[...] separation based on differences of any sort. Sounds like a much more substantive tribute than some ill-conceived menu, [...]

I was about to post a comment asking if anyone knew what the favourite food of MLK was, and to have that. Stacie beat me to it – if it was his favourite – then have it.

I’m an Aussie. And I love barbequed prawns. If you want to commemorate me, chucking a shrimp on the barbie is not culturally insensitive.

He’d probably just say Yum.

I agree with the others that this is not something to be bothered about. What concerns me is that these ultra-PC types of things take attention away from real problems. (Access to education, health care, real equality in the workplace, etc.)

That’s Southern food, not black food. Get a grip.

So now food is racist?!?!

I won’t let you down either, Scorp. I agree. Food is a tradition folks are proud of. Jewish people have their seder meals, many components of which symbolize both good and bad things that happened to them. The newspaper article said ONE parent called to complain. ONE parent. All cultures have foods that people associate with them and there’s nothing wrong with that.

So…is it offensive that many places serve corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s day and that most “celebrate” what should be a saint’s feast day by getting tanked?
Interesting that several sources have found information that the meal in question was one of MLK’s faves.
And ONE parent?!?!

That’s just a delicious traditional Sunday dinner in the South – on the table in both black and white households.

Oh yes, all bow down to politically correct, high-horse, holier-than-thou, players of the race card. I’m so sick of this. My (white) southern family has been eating that same meal almost weekly for generations. Clearly we are only “validating racism” and “holding on to ignorance”. Yes WE are the ignorant ones *snort*. God forbid some midwest schoolchildren are exposed to a little of the food culture of the south while they celebrate MLK, who hailed from Atlanta, Georgia. You let those kids taste peach cobbler and next thing you know they will be putting on black face!

Here’s the thing, though, Scorpio… If it was just assumed that a black man would call fried chicken and collard greens his favorite meal, that might be racist, like the Fuzzy Zeller/Tiger Woods thing. But honoring a man with his favorite meal is not racist.

If my dad got an award and the committee automatically looked at his last name, saw it was a Mexican name, and served tacos at the dinner, that might be racist. If they found out his favorite meal, and served it, that wouldn’t be racist, whether it was enchiladas or fried chicken or spaghetti.

Laur68, simply being a member of a minority doesn’t give me special insight into issues of prejudice, nor does it anyone for that matter. I continue to work to educate myself. Blogs such as Racialicious, Stuff White People Do, and the online articles Derailing For Dummies and Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack were good starts to opening my eyes to assumptions I was making, even as a minority.
The experiences you report in California ring similarly to my experience with white liberals on the East coast.
The reason I made the comparison is because it is the same mentality that would rationalize serving fried chicken as a way of honoring Dr. King, as would defend the confederate flag as simply a symbol of southern pride.
Jenny, the hypothetical you provided is EXACTLY what happened in this case. The first commenter was the one who looked up King’s reported favorite meal. Not the school’s lunch planners. If I am wrong, please, anybody, point me to the link where the school reported that THEY read fried chicken was King’s favorite meal, they thought they were honoring him by serving it.
Nevertheless, there will always be the Allison’s of the world, denying that this could possibly have been an insensitive choice, because (sigh) she is SO tired of having the ‘race card’ played on her! Because hearing about it must be SO much more of a burden than constantly living with being on the receiving end of the backhanded complements, the little slights, the unintentional insensitivity, the intentional insults, the sometimes outright injustice of the reality of being black in America. (You know, like having people like Sara helpfully let us know where the bar is so we are justified in her eyes to complain. Thanks so much for that.)
The funny thing is that this issue doesn’t offend me, although, without judging those that find it offensive, I recognize the potential for offense. It does me no good to invalidate their feelings.
The sad thing about this issue is whether intentionally or unintentionally, the school effectively reduced recognition of this great man to a fried chicken and collard greens lunch. What a throwaway gesture.

What troubles me is the comments that come from people noting this is a popular southern menu. I know it is – I’m married to a Southerner and lived in the South at the beginning of my marriage. But this wasn’t a celebration of the South.
It was touted as a way to honor MLK – and there was no mention of this being his “favorite meal” on the menu sent out or by school staff in their apologies. I find it hard to believe that they wouldn’t tout that fact if it was, indeed, their reasoning behind the menu.
What’s also being discounted so easily is how often the words “fried chicken” are used in racially derisive jokes, comments, etc. Google “Obama jokes” and “fried chicken” and you’ll want to take a shower after reading what you find.
The point is, there is a long standing historical context to this meal – and it’s not a positive one. That said, it’s hard to see how anyone could be surprised by this reaction – by one parent or one hundred.

I find serving chicken, which is filled with shit and hormones, offensive for any and all reasons.

Thanks for driving home my point, Allison.

That’s a good point about them not actually saying that this was a meal Dr. King enjoyed. I do see what you are saying, but I just think that things like this take away from the huge challenges minorities still face. I guess that is a separate issue, though.

I am sorry to go off-subject, but I have to say to GP and Eric that chicken raised in the US has not had hormones in it since the 1950′s. That’s all chicken, not just organic. (Antibiotics are used.)

Laure68, you are absolutely right that making issues of relatively small incidents take away from large challenges minorities face. However, the constant stream of small indignities toward any minority can have great cumulative effect. Acknowledging that, I think, goes a long way to understanding.

Sorry about that Eric, you’re absolutely right. I meant to say “antibiotics” not hormones. My bad.

GP, as a vegetarian, I used to love Quorn, but I’ve reduced my consumption after news like this: http://www.cspinet.org/new/200909171.html

good grief babble is tedious lately…I propose we all go out for fried chicken, tacos, corned beef, spaghetti, and a good stiff drink…

Thanks for the link, jeanne.

what the heck… a food racist

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!! NlGGA PLEASE!!!!! You people need to watch this Movie called Bullworth; starring Warren Beatty and Halle Berry. jeez you guys are a bunch of apologetic ass kissers