(Picture: Instagram/Takara Winel)
Mixed race 22 year old makeup artist from Australia, Takara Allen had been speaking to a guy from Tinder. They had only been on one date together so far and were in the stages of post-date chatter when that guy decided to browse her Instagram real quick.
After he had his viewing, he had sent Takara one of her photos along with a text that read: “Don’t think I’m a creep and I don’t wanna be offensive or anything but I was just looking [at] your insta photos and just curious, but have you ever thought about bleaching your skin?? You’d look so much prettier if you were whiter!”
Takara told the Daily Mail that she was absolutely devastated after hearing such a comment. “I was so in shock that someone would ever send that to me that I actually started crying out of frustration,’ she said. I’ve never had anyone suggest that I bleach my skin before.”
She had later posted her response on Facebook and even blocked her date on ‘everything’, explaining that he doesn’t deserve the chance to apologize after saying something so dreadful.
Takara shared her experience on Facebook, questioning how anyone could possibly think a comment like that wouldn’t be offensive.
Her post said:
“Waking up to this fuckery on a Friday morning. What goes on in people’s heads that makes them think this is okay to say to someone? As if people of colour don’t already struggle enough with the pressure to conform to a Eurocentric beauty ideals and standards, people like this add even more.
“Don’t wanna be offensive.” How the FUCK is this not offensive in your head?! Like literally how can you come to the conclusion that this is even true? I’ve grown up hearing “You’d be prettier if you were lighter” and “You’re pretty for a black girl,” as if black women are just generally unattractive, and so it’s a surprise when one of us is. Not to mention the fact that as a mixed race woman people are constantly hitting me with the “but you’re so pretty, what are you mixed with?” bullshit when I simply say “I’m black”. As if black can’t be beautiful on it’s own and that I should be grateful to be mixed with something because whatever I’m mixed with makes the black “okay” all of a sudden.
People are always complaining that I post too many things talking down about white people (a.k.a. Pointing out systematic racism and ignorance that they seem to take personally for some reason) but none of you realise that this is the shit that myself and other black women have to deal with on a daily fucking basis. It’s easy to say “don’t let it get to you” and what not but this isn’t a one time thing. I’ve been hearing this crap ever since I moved to Australia and I can guarantee you that women who are even darker than I am hear it even more. If you have to say “not trying to be offensive/racist/mean” before you say something, DON’T SAY IT.”
Source: Metro.co.uk