After Cashier Asks 2-Year-Old Girl If She Wants Doll That Looks ‘More Like Her,’ Toddler Brilliantly Shuts Her Down
Sophia Benner, from South Carolina, is two years old. When she grows up she wants to be a doctor. So when her mom, Brandi, recently took her shopping at Target for a potty graduation gift, it came as no surprise that Sophia chose a doctor doll.
What DID come as a surprise however was the cashier’s reaction to the doll she picked out. Why? Because the doll was black, something that Brandi and her daughter hadn’t thought much about until the cashier said to Sophia, “Are you sure this is the doll you want, honey?” When the little girl said yes, the cashier continued by saying “But she doesn’t look like you. We have lots of other dolls that look more like you.” Before Brandi could intervene however, Sophia shut down the cashier with the best response ever.
See the full conversation below, which Brandi posted on Instagram recently. It’s since been shared on Facebook, where it’s been liked by more than 450k people and shared over 180k times. Sophia might only be a toddler, but she’s clearly smarter than certain adults out there…
More info: Instagram | Facebook
2-year-old Sophia Benner from South Carolina recently went shopping with her mom, Brandi
When a cashier questioned her choice of doll, Sophia shut her down with the best response ever
Other people soon responded with their own stories:
422Kviews
Share on FacebookMy son started 1st grade & began begging me to have his new best friend over. "Please mom! You will LOVE Stephon! He's just like me! We like the same stuff! We have Mario backpacks & love Nintendo and we love the old games best! Please mom! Can I have Stephon over?" It was endless. I told him that when I had a weekend off we could invite his friend over. Endless stories of how Braden (my son) and Stephon were "just like brothers". I finally had a weekend off & let the boys make plans. I spoke a bit with Stephon's mom, gave her directions to our home. When Stephon jumped out of the car with the same backpack as my kid; Braden proudly proclaimed , once again, loud and proud; "SEE MOM! Twins! We have the same bookbag and everything!" Stephon smiled so big & echoed "SEE MOM!" Stephon's chocolate complexion, black fade and coffee colored eyes. My son's blue eyes and floppy blonde hair in contrast, looking up at us (moms) with huge smiles. The boys 7 then, 13 now. Still brothers. <3
Good for you..You are the best mom ever..Children need to know it's OK to have friends that they like..Being there for them is the best thing you have done !
Load More Replies...My first doll (in 1988, Hungary) was an AFRICAN little girl. The FIRST! This is wonderful in a country which was a year before the end of communism!
I remember that one of my first doll was a Russian one, in traditional dress <3 and I also had a lot of dark-skinned dolls, back there in 2000, in Poland, when I was a little girl.
Load More Replies...When I turned 12, I was offered the gift of a doll by some family member, one brown skinned or one pale skinned doll. I had never seen a brown skinned one and choose that one because it looked beautiful. Actually I had never met any African people or any people from distant lands. My parents were horrified by this and sent me to a psychologist as thought something had to be abnormal with me. I went through 6 months of why brown, why did I think it was pretty. I am now 72 years old and I still have my doll as well as several more of all types, have been a wet nurse to a Kenyan baby why back in 1972 when living in Finland and having met a Kenyan woman in hospital and she didn't have milk and had to return to Moscow as a diplomat and left her baby with me for 6 months, I became his Godmother, I could write a book on comments feeding my red haired son and my godson with his black hair, some cruel, others naive.
My parents bought this doll for me in the German Democratic Republic in 1982. 2-58e3dacebb91c.jpg
My daughter had a Black cabbage patch doll. She got it when I had my son. She would breast feed when I breastfed. Children do not care about color. Its a beutiful thing that many adults still need to learn. That cashier was ignorant.
Have to say , I would have told the cashier to mind her own f*****g business.
Southerners are way too polite for that! Well, when they aren't being racist, that is.
Load More Replies...kids DO see color, because they have eyes that see colors. they just haven't been taught racism by society yet, so they accept people for being different from them
It's funny how people believe stories like this. If you think about it, what cashier would risk their JOB over some random little girl buying a doll that's not the same skin color as her? Most cashiers don't start conversations with their customers, they just want you to pay for your stuff and move on. Maybe sometimes cashiers will start small talk, but it's hardly worth risking a job to criticize what some little girl is getting. To add on, that 2 y/o must be some sort of genius, to know the word stethoscope, and even pronounce it correctly, much less understand the context in which they're using it. Also, I'm pretty sure that she got the doll because she looks like the new kids show on Disney Junior, Doc McStuffins, or something like that. If anything, this girl saw a doll that reminds her of a character she likes and chose her for that, not over her race. Maybe this is real, maybe not. I'm just saying, take this with a grain of salt. It may all be for those juicy Facebook likes.
