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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has been criticized for providing a prepackaged watermelon salad from its Juneteenth menu, an option criticized online as offensive after a photo of the salad circulated on social media.
Outrage over the featured photo comes as the museum invites the public to its Juneteenth Jamboree, which features performances and artists from the network.
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves free as of January 1, 1863, news of the proclamation was not successful in Texas slaves until June 19, 1865. It’s a federal holiday in 2021.
Juneteenth 2022: More than 20 Black-Owned Restaurants Prepare for June 19 Foodways Festival in Indianapolis
“As a museum, we apologize and recognize the negative effect stereotypes have on communities of color,” the museum said in a statement. “The salad was removed from the menu. Lately we are investigating how more productive to convey those stories and traditions in celebration of June 19 this year, as well as making adjustments to the way long-term food choices are made through our food service provider. “
The museum said in its report that its food service provider uses the food and beverage menu to commemorate and raise awareness about holidays like Juneteenth.
“The team that made this variety included members of their staff, who founded this food selection in their own circle of family traditions,” the museum said.
Reacting to a comment on Facebook online, the museum explained that watermelon and red foods are a staple of the June 19 celebrations, adding celebrations from the food court manager’s family.
“There was a label that explained the history and meaning of this menu item and it hadn’t been on the shelf until this label was in place,” the museum said in its Facebook comment. sorry for that. We will immediately cut him off our food court until the panel is in a position to accompany him. “
Online critics have consistently rejected the museum’s explanation that red foods are featured at the June 19 celebrations, arguing that the menu item was decided in bad taste.
Watermelon as a favorite black food has a racist jim-crow-era stereotype, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The racist trope was one of many that reduced black Americans to caricatures.
“As we work to create a culture of empowerment and inclusion, we know there will be stumbles along the way,” the museum said in its statement to IndyStar. “As a museum, we have done our best to share the critical and varied stories. of a wide diversity of individuals”.
Some of the Black Museum’s consumers on Saturday were disappointed, but resigned themselves to mistakes like the museum’s in spotting black heritage, and said the fault was a lack of education, sensitivity and awareness.
“To have so many other people sitting in a room and nobody raises their hand and says, ‘It’s a little embarrassing,’ it’s annoying,” said Licey Smith, 32, of Indianapolis, who was there with her daughter and nephew.
Smith said she was surprised that the museum believed other people of color would be revered through the gesture.
“It’s not like I’m watching this salad, I’d say to the kids, ‘Oh, great, let’s buy it to celebrate June 19,'” he said. “It shows that they still don’t notice us as we are, but as stereotypes. “
Medoume Ndiaye, 27, said businesses and establishments were eager to celebrate June 19 with what it means.
“It seems like a waste of money,” Ndiaye said. They write the word in the articles and feel like they’ve done their part. It just turns out that if only one user of color had been in the room when this decided, it wouldn’t have moved forward.
“Maybe they’ll find out about it, take it on their chin, and don’t do it anymore. “
Sean Magee, 37, the incident is a “not cool stereotype. “
“It’s a little provocative and a little unexpected that we still see that,” he said. “I don’t know what the idea of the procedure was. “
Eva True, 20, a white man from LaPorte, called the case “insensitive” but said the museum’s apology would be accepted.
“At least they apologized and admitted to making a mistake,” he said.
And Patrick Bush, 36, of Indianapolis, who is black, said he doesn’t see salad on the menu as a problem.
“Context is important,” he said. Everyone loves watermelon. I wouldn’t have been angry if I had noticed it.
Call IndyStar reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at 317-444-6175 or email apakharvey@indystar. com. @AmeliaPakHarvey Call John Tuohy at 317-444-6418 and @John_Tuohy on Twitter.
This article gave the impression that Indianapolis Star: Children’s Museum criticized for the article “Juneteenth Watermelon Salad”