A Black New York woman recently shared in a TikTok video that she would never give money to a homeless white man, regardless of how he ended up on the streets. She said that white men already benefit from the system in America and should turn to other white people for help instead of expecting support from her.
So far, the video has gained more than 25,000 likes, though reactions in the comments have been mixed, with some supporting her decision while others did not.
In the clip, the woman said she would not be moved by any explanation a homeless white man gave her, even if his circumstances were “heartbreaking and devastating.” According to her, poor white people often direct their anger toward Black people and immigrants instead of confronting wealthy white people, whom she claims are the “real oppressors.”
“Don’t start acting indifferent whenever a rich white man comes around you cause you don’t wanna seem poor. No, shake them down because they did that to you,” the woman said. “They control the system. They manipulate the system. Why are you coming to me? Go talk to the people responsible and leave me out of it.”
In the comments under the post, most of the viewers who agreed with her said they also felt no responsibility to assist homeless white men.
“I feel you my sister I wouldn’t either,” one person wrote. Another said, “I be telling people this all the time. They think I’m racist.” A third shared, “I’ve already told my niece and nephew. No ma’am. They wasted their privilege.” A fourth added, “The world was set up for their success and if you can’t figure it out not my problem.”
However, those who strongly criticized the woman accused her of judging people solely by their race.
“This is racism. It is! And I’m blk! Stop putting Yt people down. They are not all the same. Help ALL people. What if he’s a former veteran???” one commenter argued. Another warned, “Don’t block your blessings, you don’t know his story and remember he did not make his skin color, just like we did not make ours.”
Someone else said, “There is no such thing as love for one person and not all people. When you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord.” Another remarked, “It’s really sad that some people see the world through a binary perspective instead of a human one.”
After facing accusations of racism, the New York woman addressed the criticism in a separate TikTok video. She argued that Black people could be prejudiced but not racist.
She insisted that what she felt toward homeless white men was apathy rather than hatred. “I can’t be racist, I’m black. I didn’t make up black and white,” the woman said. “The people who made up black and white are the people who get to pull the strings within it, you understand?… What you’re really feeling is my pure apathy.”
It remains to be seen if her response will change the minds of the people who found her comments racist. Meanwhile, her original video has now surpassed 100,000 views and continues to spark discussion online.