Happened in SC...I live here and yes, I believe.
Load More Replies...I didn't like dolls but with 6 years I remembered I had sometimes the with all my darkbrown birthmarks would melt together and color in my hole skin. Kids think and see the world really different to us adults!
Um, actually it looks to me like this is a thing only because the girl was white and the doll was black. If it was the reverse I cannot imagine that anyone would be talking about it. Here is a tip: if you don't want your kids to grow up racist... don't be a racist.
What exactly is a potty graduation gift? That's the real travesty of this article
I never liked to play with dolls and I understood how lucky I was in my parents not forcing me to drop the Micromachines and play with dolls instead only when I grew up. This mom is raising a good person in a world that probably doesn't deserve her, but if there were more people like her, the world would be a better place.
This is THE sweetest thing I have ever seen and it it so inspirational and I hope the two little angels are having fun playing doctors,this really touched my heart,everyone is perfect,no matter what!💗💗💗😊😊😊:-D :-D :-D 😘
Sophia, you ARE a beautiful girl, inside and out! You will be an excellent doctor!
My white 7 year old boy when being told he was going to have a baby brother or sister said " if it's a boy can we call it Ben, if its girl can we call it Lyra and if it's got a brown face can we call it Janarf?" Did notice colour by this age but didn't matter to him.
One thing about Kids they don't see skin color..... The cashier should be fired but she did get schooled by a 2 tear old.
The kid is a doctor? At that age!? Let her live her life god dammit!
I'm 68 and male and heterosexual. For some reason I had a doll who was about the same shade of brown as Sophia's. I can barely recall it.
Why do we still look at skin color? We have different eye colors and we don´t think less about any of them... Or our hair color... or any other colored features that differentiate us from each other. I do not see how skin color makes us better or worse than anyone!!
I think that the cashier should be reported. Target does not like their employees that say things like that.
This is VERY contrived and possible staged or not really what happened. Mom is attention seeking, and it worked. On the other hand, I have had cashiers at various stores comment on purchases and prices of items and it is outrageously inappropriate. What you have chosen to buy, unless they are telling your about a coupon or something like that, is none of their business! I have had them say, "wow, that's expensive, I wouldn't buy that" — stuff like that. Well, on a cashier's salary probably not. But since I like the product and can well afford it, it's none of her business. (Almost always a female that does this.) Busybody syndrome, and their managers should be informed.
My cousin had a tranny doll. Dunno why but she loved her anyway. Kids don't understand racism and homophobia. They're thought to, sadly.
I can remember an experience like this when I was five. I could not understand what the difference was between me and my girl friend.
I think it's a heartening story. I'm just not so certain the cashier meant it the way people are taking it. If the little girl was black and the doll was white, people might be celebrating the cashier showing her some dolls that look like her. Or a disabled child picking a doll might love to know if there were some dolls "like her". (Oh how I wish there were!). Granted, sadly, people are likely right about the motivation of the cashier, but I just like to have a little hope that people have better motivations than we give them credit for. I LOVE the daughter's response though. :) <3 One World, full of humans.
...so many commercials showing kids loving "dolls that look like ME!" is where I"m going. Not that a black girl SHOULD have a black doll or a white girl SHOULD have a white doll. I know from having children of my own that racial differentiation is learned not ingrained. It's just that adults kind of interfere with why a girl might want a doll LIKE her or UNLIKE her and make assumptions. I'm glad the girl was able to express herself.
Load More Replies...I remember being 5 and asking my mother why I couldn't have beautiful skin like Cynthia and the other girls I ate lunch with.
Of course color does matter! But it doesn't matter if you are black or white. The only color that matters is green.
My daughter's American Girl is American Indian & we had an elderly lady ask, "why she got a black doll?" I tried to convey that she love this doll no matter what!
see if we taugh our kids values like this, the world would be such a better place.
A few words from a child moved so many people. I think that says something positive about the world.
