Growing up, I was a pretty oblivious child. My life revolved around my toys, friends, and nap time. If there was cruelty, maliciousness, or hatred in the world, I was unaware of it.
But sadly, many children in our world are forced to confront difficult issues at a very young age. At a time when they should be playing pretend or learning how to spell their name, some children are made to grow up all too soon.
In 3-year-old Samara Muir’s case, she was sadly introduced to racism during an innocent game of dress-up — and all because of one bigoted woman’s ugly words.
But now, from this hurtful, hateful experience has sprung love — and from all corners of the globe! Samara was even sent a special message all the way from the Frozen lands of Arendelle!
After scrolling through her story, be sure to watch the adorable video at the end — and pleaseSHARE!
Like most 3-year-old girls, little Samara of Victoria, Australia, loves Disney movies — specifically the Princesses. Her all-time favorite? Queen Elsa from Frozen.
So when Samara got to dress up as the beloved icy queen, she was thrilled. There was to be a Disney-themed event at the local mall, and all little princesses were invited.
Little Samara — dressed in all her Queen Elsa finery — waited patiently with her mom, Rachel, for their turn in the children’s snow pit. That’s when Samara’s princess experience was ruined.
Standing in front of them, a mother and her two children were also waiting in line. Suddenly, without any prompting, the mother turned around and said to Samara, “I don’t know why you’re dressed as Queen Elsa. Anna and Elsa aren’t black.” When Rachel asked the woman what she meant by that, her daughters joined in. “Black is ugly,” one little girl said. “And you’re black.”
Both Rachel and Samara are Aboriginal, a race of Australians indigenous to the continent. Despite living in a multicultural, advanced society, Aboriginal people often face racism, discrimination, and bigotry.
Rachel was heartbroken and infuriated — but she chose to set a good example for her little girl. She simply held Samara’s hand and whispered, “I’ll explain it to you when we get home.” They held their spot in line, and little Samara tried to enjoy the rest of her day as Queen Elsa.
But later that week, Samara announced that she didn’t want to go back to her Aboriginal dance class. When Rachel asked why, Samara cried and said, “Because I’m black.” Later, the 3-year-old asked her mother why God had made her skin black.
But when Rachel took to Facebook to tell about her experience, she and Samara were met with nothing but love, support, and kindness. People expressed deep sadness that children so young were being taught hate and bigotry. “Wow it’s hard to believe scum like this still exists,” one comment read. “Samara is beautiful and is from a very proud family with an incredible heritage… Keep strong and proud.”
Now, thanks to all the love and support she’s received from around the world, little Samara isn’t learning about hate and cruelty; instead, she’s learning that every little girl can be a queen — no matter what shape, size, or shade she comes in.
Be sure to watch the special message Samara received from Disney World, and please SHARE if this story touched your heart!
