The colour of beauty
Exploring racism within fashion journalism and what can be done to spread the awareness.
Race, culture, and appropriation. It’s a conversation that needs to be heard, a voice that deserves to shout. The world has come a long way since the fight begun. And yet, less than a few months ago generations found themselves once again marching the streets and bending the knee. It’s heart-breaking. To see that there is still so much more we need to do, to change. During these months there was plenty of media coverage and social posts to help spread that crucial awareness. We began to see the highlighted importance of journalists and how their role can be played.
But what matters is not just on the outside…
The inside of the media is just as important. I was reading an article the other day by Danny Parisi. In this he mentioned that since recent events there has been a huge wave of employees from some of the biggest fashion media companies (such as Vogue and New York’s Magazines The Cut) all speaking up about racism within their business. However then went on to state that:
“This change was swiftly followed by a mass of resignations and upheavals at some of these longstanding institutions.”
This shocked me. I had to take a second glance and re-read almost ten times over before coming to terms with this statement. How can this be true? I thought, how has the world come to something of this? Parisi explained that he had also interviewed a freelance event consultant who had worked at both Vogue and Marie Claire. And that she had mentioned:
“In her 10 years working in the media, she never had a black supervisor or boss.”
This raises the question as to how the media can truly give their opinions and say on the matter, if they are perhaps privileged and cannot completely understand the cause for it. Or find themselves able to practice what they preach within their own workplace and job roles. It is obvious that this is a worrying ongoing debate within fashion journalism. But will the media be able to find this change of awareness?
Will history be able to change?
I mentioned previously about New York’s highly respected The Cut. The Cut fashion blog published a story in 2018 on ‘Everywhere and nowhere. What it’s really like to be black and work in fashion.’ Lindsay Wagner used her journalistic skills to tackle the issue of race head on. This particular post went viral and helped to give a powerful voice for all to hear. Weaving together a story of experiences from the industry. From fashion critic Robin Givhan to the creative director of Louis Vuitton men. Just 2 minutes of scrolling through and all you could see from the top of the screen to the bottom was hundreds of people, all wanting the same outcome. All hoping for that justice and equality to be gained. Telling their stories and having to explain the hurt that is constantly brought upon them within their own workplace. Whilst also joining force to demonstrate the change they wish to see, and the positive impacts they have already begun to notice. Vogue’s fashion news director Chioma Nnadi wrote this:
“I loved every single outfit Issa Rae wore at the CFDA Awards. They were all black designers, and for me that was a powerful statement and celebration of black creative talent. It seemed to me that she was silently and elegantly taking a stand, showing solidarity and underscoring the fact that we are still largely underrepresented in the design studios of major fashion houses and the industry as a whole.”
This particular quote drew me in the most. It showed that there are people willing to fight this battle together and gave hope that one day this can be over run. It’s eye opening. Not only that but it shows the importance of the media. It shows that something as small as a word can be created into a voice that matters. If one blog, from one individual, had such a great impact before. Why can’t this be done again? And again, and again! Until it is HEARD. Fashion journalism can bring that positive, inspiring message and help to shine the light of awareness and change to the media world as we know it.