My first (second and third) barbies were all white with brown or blond hair...and I'm indian . I didn't even think that you had to have a doll that looked like you...the Indian dolls that came out much later had bindis and ethnic wear which I wasn't old enough to wear anyway -.- And the one brown doll I had had blond hair hahahaaha
Mom your doing such a great job and I'm excited your beautiful daughter has a voice of her own with so much sense at such a young tender age, which is the age that children act out what they are taught. This is apart of social skills and many people don't understand that our children are learning from every little thing we introduce to them. Thankyou so much mom for shaping a wonderful little girl who will be a productive social woman one day in the world so cold she will continue to make a difference may god bless your family
This is some social justice b******t. As a cashier myself, I can honestly say, we don't care what you buy. Also, the point of that brand of dolls, is you're supposed to get one that looks like you. of course, you don't have to, but it's kinda the point. That black doll, doesn't look like that white girl. I'm sorry, but I just can't do "colourblindness". It's there. There is a difference. I can see it.
Wow.....that's not the f*****g point of a doll. You're ignorant asf
Load More Replies...My son started 1st grade & began begging me to have his new best friend over. "Please mom! You will LOVE Stephon! He's just like me! We like the same stuff! We have Mario backpacks & love Nintendo and we love the old games best! Please mom! Can I have Stephon over?" It was endless. I told him that when I had a weekend off we could invite his friend over. Endless stories of how Braden (my son) and Stephon were "just like brothers". I finally had a weekend off & let the boys make plans. I spoke a bit with Stephon's mom, gave her directions to our home. When Stephon jumped out of the car with the same backpack as my kid; Braden proudly proclaimed , once again, loud and proud; "SEE MOM! Twins! We have the same bookbag and everything!" Stephon smiled so big & echoed "SEE MOM!" Stephon's chocolate complexion, black fade and coffee colored eyes. My son's blue eyes and floppy blonde hair in contrast, looking up at us (moms) with huge smiles. The boys 7 then, 13 now. Still brothers. <3
Good for you..You are the best mom ever..Children need to know it's OK to have friends that they like..Being there for them is the best thing you have done !
Load More Replies...My first doll (in 1988, Hungary) was an AFRICAN little girl. The FIRST! This is wonderful in a country which was a year before the end of communism!
I remember that one of my first doll was a Russian one, in traditional dress <3 and I also had a lot of dark-skinned dolls, back there in 2000, in Poland, when I was a little girl.
Load More Replies...When I turned 12, I was offered the gift of a doll by some family member, one brown skinned or one pale skinned doll. I had never seen a brown skinned one and choose that one because it looked beautiful. Actually I had never met any African people or any people from distant lands. My parents were horrified by this and sent me to a psychologist as thought something had to be abnormal with me. I went through 6 months of why brown, why did I think it was pretty. I am now 72 years old and I still have my doll as well as several more of all types, have been a wet nurse to a Kenyan baby why back in 1972 when living in Finland and having met a Kenyan woman in hospital and she didn't have milk and had to return to Moscow as a diplomat and left her baby with me for 6 months, I became his Godmother, I could write a book on comments feeding my red haired son and my godson with his black hair, some cruel, others naive.
My parents bought this doll for me in the German Democratic Republic in 1982. 2-58e3dacebb91c.jpg
My daughter had a Black cabbage patch doll. She got it when I had my son. She would breast feed when I breastfed. Children do not care about color. Its a beutiful thing that many adults still need to learn. That cashier was ignorant.
Have to say , I would have told the cashier to mind her own f*****g business.
Southerners are way too polite for that! Well, when they aren't being racist, that is.
Load More Replies...kids DO see color, because they have eyes that see colors. they just haven't been taught racism by society yet, so they accept people for being different from them
It's funny how people believe stories like this. If you think about it, what cashier would risk their JOB over some random little girl buying a doll that's not the same skin color as her? Most cashiers don't start conversations with their customers, they just want you to pay for your stuff and move on. Maybe sometimes cashiers will start small talk, but it's hardly worth risking a job to criticize what some little girl is getting. To add on, that 2 y/o must be some sort of genius, to know the word stethoscope, and even pronounce it correctly, much less understand the context in which they're using it. Also, I'm pretty sure that she got the doll because she looks like the new kids show on Disney Junior, Doc McStuffins, or something like that. If anything, this girl saw a doll that reminds her of a character she likes and chose her for that, not over her race. Maybe this is real, maybe not. I'm just saying, take this with a grain of salt. It may all be for those juicy Facebook likes.
Happened in SC...I live here and yes, I believe.
Load More Replies...I didn't like dolls but with 6 years I remembered I had sometimes the with all my darkbrown birthmarks would melt together and color in my hole skin. Kids think and see the world really different to us adults!
Um, actually it looks to me like this is a thing only because the girl was white and the doll was black. If it was the reverse I cannot imagine that anyone would be talking about it. Here is a tip: if you don't want your kids to grow up racist... don't be a racist.
