Little Girl’s Doll Selection Turns Into a Teachable Moment After Cashier Questions Her Choice
As children, our favorite Barbie dolls and action figures were our best friends and we shared endless adventures with them.
When a little girl decided to pick a new doll that was of a different race than she was, the cashier tried to get her to reconsider her choice. But instead of going along with it, little Sophia decided to use it as a lesson on acceptance and how race is only skin deep.
Successful Milestones
Brandi Leilani shared her daughter’s story in a now-viral Facebook post. It has since received 1 million reactions, 53,000 comments, and nearly a quarter-million shares.
Her story starts out innocently enough, and she explains it first began after she told her young daughter Sophia that after successfully completing potty training, she could pick out a special prize at Target.
A Trip To Target
Like any child, there is no greater reward than picking out or being surprised with a new toy. Naturally, Sophia’s choice of the toy didn’t surprise her mother one bit.
“She, of course, picked a new doll. The obsession is real.”
At The Checkout
“While we were checking out, the cashier asked Sophia if she was going to a birthday party,” Brandi explains. Puzzled, both mother and daughter give the cashier a blank stare.
The cashier then pointed to Sophia’s doll and asked whether it was a gift for a friend. Sophia was still confused, so Brandi chimed in and explained that the doll was a reward for her daughter being fully potty trained.
The Doll
Confused, the cashier turned to Sophia and asked, "Are you sure this is the doll you want, honey?" Emphatically, Sophia said, "Yes, please!"
The cashier then replied, "But she doesn't look like you. We have lots of other dolls that look more like you."
Sophia’s Choice
Brandi says that at this point she was furious, but before she could say anything, Sophia said, "Yes, she does. She's a doctor like I'm a doctor. And I'm a pretty girl and she's a pretty girl. See her pretty hair? And see her stethoscope?"
At this point, Brandi says that the cashier replied, “Oh, that’s nice,” and then dropped the topic.
A Teachable Moment
Brandi ends her Facebook post with a simple message of love and acceptance.
“This experience just confirmed my belief that we aren't born with the idea that color matters. Skin comes in different colors just like hair and eyes and every shade is beautiful.”
What The People Are Saying
It’s not hard to believe why, but Brandi and Sophia’s story went viral on Facebook. People absolutely loved the story of how little Sophia taught the cashier a lesson of acceptance.
“Your daughter is going to grow up to be a respectable member of this world and if the world had more people like her it would be a better place,” one user wrote.
It’s Happened Before
Other parents commented on Brandi’s post and said that their children also have dolls that are of a different race, and they couldn’t be more proud. Some said how, unfortunately, racial incidents like these happen a lot more often than people realize, and commenters said the cashier had no business spewing her opinion to customers.
“I feel your pain and had a similar experience with my daughter once. It almost hurts for people to try to spread ignorance to an innocent child,” one user wrote.
Fact Or Fiction?
While most people who saw Brandi’s post applauded her parenting and her daughter’s words of wisdom, there were a few users who were skeptical of Brandi’s story, including some that doubted the word “stethoscope” would even be in the vocabulary of a four-year-old.
“I'll take 'Things That Never Happened' for 500, Alex,” one person commented.
The Moral Of The Story
Even if Brandi’s story wasn’t true, many people said that it still serves an important lesson about how racism and hatred are learned behaviors and acceptance conquers all.
“We have so much to learn from our children,” wrote one user.