Woman Blasts Hobby Lobby On Facebook For Selling Cotton Stalks

A Texas woman sparked debate on Facebook regarding apparent racial insensitivity after she blasted arts and crafts store Hobby Lobby for selling decorative cotton stalks. The post went viral and amassed over 200,000 comments and 94,000 reactions just days after being posted.

Daniell Rider, who is African-American, snapped a photo of faux cotton stalk arrangements Sept. 14 at a Hobby Lobby in Killeen, Texas. She claimed the product was offensive to black people and posted her argument on Facebook.

"This decor is WRONG on SO many levels," Daniell Rider argued on Facebook, along with an image of the fake stalks.

"There is nothing decorative about raw cotton. A commodity which was gained at the expense of African-American slaves," she added. "A little sensitivity goes a long way. PLEASE REMOVE THIS 'decor.'"

The replica cotton stalks sold for $6.99 to $15.99 online and up to $29.99 in stores, according to Hobby Lobby’s website.

"Offer your space a touch of natural beauty with Cotton Bouquet," a product description read. "This realistic floral arrangement is wrapped in brown paper with clusters of soft cotton buds on individual stems. Place it in a vase with other stems for a stunning, long-lasting centerpiece without the pesky water!"

Rider’s stance on the issue sparked debate over racial insensitivity, though it seemed most users defended the store.

"People are too sensitive," Pam Asbridge Reeder commented Saturday on Facebook. "My mother picked cotton in Alabama as a young child. We are white as rice!! Get over yourself Daniell Rider. If it wasn't for that cotton, you might just be stuck in Africa without the opportunities or privileges you have as an American. Did you EVER think about that? Not all slave owners were bad just as not all whites are bad. Some slave owners actually deeded land and homes to slaves and their families."

"This is crazy. Cotton is a fact of life," another user said. "People still pick it. That happened 150 years ago. Slaves also picked tobacco, harvested rice and many other things. We can’t just get rid of them. Wel, Lowe’s sells chains and rope. You think they should get rid of that too?"

This is the second time that decretive cotton stalks sparked uproar this week. Lipscomb University president Randy Lowry, who is white, apologized to black students after they visited his home and became incensed by cotton stalk centerpieces he displayed on his table. The incident also sparked online debate regarding the history of slavery and its connection to cotton.

The southern town of Killen, where Rider spotted the cotton ornaments, is 45 percent white and 33 percent black, according to population database Area Connect. However, the area struggled with issues regarding race. Someone circulated flyers, which promoted the Loyal White Knights chapter of the Ku Klux Klan Tuesday in the Lake Crest neighborhood, the Killeen Daily Herald reported.

"Most groups out there and especially white people are too cowardly to stand up for their heritage because they are scared of being called a 'racist,'" one of the fliers read. "If you yourself hate American history we would kindly ask you to get out of America!"