Don't Take Easy Offense...

An Amazon warehouse in Chicago wanted to do something nice for employees to help celebrate Juneteenth, so they went with free food.  Always popular at work, and when it is something healthier or heartier than just donuts and sweets, all the better for more workers.

They chose to cater from: Chicago's Chicken and Waffles, with branches in Bronzeville (historical Black neighborhood) and Oak Park (near west suburb).  Looks like a nice place, with good eats...



Employees were offended.  The signage read "authentic meal" noting it was from Chicago's Chicken + Waffles.  How token. How black.  They complained.  I'm not sure if they actually got served chicken and waffles, or other items off the menu (I assume there were sides), but to me, this type of complaint is sad...

If you don't like the food, don't eat it.  If you have better suggestions for the food planning next year, speak with the employees organizing the ordering.  They would be glad! to hear suggestions early of how they can help make employees happy with the budget provided, and those usually are not stingy budgets.

An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC in a statement: “The leader who put on this event had good intentions to honor Juneteenth by supporting a local small business owned by a member of the Black community. After receiving some feedback from team members at the site, they’ve since decided to remove the sign in question.”

Amazon said the choice of venue and the poster were made by diverse local leadership, including the facility’s site leader, who is Black. The business is one of employees’ favorite restaurants, so they felt it was appropriate to show support on Juneteenth, the company said.
...
In a private online group for Chicago Amazon workers, employees said they were angered and insulted by the “racist form of celebration.” Others said Amazon could have shown support for Black workers by designating Juneteeth as a paid company holiday.

“So much for supporting your Black/African American employees,” one post read. “Where’s the Solidarity in that? We demand a paid holiday, not some damn chicken.”