Xaverian Brother School served Fried Chicken for black history month (restaurants, rated)

[rach5]

Originally Posted by foodyum

Your post sent me to google where even I learned about the history of fried chicken.
I hope they turn this in to a teaching moment.
Food history is fascinating and insighful. I wish more would include it in their social studies curriculum.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...-fried-chicken

Foodyum - that was an amazing and interesting article. It would seem like fried chicken should be something to take pride in and should be celebrated. But then there is this guardian article that explains why it's more "complicated". If it was indeed a suggestion by a Black cafeteria worker, and if it's true that apparently "[s]chool officials said that the announcement would go on to state that after the Civil War, during the Reconstruction Era, some newly-freed African American women gained economic independence by selling fried chicken", was this something to be so offended by to make the news? https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/0...in-school.html
The school apologized. That should be the end. If any organization risks being in the news for anything that is clearly well-intentioned, soon we won't be able to celebrate anything without offending part of the community.
What would be a way out (to celebrate without offending?). Have a committee including Black students and Black employees to select the meals, as apparently a suggestion by one Black employee was offensive? But then this means additional committee work for minority groups, which in itself risks offending. I honestly don't know.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Nothing wrong with also celebrating a group's heritage. Schools and workplaces do it all the time. Corn beef and cabbage in St. Patty's Day. Tacos on Cinco De Mayo, etc..

Neither of your examples would be a true representation of those holidays or those foods.

St. Patrick's Day is pretty much an American thing. In Ireland, it was a religious holiday until the 70's. The Irish government took advantage of the American celebration to generate tourism. Corned beef and cabbage is also an American thing. Boiled bacon is what the Irish traditionally used but they couldn't afford it when they emigrated to the US. So they used brisket as it was a cheaper cut. It was paired with cabbage because it too was cheap.

Cinco de Mayo is another Americanized holiday. It's celebrated in only a couple of states in Mexico to commemorate a Mexican battle victory over the French. Again, the true tacos that originated in Mexico would be spit out by a bunch of kids as it was spicy organ meat in a corn tortilla without cheese, lettuce, tomato, or sour cream. The tacos in the US are made to appeal to the less adventurous American palette.

[massnative71]

Somebody needs to lighten up.

[redplum33]

The problem is labeling fried chicken as Black food.

If you're with a group of people and you're trying to decide where to go eat dinner, someone might say:

"What are you guys in the mood for? Italian? Chinese? Mexican? Irish? Portuguese? Korean?"

But nobody would ever include "Black?" just like nobody would ever include "White?"

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by redplum33

The problem is labeling fried chicken as Black food.

If you're with a group of people and you're trying to decide where to go eat dinner, someone might say:

"What are you guys in the mood for? Italian? Chinese? Mexican? Irish? Portuguese? Korean?"

But nobody would ever include "Black?" just like nobody would ever include "White?"

But they might say "soul food" (basically Black American cuisine).

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by redplum33

The problem is labeling fried chicken as Black food.

If you're with a group of people and you're trying to decide where to go eat dinner, someone might say:

"What are you guys in the mood for? Italian? Chinese? Mexican? Irish? Portuguese? Korean?"

But nobody would ever include "Black?" just like nobody would ever include "White?"

Originally Posted by massnative71

But they might say "soul food" (basically Black American cuisine).

Perhaps, but fried chicken would generally just be considered "American".

[btownboss4]

Originally Posted by robr2

Neither of your examples would be a true representation of those holidays or those foods.

St. Patrick's Day is pretty much an American thing. In Ireland, it was a religious holiday until the 70's. The Irish government took advantage of the American celebration to generate tourism. Corned beef and cabbage is also an American thing. Boiled bacon is what the Irish traditionally used but they couldn't afford it when they emigrated to the US. So they used brisket as it was a cheaper cut. It was paired with cabbage because it too was cheap.

Cinco de Mayo is another Americanized holiday. It's celebrated in only a couple of states in Mexico to commemorate a Mexican battle victory over the French. Again, the true tacos that originated in Mexico would be spit out by a bunch of kids as it was spicy organ meat in a corn tortilla without cheese, lettuce, tomato, or sour cream. The tacos in the US are made to appeal to the less adventurous American palette.

Yeah you think Fried Chicken is from Cameron or something?

[MrDee12345]

Did the chicken taste good?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Perhaps, but fried chicken would generally just be considered "American".

Well of course it is that as well. But it's not at all uncommon for instance, to have an "Italian" themed dinner with spaghetti/meatballs, and salad with bread and butter on the side. In reality, that's also as American as anything but I never seen this sort of controversy come up over that.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Perhaps, but fried chicken would generally just be considered "American".

Originally Posted by massnative71

Well of course it is that as well. But it's not at all uncommon for instance, to have an "Italian" themed dinner with spaghetti/meatballs, and salad with bread and butter on the side. In reality, that's also as American as anything but I never seen this sort of controversy come up over that.

But you're not going to see a "Black" themed dinner. Or a "White" themed dinner.