What exactly is a potty graduation gift? That's the real travesty of this article
I never liked to play with dolls and I understood how lucky I was in my parents not forcing me to drop the Micromachines and play with dolls instead only when I grew up. This mom is raising a good person in a world that probably doesn't deserve her, but if there were more people like her, the world would be a better place.
This is THE sweetest thing I have ever seen and it it so inspirational and I hope the two little angels are having fun playing doctors,this really touched my heart,everyone is perfect,no matter what!💗💗💗😊😊😊:-D :-D :-D 😘
Sophia, you ARE a beautiful girl, inside and out! You will be an excellent doctor!
My white 7 year old boy when being told he was going to have a baby brother or sister said " if it's a boy can we call it Ben, if its girl can we call it Lyra and if it's got a brown face can we call it Janarf?" Did notice colour by this age but didn't matter to him.
One thing about Kids they don't see skin color..... The cashier should be fired but she did get schooled by a 2 tear old.
The kid is a doctor? At that age!? Let her live her life god dammit!
I'm 68 and male and heterosexual. For some reason I had a doll who was about the same shade of brown as Sophia's. I can barely recall it.
Why do we still look at skin color? We have different eye colors and we don´t think less about any of them... Or our hair color... or any other colored features that differentiate us from each other. I do not see how skin color makes us better or worse than anyone!!
I think that the cashier should be reported. Target does not like their employees that say things like that.
This is VERY contrived and possible staged or not really what happened. Mom is attention seeking, and it worked. On the other hand, I have had cashiers at various stores comment on purchases and prices of items and it is outrageously inappropriate. What you have chosen to buy, unless they are telling your about a coupon or something like that, is none of their business! I have had them say, "wow, that's expensive, I wouldn't buy that" — stuff like that. Well, on a cashier's salary probably not. But since I like the product and can well afford it, it's none of her business. (Almost always a female that does this.) Busybody syndrome, and their managers should be informed.
My cousin had a tranny doll. Dunno why but she loved her anyway. Kids don't understand racism and homophobia. They're thought to, sadly.
I can remember an experience like this when I was five. I could not understand what the difference was between me and my girl friend.
I think it's a heartening story. I'm just not so certain the cashier meant it the way people are taking it. If the little girl was black and the doll was white, people might be celebrating the cashier showing her some dolls that look like her. Or a disabled child picking a doll might love to know if there were some dolls "like her". (Oh how I wish there were!). Granted, sadly, people are likely right about the motivation of the cashier, but I just like to have a little hope that people have better motivations than we give them credit for. I LOVE the daughter's response though. :) <3 One World, full of humans.
...so many commercials showing kids loving "dolls that look like ME!" is where I"m going. Not that a black girl SHOULD have a black doll or a white girl SHOULD have a white doll. I know from having children of my own that racial differentiation is learned not ingrained. It's just that adults kind of interfere with why a girl might want a doll LIKE her or UNLIKE her and make assumptions. I'm glad the girl was able to express herself.
Load More Replies...I remember being 5 and asking my mother why I couldn't have beautiful skin like Cynthia and the other girls I ate lunch with.
Of course color does matter! But it doesn't matter if you are black or white. The only color that matters is green.
My daughter's American Girl is American Indian & we had an elderly lady ask, "why she got a black doll?" I tried to convey that she love this doll no matter what!
see if we taugh our kids values like this, the world would be such a better place.
A few words from a child moved so many people. I think that says something positive about the world.
My first (second and third) barbies were all white with brown or blond hair...and I'm indian . I didn't even think that you had to have a doll that looked like you...the Indian dolls that came out much later had bindis and ethnic wear which I wasn't old enough to wear anyway -.- And the one brown doll I had had blond hair hahahaaha
Mom your doing such a great job and I'm excited your beautiful daughter has a voice of her own with so much sense at such a young tender age, which is the age that children act out what they are taught. This is apart of social skills and many people don't understand that our children are learning from every little thing we introduce to them. Thankyou so much mom for shaping a wonderful little girl who will be a productive social woman one day in the world so cold she will continue to make a difference may god bless your family
This is some social justice b******t. As a cashier myself, I can honestly say, we don't care what you buy. Also, the point of that brand of dolls, is you're supposed to get one that looks like you. of course, you don't have to, but it's kinda the point. That black doll, doesn't look like that white girl. I'm sorry, but I just can't do "colourblindness". It's there. There is a difference. I can see it.
Wow.....that's not the f*****g point of a doll. You're ignorant asf
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