Children’s content creator Rachel Anne Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, has repeatedly used her celebrity status to advocate for children of all races.
Accurso, 43, rose to prominence by creating kid-friendly, educational videos. She now has more than 21 million YouTube subscribers and 12 million TikTok followers.
She once again stepped up to help a Connecticut couple who believed their child faced racial discrimination at a local library’s puppet show.
As one of the platform’s most popular YouTubers, Ms. Rachel could have rested on being an on-screen educator. But the mother of two continues to fight against bigotry.
The Maine native has championed freeing children from ICE detention centers in America and Children’s Relief Funds.
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On Oct. 6, a 21-year-old Black man named Micah Whitaker shared a TikTok clip that has since spread across the internet.
It shows a white Darien Library employee seemingly passing over Whitaker’s one-year-old toddler and his mother, Jae-Lin Reid, at the event.
According to the father, the puppeteer ignored his son for several minutes. In the clip shared online, the library employee can be seen repeatedly failing to acknowledge the boy.
The employee interacted with multiple white children.
Meanwhile, the Black toddler and his mother waited patiently for their turn to engage with the green-and-blue hand puppet.
“Are we wrong for [feeling] this way? She clearly [saw] our son multiple times,” Whitaker wrote. “Every child deserves to feel SEEN. Every child deserves to feel INCLUDED. EVERY CHILD MATTERS.”
He concluded his message by adding, “This woman seen in the video works at the Darien Library, and what happened left us deeply hurt and questioning why our son was treated differently.”
Whitaker’s video racked up more than six million views and 28,000 comments on TikTok. Ms. Rachel joined others in sharing their thoughts on the concerning situation.
“I’d be so honored to meet your little boy, and he can meet Herbie any time (our puppet). I’ll message you!” Ms. Rachel posted in Whitaker’s comment section.
In addition, Ms. Rachel reportedly donated $3,000 to a GoFundMe created by Whitaker.
The fundraiser’s description called what should have been a “happy memory” a “heartbreaking moment” for the young child.
“The hope is to use the support from this fundraiser to take him and the family to Disney World, where he can experience the joy, magic, and excitement every child deserves,” read the GoFundMe statement.
It resumed, “More than anything, Micah wants this little boy to be surrounded by love and reminded that one hurtful experience does not define who he is or what the world can hold for him.”
As of press time, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $4,000. Other social media users also backed Whitaker and defended his frustration over his family’s disheartening experience.
Former Disney Channel child star Skai Jackson commented, “Wow… unbelievable.” Jackson, 24, is best known for playing Zuri Ross on the Disney Channel comedy series “Jessie.”
Non-celebrities weighed in, too. One troubled commenter stated, “Genuinely so sorry. Ugh, I wish I could hold and love on all the babies.”
“I emailed seven women from the board at the library, we don’t play when it comes to the babies,” another person declared in response to Micah’s son being treated unfairly by the library employee because of his skin color.
Yet another angered commenter posted, “So disgusting. Who can we call or speak to? This makes me so angry. [You’re] not trippin’.”
On Oct. 14, the Stanford Advocate ran an article covering the Darien Library’s response to the backlash stemming from Whitaker’s video.
Darien Library Director Kiera Parrott said the library was taking the matter “incredibly seriously.” The employee was placed on paid administrative leave while the library’s board hired an independent law firm to investigate the incident.
“Our library is committed to being a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for every patron, especially our youngest patrons and their families and caregivers,” the director told the outlet.
Both parents spoke to Parrott over the phone and received an apology.
Whitaker told the outlet, “I’m happy that they are doing their investigation. Hopefully, they do their due diligence. It’s definitely a step forward.”
@takethewillmike 💔 AS PARENTS , THIS BROKE OUR HEARTS. (PLEASE WATCH AND SHARE ) Please watch the full video and tell us what you think. Are we wrong for feelings this way ? She clearly seen our son multiple times. Every child deserves to feel SEEN. Every child deserves to feel INCLUDED. EVERY CHILD MATTERS. This woman seen in the video works at the Darien Library , and what happened left us deeply hurt and questioning why our son was treated differently. #DarienCT #darienlibrary #everychildmatters #fyp #viraltiktok ♬ original sound – Micah