Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Today's WTF? Moment
I saw this over at ONTD_fashinfags today. Apparently it is an outake video from a Vogue shoot from back in November 2006. I'd really like to know who on that shoot thought it would be a kick to put the three white models (Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, and Gemma Ward) in blackface and afro wigs and have them dance around in fur singing Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" into banana microphones. I can't believe I just typed that sentence. Maybe all of you have seen this already written about the a few years back but it sure is new to me.
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15 comments:
Just shows how far we've come. The fashion industry has alwats been a great pillar for social change.
Please note the inaudible sarcasm.
Adding insult to the obvious injury, the person who added this video to YouTube made no attempt at pointing out the overt racism. In 2 years, nobody who commented on the video raised an objection either. Minorities need to figure out a form of payback that lets the other half know how this feels!
I must say that while I am not surprised that something like this is tied to Vogue, the fact the title for the fashion spread that this was intended for was "natural selection" struck me as strange. Why choose that as the title?
If you're gonna be racist, at least be an IMAGINATIVE racist. Afro wigs and bananas are so played out. **major eye roll**
I was going to wonder aloud if any of the models felt even the tiniest bit uncomfortable doing that, but the cynical side of me says, "They probably didn't think anything of it. To them, they were just joking around." **another eye roll**
OMG..
As someone else mentioned, and what baffles me the most, not one reply was negative on youtube. I can't believe it. People actually think this stuff is cool? I don't even know what to be more upset about... The fact that when they want a black aesthetic they use white women or the fact that when they want a black aesthetic is has to be tomfoolery such as I what I've just witnessed. I Just can't!
The fact that someone was stupid enough to post on Youtube shows certain white people thinks this is cute. It is so not!!!
Hillary Rhoda def knew this was wrong. Hillary is an American. I wonder if the people over at Estee Lauder is aware of this video.
no words.
...about those positive youtube comments, it's all about to changed or in fact, it just changed. I just posted a comment calling out the obvious racist undertones in that video. I am utterly disgusted to my stomach.
Sadly, I don't think you'll ever be able to effectively communicate to 'the other half' how racism feels.... so just kick 'em in the ding ding and hope the message gets across.
I know our generation is better than the last, and God willing and some common sense will see that our next generation will be better.
...and teach those white girls how to dance if they're going to try something like that!
They.have.ban.nan.as! They have bananas. They seriously have bananas. OMG! They have--I can't take it, I'm actually mad right now.
@ juvenescent
...not only do they have bananas, they are in black face plus the afros and then singing a beyonce song? and with the photographer egging them on? * shakes head *
Maybe its the 7yr old fan in me that just brushes this off. I have pantomined many musical artists of different genres over the years albeit I was in my bedroom and not on a fashion photoshoot but I'm not really offended by it.
If a black girl got and afro wig and sang banana in hand doubling as a mike would it be a big deal? If I put on a blonde wig, strapped on a guitar and put on some western gear and sang some Sheryl Crow would that even remotely be considered racist?
Oh yea and I am black and I didn't feel offended by this video.
@ Bonifant
I could care less if you are black or yellow or pink. So does the fact that you are black and don't find this offensive makes your point legitimate? please!
Wearing a blonde wig and strapping on some "Western gear" and a guitar is not offensive because guess what? they are not dehumanizing items which portray Sheryl Crow or any other white rocker chic as a lesser human being.
Of all the items in the world, why would this models use a "banana" as a microphone? why? and they are in blackface and they are singing a song by a black woman? um, don't we see a conection? if indeed you are black, could you really be that racially insensitive to your own race? mind blowing I tell you, mind blowing.
I love myself too much to tolerate such ignorance being portrayed about women of my race. Good riddance and I rest my case
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