A UN Women's Valentine’s Day illustration on social media has been removed after it was criticised for featuring a range of couples and a single black woman standing alone.
The cartoon, which drew backlash and has since been deleted, showed three couples of various backgrounds holding hands and hugging, as well as a lone black woman hugging herself.
Social media users were quick to point out the problematic nature of the drawing:
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 antiracism help.
— Kalera Stratton (@nisslbodies) February 15, 2021
No, @UN_Women you have to take this down. This is so offensive.
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) February 15, 2021
Wow. We can never be coupled up, especially not with a Black man.
— LaShawnda Jones (@harvestlifer) February 15, 2021
@UN_Women You guys are really gross. That gif about Valentine's day is offensive and shows what you really think about Black women. Everybody has a love interest but her. Delete this immediately
— Julia (@MissAfroMinga) February 15, 2021
On Monday, UN Women, the United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women, responded.
“We posted an illustration on Valentine’s Day, depicting love in all its diversity,” they tweeted. “We listened to what you said in the comments [and] decided to take it down. UN Women works for gender equality [and] empowerment of all women [and] girls regardless of age, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.”
Instead, they uploaded a new gif with multicoloured hearts and the phrase “love is love".
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. pic.twitter.com/GyMt9foapr
— UN Women (@UN_Women) February 15, 2021
However, not everyone was happy with the response, claiming a better apology was needed.
Suggestion for @UN_Women the response post should include an apology and a clear acknowledgment of what the apology is for. Equally important, implement continual #DiversityandInclusion #culturalcompetency staff training i.e your recent post featured the controversial Coco Chanel
— CNANAOYE (@CNANAOYE) February 16, 2021
Is this supposed to be an apology? It isn't. Your illustrator drew what I assume were multicultural couples but the Black woman, and only the Black woman, was alone. Someone higher than the illustrator approved an illustration projecting Black women as unworthy of love & intimacy
— 💛Unapologetically💛Ambitious💛Nasty💛Radical💛 (@TonyaA6) February 16, 2021
What are you going to do about this? Horrifying and so disrespectful. You owe Black women a real apology. pic.twitter.com/Q5RvRD4sew
— Whowantstoknow?! (@Midbymidwest10) February 16, 2021
At the time of writing, UN Women has yet to issue any further statements about the illustration.
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