“I have showed the menu to several people of different racial backgrounds and the reaction is the same—complete disgust and disbelief”

Photo by PoPville flickr user DCbmyers

“Dear PoPville,

I’m among the many Royal Wedding enthusiasts in DC excited to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming wedding.  I’m even hosting my own viewing party.  After hearing about Pop-Up Bar DC’s Royal Pop-Up and seeing local media coverage of their drink specials and other themed items, I was looking forward to stopping by this week.  That is, until I read the drink menu and saw the “When Harry Met Megan” cocktail consisting of Monkey Shoulder Scotch, Ginger, Banana, and Lemon —https://popupbardc.com/menu/.

I am at a loss for words on my feelings about the racial overtones of the ingredients in this drink. I have showed the menu to several people of different racial backgrounds and the reaction is the same–complete disgust and disbelief that an establishment in DC could be so blatantly racist and hateful.  It’s crystal clear that in this racist bad “joke” the monkey and banana are meant to refer to Meghan and the ginger to refer to Harry.  I find no humor in it at all. I simply can’t believe in today’s environment of racial discourse that this is simply an act of ignorance.  It is explicit racism written right there in black and white (or actually white and blue…maybe they thought the floral patterns and soft hues would disguise their overt, blinding racist words.  Another drink further down the menu, called the “American Princess,” calls for blackcurrent liqueur–no doubt this is also a not so subtle reference to the stereotype “the blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.” I understand that this must be their take on a Bramble, which is an English drink–but seriously, name it for any other person in the royal family or other thing attributed to the UK.  Finally, the bar’s “Lions and Unicorns” drink is made with “Plantation dark rum” and milk.

This cannot stand.”