A two-year-old girl has become our new hero after expertly shutting down a cashier who attempted to question her choice of a black doll.
Brandi Benner, the girl’s mother, took to Facebook to share the inspiring experience, describing how the cashier in Target had seemed initially puzzled by her daughter’s toy selection.
“While we were checking out, the cashier asked Sophia if she was going to a birthday party. We both gave her a blank stare,” she wrote. “She then pointed to the doll and asked Sophia if she picked her out for a friend. Sophia continued to stare blankly.
“The woman gave me a puzzled look and turned to Sophia and asked, ‘Are you sure this is the doll you want, honey?’”
When Sophia confirmed that, yes, this was the doll she wanted, the cashier added, “But she doesn't look like you. We have lots of other dolls that look more like you.”
While Brandi wrote that she “immediately became angry”, Sophia answered the cashier before she had a chance to respond.
“Yes, she does. She's a doctor like I'm a doctor,” the two-year-old replied.
“And I'm a pretty girl and she's a pretty girl. See her pretty hair? And see her stethoscope?”
Sophia’s brilliant response (rightly) went viral, with her mother’s post being shared over 227,000 times and garnering some 619,000 likes and 41,000 comments (at the time of writing).
“This experience just confirmed my belief that we aren't born with the idea that color matters,” Benner, from South Carolina, US, added on Facebook.
“Skin comes in different colors just like hair and eyes and every shade is beautiful.”
Users were also quick to praise Sophia’s response to the cashier, with one writing, “Way to go young lady! This is exactly the example of love and acceptance the world needs.”
Another added, “That is the best answer I have ever heard… So young and smarter about the subject than a lot of older people. Some people live there whole lives not figuring that out.”
After her original post went viral, Benner took to Facebook again (below) to thank people for their support, adding that she was “absolutely blown away” by the response.
“Our family has received so much love, support and encouragement from complete strangers and that is just proof to me that there is SO MUCH good in the world,” she added.
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Here’s hoping we hear more from Sophia in future.
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