School Served Fried Chicken For Black History Month, Parents Were Pissed

While on the surface, Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ probably meant well, but their choice to celebrate Black History Month through a specific lunch menu didn’t go over very well.

They served the students fried chicken, cornbread, sweet potato casserole, sauteed spinach, mac & cheese, and peach-apple crisps, according to NJ.com.

There seemed to be chatter within the school’s students, even some local residents and parents who complained the menu was stereotypically “black,” according to CBS News.

You might be thinking, people are overreacting, but it probably would have helped if the school explained how they chose those dishes, instead of just throwing them out there without context. HVCH later apologized, saying:

“The decision to include these items without any context or explanation, reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission.”

Cathy Penna of Pomptonian Food Service, who worked with the school to put together the menu, said the intent was to celebrate with soul food.

I remember my high school lunches, and I would have killed for a menu like this, but I don’t see race when I’m stuffing my face with delicious fried food.

Who knows what their menu will look like going forward, but St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, so we can hope that they might give the kids some Guinness beer and corned beef.