the fried chicken to begin with. Political correctness and cultural appropriation are absurd. We are removing statutes and memorials, renaming streets and buildings. What’s last? Send them all back to Africa so we can really forget? Hogwash!
These people need to grow up and get over it. This country is going to hell and people are worried and offended because fried chicken was served for lunch on the first day of black month history???!!! Give me a [email protected]$&ing break!!!
Fried chicken is a common food that most people like. It was suggested by a person of color. So why not observe black history through food? So are we gonna be offended if pizza or spaghetti is offered for Italian history too?
W T F ?………………..Who cares about who is offended about everything and anything ?
I DON’T
So I guess KFC must be the most racist company in history?
This is so stupid. I wish people would just stop. First of all a black lady suggested Yes I said black. I call myself white; so what is the difference? I don’t go around calling myself Irish-German-Native-British American. My mother, a Huff, short for Huffstetler, was raised in the German settlement of Stuttgart, Arkansas and was only the third generation on her dad’s side. Her grandfather on her mother’s side came from Ireland. My great grandmother on my dad’s side was 3/4 Cherokee Indian and my great grandfather on my dad’s side was from Great Britain. None of my family ever owned slaves. Most of them were farm hands, railroad workers and construction workers. Look back in your history on the Irish and Chinese railroad workers. They were treated as slaves or worse. The children offended were no doubt coached my opportunistic parents who saw a way to either get money or their way. So I guess from now on every place that ever serves fried chicken needs to close during BHM. Again, STUPID!
I find it odd that a black person chose to serve fried chicken & others say its racism.
That’s strange.
Does it mean people hate people of their own coller.
I personally believe if you were born in America you are American