Kennedy Synclaire, a Black TikTok user known online as shopsecondhand, has posted a video showcasing a shocking experience at an estate sale.
Racist Items Were Everywhere
Upon arriving at the sale, Kennedy quickly realized it was going to be a horrible experience; minstrel figurines and racist paintings of Black people holding watermelons were being sold. Kennedy’s video also shows a White woman holding one of the items.
Kennedy Was Shocked
Kennedy was appalled. “Nothing could’ve prepared me for what I walked into at this estate sale,” she wrote in her video’s overlay text. In the video’s caption, Kennedy explained that none of the racist items had been included in the sale’s online preview. “Never get too comfortable living in Alabama,” she also wrote.
The TikToker Posted a Follow-Up
After the success of her initial video, Kennedy posted a follow-up where she explained that the online preview had shown American flags, farmhouse objects, and cowboy boots. She described the experience in more detail, explaining that she’d been exploring the house to see what else was for sale. Then, when she saw the racist items and realized people were actually buying them, she froze.
She Described Herself as “Shook”
Kennedy went on to explain that she knows the woman who was hosting the sale and wished she’d warned her that it wasn’t a safe space for a Black woman. She said: “I was shook. These people were, like, ransacking this house for this stuff. There’s no way I’m in 2023.”
Despite the Horrible Experience, Kennedy Did Buy Some Items
Despite the awful experience, Kennedy bought purses, belts, and a pair of shoes from the sale – items she claimed should’ve been free, due to the amount of stress and trauma she went through. Her initial video now has over 6 million views.
Commenters Were Just as Shocked as Kennedy
Kennedy’s audience was just as shocked as she, with many expressing sympathy and apologizing on behalf of the sale’s organizers despite having nothing to do with it. One person wrote: “I feel like you should’ve bought all of it because we don’t want it in the wrong hands. I really don’t know what I mean by that but it’s a feeling.”
Others Wanted More Info
Some commenters wanted more information, such as what the White people at the sale were saying about the items. “I just want to hear the conversations around you while people are looking,” one person wrote. “I wish you told us what all the White people were saying about that stuff,” another said.
Media Outlets Reported on the Video
Kennedy’s video was shared across social media and it wasn’t long before media outlets reported on the story. Unfortunately, commenters weren’t as understanding as Kennedy’s audience. “You can take pretty much anything and make it into a negative if that’s how you wish to see it,” one person said. “Says someone who has no idea of the racist implications of the artifacts being sold,” another replied.
Some People Weren’t Surprised
Some people weren’t surprised at all by the items. One person wrote: “Those items should not shock anyone born in the United States of America. Those items reflect the wickedness in the hearts of mankind during those early years. Today, it is hidden in three-button suits and dresses with Congressional and Senator pins affixed to their lapels.”
Others Defended the Presence of the Racist Items
Some people, while acknowledging that the items are not okay, defended their presence at the sale. One person wrote: “If it was an estate sale, the previous owners may have been 90 years old or more. Those items were not uncommon back then. Not to say that they’re appropriate – but really old people have some weird stuff.”
International Commenters Were Confused
Given the reputation of southern states, some international commenters were confused. One person wrote: “But you Live in Alabama. Why were you so shocked? There are very few places in America that I care to visit [and] the south leads the pack for me.”
Others Claimed the Items Aren’t Racist
Many commenters claimed the items are historical, not racist. “They are not racist. They are historical. Oprah Winfrey has a collection of these things and she would have snagged them all! A collection like this is priceless,” one person wrote. “Believe it or not, two Black people are allowed to have different opinions and it’s not a White person’s job to decide who’s right. Also, they’re racist and historical. They can be both. Black and white thinking will be the downfall of humanity,” another replied.
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