Necessary Clothing Manager Didn’t Hire A Black Teen Because She Was ‘Too Dark’

A 17-year-old teen residing in the concert jungle where dreams are made of was refused a job at Necessary Clothing after she was told she was ‘too dark’ to work there. The New York teen, Mali D’Janite says she is a student in need of a job. With sales associate experience she wanted to work at one of her favorite stores located in the Soho area where she shopped regularly.

“I’ve shopped at Necessary Clothing for years and have always loved their clothes,” Mali said in an exclusive interview with BET. “I recently moved back to New York City after living in Phoenix with my mother for the last couple of years.”

She said she was caught off guard when the assistant manager, Natou Diallo, told her that the store manager said she was ‘too dark’ for the position, especially coming from her own people.

“I was in shock and confused. I called my mother right away in tears. I’ve been discriminated against by Caucasians before, especially living in Phoenix and attuning school with mostly Caucasians, but hearing it from a black man, and an African at that was horrific!”

The manager told the New York Post that he never said that, “She’s my sister, why should I do that?”

Mali took to Instagram the same day she was told she was ‘too dark’ for the position to file a complaint with Necessary Clothing. Mali says she wants to help others who may go through a similar situation, “I’ve never been insecure about my skin color. I love my people and I love everything about myself. This isn’t a call for help, this is a call for justice.”

Mali post on IG reads:

I Recently Just Moved Back To NYC To Begin My Dance Career But As I’m Still A Student, I Need To Work . I’ve Been Applying For Retail Jobs EveryWhere Because I’ve Got Great Retail Experience & Have Been Awarded For My Sales & Etc . I Finally Took Action To Go In Stores & Inquire About Employment . I Came Across Necessary Clothing, Where The Assistant Manager Was Instantly Eager To Give Me A Job, & Told Me To Come Back With A Resume & Speak Directly With The Store Manager . I Went Back The Next Day With A Resume, & I Spoke To The Manager Across The Street Whom Was A DarkSkin African Man . He Read Over My Resume Right In Front Of Me & Said We’re Not Hiring . Those Who Shop In Soho Know That Necessary Clothing’s Stores Are Directly Across The Street From One Another, I Walked Back Across The Street To Speak With The Assistant Manager & She Tells Me He Called Over To Tell Her I’m “ Too DarkSkin “ To Work There . I’m Not One To Put My Business Out There, But Colorism Is Real Especially Within Our Own People & It’s Hurtful . I Deal With Racism From Other Races, But To Hear That From A African Person Is Disgusting To Me . I’ve Never Been Insecure About My Skin Color . I Love My People & I Love EveryThing About Myself . This Isn’t A Call For Help, This Is A Call For Justice . @necessaryclothing I’ve Been Shopping At Your Store For Years & I Could Say You Really Lost A Customer Today . #ColorisimIn2018 #BoyCottNecessaryClothing #Discrimination

Mali told BET after she spoke with someone who said they would pass on the complaint to the store she never heard back from anyone. She says the online store offered her a position at their LA location. She says although she needs a job she will not be working for that company, “I refuse to work for a racist brand.”

The beautiful and bold New York teen says her parents encouraged others to speak out on the situation and she wants people to continue to use their voice for the better. “Social media is a powerful tool in 2018, and we don’t have to tolerate racism, nor it’s ugly child colorism. We can’t let companies get away with their racist hiring practices.”

Source: BET.com, Mali D’Janite Instagram @mazismazi