A “black history menu” at Wright State university drew criticism, with some speaking out and calling it “extremely offensive.”
The menu was put up on an electronic board and marked with notable faces from black history. The menu called for fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens and cornbread.
“I was really hurt,” said Billy Barabino, president of the student union, “extremely hurt.”
“It just minimized who we are as people,” Barabino added.
Watch a news report on the ‘Black History’ menu below:
To make matter worse, just around the corner, the university was hosting a panel with the daughters of Malcom X and other Civil Rights leaders as well as other survivors of the Civil Rights movement to commemorate fifty years of voting rights.
“I was extremely embarrassed that we invited them to come here,” Barabino said.
Wright State’s Vice President of Multicultural Affairs and Community Engagement, Dr. Kimberly Barrett, had this to say: “Many times, in attempts to be inclusive and to honor diversity, people who might be in the majority community or in communities other than the ethnic groups they’re trying to honor sometimes get it wrong.”
The university tweeted out a response, saying, “It’s been removed. We will continue to look into this situation. Thank you & we’re so sorry for the offensive image.”