JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of North Florida has issued a second statement after a trivia poll posted on an official Instagram page during Black History Month asked followers about a popular drink in African American culture and listed Red Kool-Aid as one of the responses.
The school's initial statement failed to take accountability for the post.
The poll, posted as an Instagram story on ospreylife, asks, “What is a popular drink in the African American community?”
The answers included four options: Pepsi, red Kool-Aid, cranberry juice and Sierra Mist.
Kool-Aid is often associated with racist stereotypes.
When initially asked about the poll Tuesday, UNF didn't apologize, but rather doubled down on the decision to include the question.
UNF responded to First Coast News with the following statement on Tuesday afternoon:
"The purpose of the trivia poll shared during Black History Month was to engage students in recognizing diverse aspects of Black/African American culture. The questions were adopted from a pop culture trivia game. While some content may have been viewed as insensitive, we reaffirm our commitment in honoring cultural humility and cultural sensitivity."
On Wednesday, UNF's Office of Diversity and Inclusion posted the following apology on Instagram, acknowledging that the previous statement failed to take accountability for the post.
"We apologize. We acknowledge the Black History Month Trivia perpetuated racial stereotypes and caused racial trauma. Our subsequent statement failed to take accountability for the harm we caused. We messed up. Our student organizations @unfbsu @said_unf @laso_unf @unfasia did not contribute to the trivia or the statement."
However, some people commented that they still have issues with the statement.
"And if I’m not mistaken you guys are the university office of DIVERSITY and INCLUSION correct? And this is y’all second attempt of an apology?" commented thatgirldajane_.
"I wanna know who made the post , who runs the social media ?" commented
tiah.jacobs.
First Coast News asked UNF about who is responsible for making the post and did not receive a reply. We did however receive this:
"The purpose of the trivia poll shared during Black History Month was to engage students in recognizing the diverse aspects of Black/African American culture. The University deeply regrets that the poll lacked proper historical and educational context and that it hurt members of the community. We recognize the impact this has had, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting an on-campus “Let’s Talk About It …” discussion event today."
The UNF Black Student Union chimed in, saying the trivia question was not right and was unacceptable in a statement on Facebook.
"We have received so many comments and concerns regarding the trivia game that was posted earlier this week, We want to start by saying thank you to everyone who spoke up and against the game. The trivia questions were not right and were unacceptable. ..."
The BSU says it did not participate in creating the trivia and that there is so much more to Black Culture, history, art, and entertainment "than what we received earlier in the week."
UNF Black Student Union representatives and others filled a room on campus Wednesday afternoon for a discussion the university held to talk about the trivia questions.
“It upset me because it was very stereotypical. Why would you assume all Black people eat chicken? It was to a point that is was very disrespectful," Kiante McClennon, the former vice president of BSU told First Coast News in an interview.
"Seeing that is like you don't take my experiences, my history, who I am seriously as a Black student. It's like a personal attack on us and our Blackness, it's like a joke," BSU President Yvenie Etienne said.
As concerns were shared, notes were taken by the moderator of the discussion.
UNF's Office of Diversity and Inclusion Vice President Dr. Richmond Wynn says one of its staff members posted the polls on the Instagram page.
“We hurt you, we offended you. We're sorry," Wynn explained.
After hearing from students, he says he plans to create office procedures to ensure posts are reviewed before going onto social media. Wynn also wants to implement ongoing professional development for his staff.
“I'll say particularly around issues of diversity and inclusion that it is so vitally important that we continue to take a look at ourselves, that we continue to evolve and to grow as professionals," he said.
Wynn says UNF is also going to start holding “learning exchanges” with students, faculty and community members to help solve the issues raised this week.
The “learning exchanges” will be designed through a series of meetings. The first meeting will be Mar. at 6:00 p.m, the location hasn't been decided yet.
In 2018, CNN reported that two Aramark employees were fired at New York University for creating a special Black History Month menu that included Red Kool-Aid and watermelon infused water.
“These drink options perpetuate harmful stereotypes that have existed about the black community for decades, and show an extreme level of cultural insensitivity,” said the university’s Black Student Union in 2018 regarding the issue.