(Image source: NJ.com)
The superintendent of a New Jersey public school district is apologizing after one school served fried chicken during Black History Month.
NJ.com reports Hopewell Valley Central High School, part of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, served fried chicken for lunch on Feb. 16. The menu for the day also offered sweet potato casserole, sautéed spinach, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread.
After someone allegedly complained about the menu, district Superintendent Thomas Smith apologized.
In a message to the high school community, Smith wrote that serving fried chicken “reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission.”
“The decision to include these items without any context or explanation, reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission and efforts to improve cultural competency among our students and staff,” Smith stated.
Smith also mentioned the food vendor, Pomptonian, has apologized and the district will be meeting to discuss how to “reinforce our district values.”
While Pomptonian issued an apology to the school district, they also defended their decision to serve soul food by saying it was meant to honor Black History Month.
Pomptonian Vice President Cathy Penna said the menu was made in collaboration with the school. “The suggestion was to do something to celebrate soul food,” she explained.
Penna added, however, "Pomptonian deeply regrets that, out of context, this menu may have been perceived by individuals as insensitive or in poor taste.”
"The director at this location never intended to do anything that would offend anyone and deeply regrets the decision and understands that it could have been taken out of context,” she continued.
In their reporting on the incident, the Trentonian described the school as “mostly white.”
According to NJ.com, Hopewell Valley Central High School has 1,200 students. Of those students, 82 percent are white and 3.8 percent are black.