Allie Dowdle, shown along with her boyfriend, defined as Michael Swift, posted this photo on her GoFundMe web page (picture: Allie Dowdle’s gofundme page)
After an Eads teenager utilized a crowdfunding web web site to accuse her parents of racism over her black colored boyfriend, supporters have actually contributed almost $35,000 to fund her educational costs.
Allie Dowdle, 18, that is white and a senior in the Hutchison class, posted her GoFundMe plea online on Jan. 11, and scarcely seven days later, contributors have actually raised $34,675, far surpassing the goal that is original collection of $10,000.
However the crowdfunding web web site plus the teenager’s story of woe have not been without controversy.
This started, Dowdle penned, about this past year whenever she informed her moms and dads, Bill and Demetra Dowdle, that she had been Michael that is dating Swift. Swift, that is black, is a previous soccer standout at Memphis University class whom now plays midfield and ahead as a freshman at Clemson University. Their dad is Michael Swift, whom spent four years into the NFL utilizing the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars together with San Diego Chargers.
“we revealed my moms and dads their image, in addition to discussion had been over before it also started,” Dowdle wrote. “My dad failed to offer me personally an alternative: he said that I became perhaps not permitted to see Michael again. Why? Strictly because of skin tone. It absolutely wasn’t a peaceful “no,” either. I’ll never ever your investment yelling my moms and dads did, if they expressed how disappointed they certainly were that I could do so much better,” she wrote in me.
Dowdle proceeded to see Swift in key, she had written, but about four weeks görmek ago she shared with her moms and dads they certainly were nevertheless dating. Based on Dowdle, her moms and dads then took away her phone, automobile and cash after which declined to cover university. Dowdle included that she ended up being nevertheless living in the home, though.
Phone and message telephone calls left when it comes to Dowdle family members weren’t came back. Reached at their Collierville house early in the day this week, the elder Swift additionally declined to comment. Bill Dowdle runs a sporting that is local company, Dowdle Sports.
Nonetheless, Bill Dowdle talked towards the nyc regular Information early in the day, stating that their child “dating a black guy may not be his ‘preference’ due to ‘issues’ a part of biracial dating when you look at the South,” the paper said.
“It ended up being never ever about battle,” the paper quoted Dowdle as saying, incorporating that their child’s remarks are “a reason and gave her the ethical high ground.”
Dowdle stated he disapproved of Swift and another of his child’s boyfriends because she began dating them secretly. Dowdle included which he made a decision to cut her college money off because she’s got been ruined and “it became apparent that she needed seriously to head out on earth and develop,” the paper penned.
Even though many of these whom contributed cash have actually congratulated Allie Dowdle on her behalf stand against racism, others have actually questioned whether which is actually just just exactly what this woman is doing.
“You are not eligible for an education that is free you are dating a black colored man,” a female known as Ashlyn Rae posted on Twitter. Another Twitter individual, Marissa Kizer, stated, “Sending a rich white girl to university is certainly not racism that is fighting. Simply go to a cheaper college.”
Charles McKinney can be a professor that is associate Rhodes university and manager of the college’s Africana studies system. He praised Dowdle’s stance against racism, but in addition stated he discovered the city’s a reaction to her plea intriguing.
“This thing moved viral. Thats a testament to her courageous stance against racism,” McKinney stated. “Were proficient at pinpointing these specific stances against prejudice. The main reason that there clearly was therefore much blowback is this is what we constantly have a tendency to do. We have a tendency to glorify individual stances while we perpetually ignore cases of institutional racism.”
However when asked if he will be thinking about donating to Dowdle, McKinney possessed an answer that is quick.
“No. вЂCause shes gonna be okay. Allies going to be fine. This really is unfortunate as well as its bad. But its offensive to claim that of all cases of racism we’re able to get in Memphis, Tennessee, here is the one which individuals should give cash to,” he stated. “this can be regrettable that it has occurred to her, but Im more thinking about the reaction to this tale, exactly just how its being spun whilst the community rallying round the regrettable target of racism. In community where African-Americans are disproportionately underemployed, less educated and poorer … and also this could be the tale that bubbles as much as the most notable. So what does that say about us?”