Denver Public School Officials Apologize for Fried Chicken, Collard Greens Lunch Honoring Dr. King Jr. After Parent Complained

Denver Public School officials have egg on their faces after a parent, Jennifer Holladay, complained that a school lunch that was meant to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was stereotypical and offensive, according to The Denver Channel. The lunch was to include Southern-style chicken, collard greens and a biscuit.

Denver Public Schools spokesman Michael Vaughn released a statement that said: "The plan to serve a Southern-style meal in recognition of Martin Luther King Day was well intentioned but highly insensitive in light of certain hurtful cultural stereotypes still harbored in parts of our society."

Organizers of Denver's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Marade, a combination march and parade that honors King every January, did not consider the menu inappropriate, considering that King came from a southern background, but said there are other, more meaningful ways of honoring him."When you reduce it to the 'I have a dream' speech and a fried chicken and collard green lunch, you have just destroyed everything that Dr. King stood for," said Vern Howard, chairman of the Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission.

A menu committee researches all promotions and has utilized the MLK Center of Atlanta as a resource for information about this famous leader. Elaine Hall, from the Archives Department at the King Center in Atlanta, has informed the committee that Dr. King's favorite meal includes fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread and sweet potato pie." Source:  The Denver Channel

Considering the state of America today and the devastation in Haiti as a result of a massive earthquake, the last thing we need to be arguing about is whether the choice of a lunch menu is stereotypical, especially since these items were favorites of Dr. King. That's my position on the matter. What do you think? Did the school cross the line and engaged in stereotypical behavior or is this much ado about nothing?

Photo credit:  Fried chicken & collard green, Runners Kitchen