On Thursday, the queen of social media clapbacks, also known as Khloé Kardashian, took to Twitter to scold a follower who deleted a racist Twitter remark after Khloé replied to it.
I dislike the fact that people are allowed to comment on my daughters skin color but as soon as I comment kindly back and praise her for all that she is, the comment gets erased. If you have the courage to post your nasty criticism please allow one to defend or comment back
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) September 28, 2018
At first, the Twitter community was on Khloé’s side, shaming the person who “hated” on her baby. Then, Khloé, who was actively participating in the conversation, decided to make a little remark about how in her household, color doesn’t exist.
I try to put myself in their shoes &maybe they were brought up in a different type of household then I was. So instead of shaming I try to educate. In our household we do not see color. We see emotion and action. We see love. We feed off of energy
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) September 28, 2018
The backlash was swift.
If you don’t see color then you don’t see your child. The fact is that so much of who she is and will be is wrapped up in her skin color. The world will treat her differently because of it and you have a duty to prepare her for if.
— Mandate paid maternity leave (@Mali_I_am) September 28, 2018
Everyone sees colour. It isn’t about not seeing difference, it’s about being inclusive and open to that difference. We’re all different and thats what makes us unique.
— Alice Franks (@Alicefranky) September 28, 2018
We can understand why Khloé was so upset—she has had to deal with numerous racist trolls since the birth of her daughter True in April. However, she shows a lack of awareness of what living in the U.S. is like for someone of color when she makes comments like this. Racism exists in the U.S. and you can’t just pretend it doesn’t because you feel it shouldn’t. Even celebrities face discrimination in their day to day lives and, as many Twitter uses pointed out, True will likely face some aspects of racism as well as she grows up. It can be harmful denying the existence of color rather than addressing the institutional problems that make color important.
Khloé is not the first Kardashian to deny the existence of color. In 2017, Kim defended her Aaliyah Halloween costume by claiming they don’t see color in her home. We can only hope the Kardashian clan catches on to the importance of recognizing how racism operates and exists in this country and uses their social platforms to enact real change.