UN Women has been forced to remove a Valentine’s Day illustration from social medi, showing a black woman hugging herself alongside loved up couples, after users accused the organisation of perpetuating racial stereotypes.
The organisation with offices across the globe, posted the graphic onto celebrate diversity in love on Valentine’s Day, showing a black woman alongside interracial gay, lesbian and straight couples.
Social media users made copies of the image before it was deleted following the backlash, with many arguing against the decision to show couples of varying races expressing love with the exception of the black woman.
Some have accused the organisation of advancing a ‘dangerous stereotype’ about black women being ‘unworthy’ of receiving love.
UN Women has been blasted by social media users for showing a black woman hugging herself on a graphic (pictured) depicting love on Valentine’s Day
Posting on Twitter, UN Women shared a new illustration and penned a caption explaining they removed their previous graphic in response to comments
UN Women posted the controversial illustration alongside emojis of different colours, with the caption: ‘Love is equality. Love is respect. Love is love’
The organisation was forced to remove the image and share a new ‘love is love’ graphic after racking up hundreds of heated comments.
Responding to criticism, UN Women tweeted: ‘We posted an illustration on Valentine’s Day, depicting love in all its diversity. We listened to what you said in the comments & decided to take it down.
‘UN Women works for gender equality & empowerment of all women & girls regardless of age, race ethnicity, or sexual orientation’
Despite racking up over 400 likes, many responses argued the tweet didn’t provide an apology for the hurt caused by the original Valentine’s Day illustration.
One person wrote: ‘The fact that you left the black woman out in the cold to love herself really accurately represents the historic and current way the world views black women as unworthy of receiving love, doesn’t it? If that’s what you were going for, you nailed it. If not, seek anti-racism help.’
A flood of Twitter users have continued blasting the now deleted illustration, arguing for the organisation to issue an apology
‘The way you CHOSE to disrespect and birminghamshemales.com advanced a dangerous stereotype about black women was abominable.
‘We deserve an apology which this certainly isn’t! I will personally never support you or anything you do or promote because you’ve made it clear that we do not matter,’ another said.
A third added: ‘If you thought following up with a ‘love is love’ illustration and a non apology was the best next step… well it’s time to consult a crisis PR manager, because, baby, this is not it’
Another wrote: ‘I’m sure an argument can be made that the black woman is asexual BUT given that black women bear the brunt of the lonely, unlovable, undesirable, ‘too strong’ stereotype/trope I feel that an organisation such as UN women would be attuned with why this would be perceived badly.’
Other Twitter users have argued the artist who designed the illustration was probably trying to show black women as ‘strong’ and ‘independent’
A small group of Twitter users argued in favour of the graphic, saying it represents the importance of self love.
One person said: ‘Self love is the best love! Believe that. I think it’s symbolic’
Another added: ‘It looks to me like it’s saying a black woman is strong and loves herself FIRST’
A UN Women representative reiterated the organisation’s values in a comment provided to
‘We hope that our social media channels continue to be an open and welcoming space for conversations.’
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