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They Don't Deserve Us: Black Women Refused from London Club for Being 'Too Dark'

Racism is not a problem just Black Americans face. Our cousins in Europe are quite often facing similar disrespect because of their skin color. On Sat. Sept. 26, a group of Black women in London say they were turned away from DSTRKT nightclub, a popular venue that has hosted the likes of Jay Z and Rihanna, according to The Voice.

Racism is not just a problem Black Americans face. Our cousins in Europe often face similar disrespect because of their skin color. On Sat., Sept. 26, a group of Black women in London say they were turned away from DSTRKT nightclub, a popular venue that has hosted the likes of Jay Z and Rihanna, according to The Voice.
If this case is true, it is interesting that a club would book Black artists and play music made by Black artists to draw attendees for their monetary benefit, but when it comes to Black patrons, there is a limit or "caliber" they must meet in order to gain entry. Actress Zalika Miller told The Voice she and her friends were not allowed inside because a door girl thought one her friends was "too dark" and the other was "too fat." 

"The promoter went to the door girl and asked why she wasn’t letting us in and she just said, ‘I don’t think they’re good looking enough," said Miller. Following the incident, she called for a protest outside of the establishment this week, using the hashtag #DoIlookDstrkt

"This has become a lot bigger than we expected, and some may ask why? But if it wasn't for the people in the past making a stand, we'd still be seated at the back of the bus," wrote Millz in her Instagram post.
A white promoter named Brooke Norton also spoke out, saying that she had once invited Black friends and was told by upper-level staff not to "invite as many" Black girls the next time.

“I work for DSTRKT, I promote in DSTRKT, on Friday when I was working at DSTRKT I actually took my personal friends and put them on my table. There [were] two white girls in the queue in front of us and they got in for free but they made my black friends pay to get in," wrote Norton, according to The Voice.
The venue issued a statement denying any wrongdoing Thursday and said that the club was filled to capacity and that attendees who have complained needed to book in advance. "DSTRKT restaurant and club has launched a thorough investigation into this alleged event and found that at no stage did any of the DSTRKT staff [say] to the women they were not to be allowed in on any basis of their skin colour or size," they claimed. 
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(Photo: Zalika Miller via Instagram)

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