A Massachusetts college is going through backlash after reportedly making an attempt to commemorate the start of Black Historical past Month by serving fried rooster for lunch.

"In honor of Black Historical past Month, a method we'll rejoice is by highlighting a standard meal every week that may be a staple in Southern Black historical past. Immediately's lunch is fried rooster," Xaverian Brothers Excessive Faculty introduced to college students over the PA system Tuesday morning, WCVB reported.

Tuesday marked the primary day of Black Historical past Month, which events and organizations starting from NASA to the White Home have dedicated to honoring.

Xaverian's personal try to kick off the month was decried by a number of college students, together with Michael Earls, the coed physique vp for the college's senior class. He stated in a press release that the Xaverian administration "should first acknowledge that their ignorance perpetuated a racist stereotype and challenge a proper apology."

Faculty officers at Xaverian stated that they had been making an attempt to teach college students about Black historical past and tradition. Additionally they stated that a meals service worker on the college who was African American had chosen fried rooster because the meal, WCVB reported.

"Regrettably, our message was poorly communicated leading to some perceiving it because the propagation of a destructive stereotype," Xaverian Brothers stated in a press release. "We're saddened by this final result. Going ahead, we'll try to make sure that all members of our group perceive the importance of our efforts to rejoice Black Historical past Month.

School Criticized For Serving Fried Chicken
A Massachusetts college is going through backlash after reportedly making an attempt to commemorate the start of Black Historical past Month by serving fried rooster for lunch. Fried rooster with salad is seen at a restaurant in San Jose, California, September 25, 2021.Sftm/Gado/Getty Photographs

One scholar, Xaverian senior Liam Baker, instructed a WCVB reporter that "Truthfully, I feel it is only a large stereotype. It could possibly be seen as somewhat racist."

"It is the primary day of Black Historical past Month. They could not have give you a greater factor than fried rooster for African delicacies? It would not actually make a lot sense," he added.

"It is over-hyped. We eat rooster each single day for college," stated fellow Xaverian senior Oliver Waddleton. "We're studying extra about Black historical past. It is one thing that each single college ought to do."

The PA announcement on Tuesday additionally spoke about how some newly-freed Black girls had been capable of help themselves financially after the Civil Conflict by promoting fried rooster, in response to the college.

The Smithsonian Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition wrote on social media in 2019 that these girls, often called "waiter carriers," had been capable of finding "a path to monetary freedom by way of fried rooster within the 1800s, and put Gordonsville, Virginia on the map because the 'Fried Rooster Capital of the World.'"

Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory college for boys in grades seven by way of 12 situated in Westwood, Massachusetts. It describes itself on its web site as an "inclusive group" that embraces "various experiences and views, welcoming college students and households from all faiths and backgrounds."

Newsweek has reached out to Xaverian Brothers Excessive Faculty for remark.