Were New York University staffers trolling the student body with their Black History Month meal service? I’m not sure, but it’s still really damn funny.
New York University served up a “Black History Month” meal at one of its dining halls — complete with watermelon-flavored water and collard greens — and had to apologize when students called the school out for playing into racist stereotypes.
College of Arts and Science sophomore Nia Harris wrote on Facebook she was shocked to learn what was on the menu Tuesday at the Weinstein Passport Dining Hall on University Place.
“This is what it’s like to be a black student at New York University…” she wrote. “In 2018, I literally had to explain why displaying watermelon and koolaid in celebration of Black History Month was not only racially insensitive but just ignorant.”…
“I’ve wanted to go to NYU since I was in 7th grade, and it breaks my heart that at this allegedly “diverse” and “global” institution, black students are faced with issues like this one,” she wrote…
“If you want to learn how to celebrate Black history and culture during this month you can ask the black students at this school instead of patronizing us with Koolaid, watermelon and ribs,” she wrote…
NYU President Andrew Hamilton sent a statement to Washington Square Newsapologizing for the “inexcusably insensitive” meal and passed off the blame to the school’s food contractor, Aramark.
First off, let me just say that, as a native Memphian, I love collard greens, Kool-Aid, and I most certainly love ribs. If someone ever wants to do setup a lunch in my honor that includes all of those elements, please, do not hesitate. But, since I’ve been on a stricter diet over the last 8 months, give me some advance time so I can plan my cheat day around it.
Even though I love all those things, I can’t help but feeling like this was a massive troll by whoever was responsible for the feeding festivity. About the only things missing from the black sterotype list is fried chicken, and perhaps chitlins. Other than that, the guy seems to have covered all the bases. I would say he might be able to rectify those omissions in February 2019, but the article goes on to note that the dining hall director has been suspended pending an investigation. That, and the student reaction, seems a bit ridiculous, but I guess that’s what it’s come to nowadays.
