Brown paint pots seem to be all the rage these days. Just as the debate surrounding Paris Vogue’s controversial story was beginning to simmer down, Tyra Banks went and painted her “America’s Next Top Model” contestants “bi-racial” for
a wonky racial history lesson complete with a sugarcane field. And then a white cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys decided that it would be fun to
dress up as a black woman for Halloween. Next, a
fashion spread in V magazine starring a brown Sasha Pivovarova. Meanwhile, the emails are still rolling into my inbox about
this story. Here are some excerpts from some of the more interesting comments you posted on the blog about Paris Vogue’s blackface-gate.
S.E.C. says:
“Well, honestly to me, I think that they HAVE been painting black models in white face for years now (i.e., Beyonce and Rihanna photoshops), so to me whats the difference? I think they should have hired black models instead…it would have made a bigger statement.”
And LaShauna says:
“It’s another example of the fashion world trying to raise eyebrows. This, to me, is no different from Louis Vuitton using giant Afro wigs or Ralph Lauren dressing white models in African prints and jewelry in an old ad campaign. Fashion has been co-opting blackness forever. But I do think the question: Is it blackface? is a Legitimate question. I say no, it’s not blackface, based on the context (that’s important.)”
Meanwhile, Geryln says:
“I think that people’s opinions defer on this issue. I guess that what’s racist is now unfortunately subjective. I don’t know what to think anymore because whenever the R word is used, people are quick to say that it was taken out of context. Is art redefining what’s racist? Is a woman with her legs open in blackface art or is it unconscious racism struggling to manifest…?”
Q: “What exactly is makeup primer and is it really all that useful?” -Taron
