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Smoochr Site for Black Singles Accused of Promoting ‘Slave Complex’ in Community

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)
Smoochr.com

Smoochr.com

A Black dating website has stirred controversy for its reliance on superficial filters for finding a potential suitor. Smoochr has been around at least since Memorial Day weekend, according to their Instagram account, but it wasn’t until Sunday night that it began to pick up steam on Twitter.

Founded by Larry Kenebrew Jr., the official website says users can find Black singles by “complexion, hair type and more.” By joining, individuals can choose their kind of hair type with options like natural hair, locks, weave and “rather not say.” Men can display whether or not they have a beard.

Users can choose from a set of skin tones to describe themselves, which include descriptions like caramel, vanilla and pecan.

Besides skin color, “thick” and “ripped” are other options for physical traits. Users can also filter whether or not they would like to date single parents and how many partners they have children with.

A description of the site criticizes other Black dating sites for not focusing on the Black experience. It explains Smoochr is different by allowing users to connect with potential partners who have different belief systems like Rastafarianism and African spirituality. The “Views” feature lets users answer “moral questions that are relevant to the Black experience.”

https://twitter.com/connichameleon/status/757424468310364161

Black Twitter has voiced disapproval of the website for many of its superficial filters.

@missodessa criticized it for passing judgment on women of color.

https://twitter.com/missodessa/status/757451817911406592

Parody account African Dad referenced Rachel Dolezal in its tweet. The Montana native gained notoriety last year for claiming to be trans-racial by going from white to Black.

One user did not approve of a ‘Hotep’ filter.

 

Zu’Lah Noni said the filter is reason enough for the site to go for good.

https://twitter.com/artsygalzulah/status/757431257324216320

On the site’s Facebook page, the Black community continues to condemn it.

Shawna Sams said anyone who signs up “should be ashamed.”

Ayan Mahdi questioned Smoochr’s “slave complex.”

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