Angry Patron Sparks Viral Cotton Controversy (Photos)

A woman’s response to the use of cotton as a decoration went viral.

The controversy began when Daniell Rider posted on Hobby Lobby’s Facebook page to complain about the cotton decorations they were selling.

“This decor is WRONG on SO many levels. There is nothing decorative about raw cotton… A commodity which was gained at the expense of African-American slaves,” Rider wrote in the post. “A little sensitivity goes a long way. PLEASE REMOVE THIS ‘decor.’”

The next day, Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, issued a statement from their president after he invited African-American students over to his home and they noticed a cotton centerpiece on his table.

“Last night we invited Lipscomb African American students to our home for dinner to discuss their experiences at Lipscomb. Several students shared with me their concern about the material used for centerpieces which contained stalks of cotton,” President Randy Lowry wrote in the statement. “The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity. I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness.”

Following the controversy, Facebook user Frank Jones took to his page to share his thoughts on the matter — posting a since-deleted photo of a group of white people picking cotton.

“This is for all those black college kids who were so offended by the cotton centerpiece. My guess is not a single one has ever been in a cotton field,” Jones wrote, Western Journalism reported.

“Well folks this is what it looks like to crop cotton. Grew up doing this. Started picking cotton at age 6. Worked our farm and worked for neighbors farms. Did I mention some were black? Didn’t matter when you had to get the crop in. All by hand so we helped each other. Black and white we worked together, ate together and shared the same water jug.”

Many readers applauded Jones for his post, despite the backlash surrounding the two cotton-related incidents.

“My family also grew up picking cotton and any other crop available. They were sharecroppers, they all worked together black or white. Crops were crops to these people,” one Mad World News reader commented on the site’s Facebook page.

“Give this poor unfortunate soul counseling paid for by you and I. This is totally stupid. Get real America get our country back from the cry babies. This a result of all getting a trophy for showing up,” another wrote.

“Get a life people. I mean a real life without all the bs!! ENOUGH! My great grand parents on down the line through my grand children have ever owned a slave. My generation on up to my great grand parents worked in the fields. Cotton, produce whatever we had to do to be able to have a roof over our heads and food to eat. ENOUGH!” another added.

Sources: Daniell Rider/Facebook, Lipscomb University/Facebook, Frank Jones/Facebook via Western Journalism, Mad World News/Facebook / Featured Image: S Aziz123/Wikimedia Commons / Embedded Images: Daniell Rider/Facebook, Frank Jones/Facebook via Western Journalism