Ballerina Misty Copeland has been slammed for starting a petition to add more inclusive shades of color to the traditional pink Apple ballet shoe emoji.
The 41-year-old dancer and first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater, created a petition last month on Change.org with the caption: ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple Needs More Shades for The Ballet Shoe.’
She posted about the petition to her 1.8 million Instagram followers sharing that ballet started in 15th century Italy for the white elite and shoes are pink to match fair skin color.
‘Fortunately, ballet shoe companies are beginning to embrace diversity by offering pointe shoes in various shades. Yet, when I use Apple’s pointe shoe emoji, I only see European Pink,’ she wrote, in part.
‘In an era where Apple showcases diversity across its emoji spectrum, why is the pointe shoe left behind?’ This petition isn’t just about an emoji. It’s about ensuring the art of ballet, in all its forms, celebrates every dancer’s story and shade.
As of Saturday afternoon, the petition has garnered 22,343 signatures towards their goal of 25,000.
But, many are hitting back at the accomplished dancer of seeing racism where it doesn’t exist: ‘You are creating a racist-pseudo problem,’ The New York Post reported.
Ballerina Misty Copeland, 41, has been slammed for starting a petition to add more inclusive shades of color to the traditional pink Apple ballet shoe emoji
Copeland, is the first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater, created a petition last month on Change.org with the caption: ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple Needs More Shades for The Ballet Shoe’
A photo of the Apple emjoi of a pair of European pink ballet colored pointe shoes
Others quipped: ‘It’s an emoji, good grief,’ and ‘Pink isn’t a skin color.’
While another person expressed their angst and the reason to why they were not signing.
‘I’m not signing because there is a lot more important causes to fight for other than shoe color,’ they wrote.
‘I’m sorry but immigrants are raped and beaten on their journey here, wars and famine cross the globe and shoes? Really?’
But, many supporters were in favor of the change and expressed their viewpoint.
‘It’s important to see ballet shoes that represent ALL the beautiful men & women who dance in them today!!!,’ one person wrote.
Another said: ‘Diversity is important. Do better Apple! And what about Android? They need to do better too!’
One person, who signed the petition, wrote in part: ‘Do better Apple. Android too.’
Copeland wrote a call to action for those supporting her cause. ‘Join me in addressing this by signing this petition and urging Apple and Unicode to introduce a spectrum of shades for the pointe shoe emoji,’ she wrote.
‘Every signature brings us one step closer to a world where ballet, both on the stage and in digital spaces, reflects all of us.’
On the petition, the elite dancer shared her journey in ballet that she described has been filled with ‘moments of triumph and challenge.’
‘One of those challenges was the ubiquitous ‘European Pink’ pointe shoe, a shade that didn’t reflect my skin tone,’ she said.
‘Time and time again, I found myself coloring my pointe shoes, striving for a match closer to my own shade. It was a constant reminder of the subtle ways dancers of color have not been included.’
Copeland performs onstange during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in January 2020
Copeland is see holding the ballet barre in the studio
Copeland started the petition ‘Let’s Make a Pointe! Apple Needs More Shades for The Ballet Shoe’ on Change.org dated September 21 that has garnered more than 22,000 signatures
Copeland responded to someone who was supporting her cause
Other ways she asked people to help is to share their mission on social media with #MakeAPointe and tag @mistyonpointe on Instagram or @mistycopeland on TikTok.
She said, ‘encourage your circle to advocate for this overdue change.’
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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