When Angela Moss was a dumb 18-year-old, she shared some stupid opinions about poor people. Specifically, that they shouldn’t be able to use the same beaches as her in Rio de Janeiro. “I am horrified to look at this people,” Moss said in a documentary that was filmed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, “and think they are from the same country as I am.”
She added, “They are not Brazilians. They are a sub-race.” How charming.
The clip recently went viral on Facebook, where it’s been watched more than 1 million times. Most of the comments were along the lines of, “I’m ashamed to live in the same country [with] people like that,” but one stood out: Angela Moss’. She came across the clip, and left a lengthy post explaining that, yup, she was an idiot and deserves your hate. But she’s different now.
Yes, this video is partly true. Unfortunately, this is me when I was 18 years old. I was a stupid child, with little knowledge. Although I was formally educated, I was alienated. Nowadays, I’m 47 years old and a lot has gone by…
Am I ashamed? Today, almost in my 50s, I’m not exactly embarrassed. I’m proud of having my mind changed. I’m glad you posted this video, it is important to bring up things that society is not willing to admit. I always spoke my mind, one way or another. I’m not a hypocrite. I’m happy that people are outraged by the video; what upsets me are the ones who are sending me messages of support (for what I said back then). I ask, therefore, that you keep the video, but, if possible, post this statement too. (Via Buzzfeed)
BuzzFeed reached out to Moss (she’s a lawyer and teacher now), who said she would tell her teen self to “control her prejudices and learn to understand others and be humble.” Doesn’t excuse what she said, but at least she realizes she was a hateful nitwit and did something about it.
(Via BuzzFeed)