A barista working at a cafe franchise was the victim of racism recently when a customer refused to be To Be Twenty (Avere vent’anni)served by her.

But with the support of a friend, employees and people on social media, the young woman has turned an ignorant encounter into an inspirational message.

Josie Ajak was making coffee at a shop in Cairns, Australia when a customer wouldn’t let Ajak serve her "because of the colour of her skin," according to her friend Jade Arevalo who posted about the incident on Facebook over the weekend.


You May Also Like

SEE ALSO: 'British Colonial Co.' restaurant accused of racism responds online

In a statement online, a spokesperson from the coffee shop said, "This was a display of racism from a customer towards an employee," adding "The employees on shift ... refused to serve this customer, showing their maturity and zero tolerance for racism."

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Arevalo’s message of support for Ajak included the hashtag #BuyACoffeeFromJosie and soon, others were showing their support and solidarity.

Ajak wrote on Facebook that she's been "inundated with so many beautiful messages from both friends and complete strangers that have left me feeling so blessed to be who I am."

And now, her place of work has stepped up as well.

On Tuesday, Ajak’s cafe decorated the store and staff wore shirts reading "No time for racism." Community members also left messages for Ajak on cardboard signs on the wall.

Faith in humanity restored.

Author

Editorial Team

Our editorial team is dedicated to delivering accurate, timely, and engaging content. With expertise across various domains, we strive to inform and inspire our readers.