Victor Chavarria (photo via Facebook)
A viral image caught the attention of the Internet when a photo was posted of Black figures draped in white hanging by cords on a porch in Minnesota. The homeowner said it was not purposely done and apologized for “offending” people.
Victor Chavarria a Mexican immigrant and piñata maker, received major backlash and death threats after a photo caused waves of outrage among people on social media who exclaimed the image as insulting and racially insensitive. However, the figures maker claimed the piñatas were made for a multi-racial wedding and that he hung the dolls outside so the paint would dry in the sun. Chavarria continued with an explanation of how Hispanics view piñatas.
“We want to teach our children to reach for the goodness inside, regardless of the shape,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “The birthday kid usually chooses a liked character such spider man or a Disney princess. In this case, i was making piñatas for a wedding, that happened to include Caucasian, Latino and African American groom and bridesmaids.
It is unfortunate that many were offended with something unfamiliar to them.”
Nevertheless, Chavarria issued an apology and the photo has since been taken down.
“I deeply apologize. Effectively immediately, I changed my processes. I wouldn’t do anything to offend anybody, they gave me my feedback and of course, I listen,” Chavarria told MPR News in an interview Monday. “I’m here to serve the community, not the opposite, and I am deeply sorry.”
His neighbors who rode past Chavarria’s home were not only appalled by the visual by also deeply disturbed.
“I was a little upset about it,” said Candace Thurman, who lives nearby and waited for the school bus to arrive for her young son Monday morning. “I just thought it was really inappropriate.”
Thurman explained the doll hangings reminded her of slavery and lynching victims. “It just brought back memories, from slavery,” she told the news source. “It just looked bad.”
Chavarria said he’s fully aware of slavery and the racial violence that occurred in the United States and understand why the display sparked anger for some.
“They have a point… Perception is reality for people and I have to be very careful and sensitive to my community, and I deeply apologize to anybody who got offended. My processes changed immediately, and I won’t dry piñatas on my porch anymore,” the maker said.
However, people can’t see how Chavarria didn’t find it offensive and are still upset about the visual:
