Allie Dowdle, shown together with her boyfriend, recognized as Michael Swift, posted this photo on the GoFundMe web page (picture: Allie Dowdle’s gofundme web web page)
After an Eads teenager utilized a crowdfunding web site to accuse her parents of racism over her black colored boyfriend, supporters have actually added nearly $35,000 to cover her expenses.
Allie Dowdle, 18, that is white and a senior during 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 set of $10,000.
However the crowdfunding web site in addition to teenager’s story of woe have not been without debate.
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, who is black colored, is just a previous soccer standout at Memphis University class whom now plays midfield and ahead as a freshman at Clemson University. Their daddy is Michael Swift, whom invested four years into the NFL aided by the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars while the San Diego Chargers.
“we revealed my moms and dads their photo, together with discussion was over before it also started,” Dowdle wrote. “My dad didn’t provide me personally a choice: he explained that I became perhaps perhaps not permitted to see Michael again. Why? Strictly because of skin tone. It absolutely wasn’t a peaceful “no,” either. I’ll most likely never your 
investment yelling my moms and dads did, once 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 penned, but about 30 days ago she informed her moms and dads these were still dating. Relating to Dowdle, her moms and dads then took away her phone, automobile and cash then declined to cover university. Dowdle included that she had been nevertheless residing in the home, however.
Phone and message phone phone calls left when it comes to Dowdle family members are not came back. Reached at his Collierville house earlier in the day this the elder Swift also declined to comment week. Bill Dowdle runs a neighborhood sports company, Dowdle Sports.
Nevertheless, Bill Dowdle spoke towards the ny regular News early in the day, stating that their child “dating a man that is black never be his ‘preference’ due to ‘issues’ a part of biracial relationship within the South,” the paper said.
“It was never ever about competition,” the paper quoted Dowdle as saying, including that their child’s remarks are “a reason and gave her the ethical high ground.”
Dowdle stated he disapproved of Swift and another of their child’s boyfriends them secretly because she started dating. Dowdle included which he chose to cut her college money off because she’s got been ruined and “it became apparent that she had a need to venture out on the planet and develop,” the paper had written.
While many of those whom contributed cash have actually congratulated Allie Dowdle on her behalf stand against racism, other people have actually questioned whether that is actually what she actually is doing.
“You are not eligible for a free of charge education because 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 woman to university is certainly not racism that is fighting. Simply head to a less expensive college.”
Charles McKinney can be a connect teacher at Rhodes university and manager of this 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 determining these stances that are individual prejudice. The reason why that there was clearly therefore much blowback is this is exactly what we constantly have a tendency to do. We have a tendency to glorify stances that are individual we perpetually ignore cases of institutional racism.”
However when expected if he will be thinking about donating to Dowdle, McKinney had an answer that is quick.
“No. вЂCause shes gonna be OK. Allies going to be fine. This might be regrettable as well as its bad. But its unpleasant to declare that of all of the cases of racism we’re able to get in Memphis, Tennessee, this is actually the one which individuals should offer cash to,” he stated. “this really is regrettable that this has occurred to her, but Im alot more enthusiastic about the reaction to this tale, exactly just how its being spun while the community rallying round the victim that is unfortunate of. In a grouped community where African-Americans are disproportionately underemployed, less educated and poorer … and also this is the tale that bubbles as much as the very best. Just what does that say about us?”