Grocery Store Policing: When TikTok Turns Food Stamps into Racist Commentary

Grocery Store Policing: When TikTok Turns Food Stamps into Racist Commentary

In the world of TikTok, it seems like every day there’s a new “hot take” that misses the mark completely. But lately, a disturbing trend has been gaining attention — white women making videos mocking people for using food stamps, and the not-so-subtle truth is that most of their anger is directed toward Black people.

One viral clip shows a white woman criticizing a Black couple’s grocery haul, suggesting that people on food stamps should only be allowed pre-selected “necessities” — as if joy, choice, or flavor should be reserved for the wealthy. Her tone dripped with superiority, and her “solution” was essentially to strip people of dignity by limiting what they can buy. Ironically, the Black woman she targeted wasn’t filling her cart with junk food; she was buying meat, fruits, grains, and vegetables. Still, that wasn’t enough to escape judgment.

What’s really going on here isn’t just about grocery lists or government benefits — it’s about control. It’s about people who feel entitled to decide what Black families deserve to eat. These TikToks reveal something deeper: a resentment toward seeing Black people living well, smiling, thriving, and yes — eating good food.

Let’s be honest: this so-called “concern” over tax dollars isn’t genuine. If it were, the outrage would be aimed at the billion-dollar corporations exploiting government contracts or the politicians who waste public funds. Instead, the outrage lands on the single mother buying grapes, or the Black couple buying salmon. Why? Because it’s easier for some people to police Black joy than to question systemic injustice.

The real problem isn’t food stamps. It’s the way society still feels the need to monitor and shame Black lives — right down to what’s in their shopping cart. These TikTok videos are modern-day echoes of an old narrative: that Black people should be grateful, quiet, and never appear too comfortable.

But here’s the truth — access to food is a human right, not a privilege. And enjoying good food doesn’t make anyone unworthy of help. What needs to end isn’t the use of food stamps; it’s the obsession with dictating how Black people live when they finally get to breathe a little easier.

Because the real issue isn’t what’s in the cart — it’s who’s pushing it.

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