Andover High Principal Deletes Black History Month Lunch Tweet

ANDOVER, MA — Andover High School Principal Philip Conrad deleted a tweet and sent a follow up community email Wednesday about the school's Thursday lunch, after a menu tied to Black History Month ignited a social media uproar. Conrad's deleted tweet said that the school is "celebrating #BlackHistory2020 with a lunch of chicken drumsticks, macaroni & cheese, cornbread and greens." The tweet inspired condemnation from students and parents on social media.

The deleted tweet was also picked up by the blog Turtleboy Sports, where a blogger wrote the tweet "might be the most tone deaf, idiotic thing anyone has ever tweeted."

In a follow up email sent hours later, Conrad did not apologize for the tweet, but wrote that the menu was designed by a student who asked the school to celebrate Black History Month.

"In January, one of our students approached the junior class advisors and me about celebrating Black History Month in February," Conrad wrote. "As a person of color, the student is passionate to share and highlight Black Americans who made strides and important contributions."

"The menu was designed by this student and other students in collaboration with the APS Food Services department to celebrate Black History Month," Conrad continued. "My social media post was intended to support this student’s contributions by elevating the cultural awareness of students and staff, and encourage others to take up the mantle of making our community more passionate about celebrating our diversity."

The online menu for the school labels the meal "Soul Food" and calls it a "student picked menu." The full menu for the day is listed as "breaded chicken drumsticks, mac n' cheese, fried okra, collard greens, honey wheat biscuit and fresh fruit."

In his email, Conrad described other Black History Month programming at the school.

"This month, the high school implemented morning announcements with inspirational quotes and historical facts, featured books by renowned Black authors and books on the history of Black Americans," he wrote. "Also, one of our teachers delivered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for students."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.