Someone shared a conversation with emerging Instagram model Zainab Raza and we are shocked. Zainab was seen defending the use of the ‘N-word’ and we’re really not OK with this.
Just when you think 2020 might be the year that people could become more sensitive and progressive, something like this happens. What’s worse than a public figure blatantly justifying racism as ‘having an open mind’?
It all started when a Twitter user came forward:
told zainab raza to stop using the n-word and her reply😳😳😳 kinda wanna expose that racist piece of shit.
— cyberpunk (@translucennt) December 27, 2019
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That’s when people encouraged him to expose her.
ufff expose her she's problematic af
— spicy tuna roll (@tumharimaki) December 27, 2019
do it .
— god’s favourite little darling (@BeghairatAurat) December 27, 2019
do it
— ⍨ (@stforrkup) December 27, 2019
This is how the conversation between a Twitter user and Zainab Raza landed in everyone’s Twitter feed.
how can someone be so fucking stupid i can't– 😭😭 https://t.co/E4sp1St8WQ pic.twitter.com/LNmJYG2upX
— cyberpunk (@translucennt) December 27, 2019
Social Media Reactions
People then discussed how flawed and irrational the model’s justifications were. Zainab says that not using the N-word means you have a ‘closed mentality’?
https://twitter.com/umairkdst/status/1210802388224757760
Apparently, as per the leaked screehshots, we see Zainab Raza really justify using the N-word with the classic excuse:
“It’s okay because my black friends don’t get offended.”
https://twitter.com/raisevoice0/status/1210875888952397824
There is actually a right way to approach the issue.
Bruh I have African friends, I've never ever used the n word around them, even though I know they won't get offended. Chapair lagao iss burger larki ke mun par. Zor ki. And just because Jay Z and 50 Cent have the n word in their songs doesn't mean you gotta sing along to it
— zeynab (@discothecc) December 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheGingerGirl__/status/1211398214773039107
Things didn’t just end here. Zainab justifed her position by saying that ‘white people do it too.’ Don’t take it from white folks if it’s okay to use the N-word, because anyone who reads history will tell you that white people themselves invented the racial slur.
i posted about this on facebook and two W H I T E men tried to say saying the N word isn’t racist i–
— فجر (@fajarzahra_) December 27, 2019
The ‘other people do it too’ argument didn’t sit well with netizens.
https://twitter.com/kaghazkajahaz/status/1210809636938403842
https://twitter.com/jaaneammi/status/1210734545563111425
No one’s getting over the ‘listen to rap music’ rationale.
Zain pehley aap RAP suno. Wtf 🤣🤣
— HenryRegen_14 (@SonOfAnarchy_14) December 28, 2019
she said do u listen to rap pls IM SCREAMING
— ell (@voidvirgo) December 28, 2019
Bhai ap rap to suno na
— Gobi Faizi (@Gobi_Faizi) December 28, 2019
Some mentioned how this casual racism actually stems from ignorance. Then again an insta-model can surely use the Internet to read up on the subject after being called out.
https://twitter.com/TheGingerGirl__/status/1211398655590256642
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That’s when people brought up how this wouldn’t be the first time ill-informed choices landed Zainab Raza in hot water.
Didn’t she defend tf out of her buddy Ukhano lollll
Do you really expect better from Lahori socialites?— Safa Imran (@notsafaimran) December 27, 2019
Yeah I remember that
— zeynab (@discothecc) December 28, 2019
The distasteful ‘burger larki’ comments might have been harsh.
She's just your standard burger larki, no personality at all
— zeynab (@discothecc) December 28, 2019
How does one get away with this for so long?
She's some sort of model
— zeynab (@discothecc) December 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/maryemIsDead/status/1210654657498034177
Since we are here, it should be mentioned that everyday Pakistanis also have no qualms with casual racism. The problem lies not with Zainab only but in all of us. From Pathan jokes to slurs used for religious minorities and trans-people, we have to go a long way to unlearn problematic terms.
While many Pakistanis do not call out racism in their own society, it is important to admit that we do have a problem. We can learn from this incident, and strive to do better.
