After facing severe backlash over its “Juneteenth Watermelon Salad,” the Indianapolis Children’s Museum is issuing an apology.
“The museum apologizes and acknowledges the negative impact that stereotypes have on communities of color. We have removed the salad from our menu,” the museum said in a statement. “We value our relationships with all of our visitors and communities. We have learned from this experience.”
TMZ reports that the museum initially defended the dish, saying that its food service company ”planned a Juneteenth menu as a way for us to raise awareness of the holiday’s meaning, and commemorate their own family traditions.” The publication was unable to verify if the food service company is Black-owned.
“As we work to create a culture of empowerment and inclusivity, we know there will be stumbles along the way,” the statement continued. “As a museum, we have put a significant effort behind sharing the critical and diverse stories of a wide range of individuals.”
Watermelon has long been used as a racial stereotype associated with Black people. Many felt that the salad perpetuates negative stereotypes and did precisely the opposite of what the museum claims its intentions were — to commemorate Juneteenth.
The watermelon salad was served in the cafeteria as part of the museum’s menu for its “Juneteenth Jamboree.” The event is meant to celebrate the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth was finally declared a national holiday last year.
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