diff --git a/shell/view/BuddyMenu.py b/shell/view/BuddyMenu.py
index 6871db11..ad0c4c6d 100644
--- a/shell/view/BuddyMenu.py
+++ b/shell/view/BuddyMenu.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from sugar.canvas.Menu import Menu
+from sugar.canvas.Menu import MenuColorScheme
 from sugar.canvas.IconItem import IconItem
 from sugar.presence import PresenceService
 
@@ -9,8 +10,14 @@ class BuddyMenu(Menu):
 
 	def __init__(self, shell, buddy):
 		color = buddy.get_color()
-		Menu.__init__(self, shell.get_grid(), buddy.get_name(),
-					  color.get_fill_color(), color.get_stroke_color())
+
+		color_scheme = MenuColorScheme()
+		color_scheme.text = 'black'
+		color_scheme.border = color.get_stroke_color()
+		color_scheme.background = color.get_fill_color()
+		color_scheme.separator = 'black'
+
+		Menu.__init__(self, shell.get_grid(), buddy.get_name(), color_scheme)
 
 		self._buddy = buddy
 		self._shell = shell
diff --git a/shell/view/frame/TopPanel.py b/shell/view/frame/TopPanel.py
index 128430ec..5d181415 100644
--- a/shell/view/frame/TopPanel.py
+++ b/shell/view/frame/TopPanel.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class ActivityMenu(Menu):
 
 	def __init__(self, grid, activity_host):
 		title = activity_host.get_title()
-		Menu.__init__(self, grid, title, 'black', 'black')
+		Menu.__init__(self, grid, title)
 
 		icon = IconItem(icon_name='stock-share')
 		self.add_action(icon, ActivityMenu.ACTION_SHARE) 
diff --git a/sugar/canvas/Menu.py b/sugar/canvas/Menu.py
index f644a9db..ba487be8 100644
--- a/sugar/canvas/Menu.py
+++ b/sugar/canvas/Menu.py
@@ -6,18 +6,26 @@ from sugar.canvas.CanvasView import CanvasView
 from sugar.canvas.CanvasBox import CanvasBox
 from sugar.canvas.IconItem import IconItem
 
+class MenuColorScheme:
+	def __init__(self):
+		self.text = 'white'
+		self.background = 'black'
+		self.border = 'black'
+		self.separator = '#a1a1a1'
+
 class Menu(gtk.Window):
 	__gsignals__ = {
 		'action': (gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST,
 				   gobject.TYPE_NONE, ([int])),
 	}
 
-	def __init__(self, grid, title, fill, stroke):
+	def __init__(self, grid, title, color_scheme=MenuColorScheme()):
 		gtk.Window.__init__(self, gtk.WINDOW_POPUP)
 
 		self._width = 13
 		self._grid = grid
 		self._action_box = None
+		self._color_scheme = color_scheme
 
 		self._canvas = CanvasView()
 		self.add(self._canvas)
@@ -26,12 +34,14 @@ class Menu(gtk.Window):
 		model = goocanvas.CanvasModelSimple()
 		self._root = model.get_root_item()
 
-		self._rect = goocanvas.Rect(fill_color=fill,stroke_color=stroke,
+		self._rect = goocanvas.Rect(fill_color=color_scheme.background,
+									stroke_color=color_scheme.border,
 							  		line_width=3)
 		self._root.add_child(self._rect)
 
 		text = goocanvas.Text(text=title, font="Sans bold 18",
-							  fill_color='black', anchor=gtk.ANCHOR_SW)
+							  fill_color=color_scheme.text,
+							  anchor=gtk.ANCHOR_SW)
 		self._grid.set_constraints(text, 1, 3, self._width, 2)
 		self._root.add_child(text)
 
@@ -42,7 +52,7 @@ class Menu(gtk.Window):
 
 	def _create_action_box(self):
 		separator = goocanvas.Path(data='M 15 0 L 185 0', line_width=3,
-								   fill_color='black')
+								   stroke_color=self._color_scheme.separator)
 		self._grid.set_constraints(separator, 0, 4)
 		self._root.add_child(separator)