tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post3519799486765305383..comments2024-03-06T08:29:13.333-08:00Comments on stuff white people do: expect black female models to look like "white girls dipped in chocolate"macon dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07795547197817128339noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-72092019647266818772012-01-02T09:01:52.413-08:002012-01-02T09:01:52.413-08:00(cont.)
Look, WE as people of African descent MUS...(cont.)<br /><br />Look, WE as people of African descent MUST LOVE OURSELVES enough to DEFINE & SUPPORT ourselves because looking for validation from Whites is A WASTE OF TIME.<br /><br /> Race arguments in 2011 are pointless, because from a genetic standpoint, we're all AFRICAN. I dunno about you, but I'm not interested in trying to catch up the slow…I'd rather let natural selection take its course with them. The sooner people accept this genetic fact & stop hating all that is African, the better.<br /> Pointless because, people of African descent need to understand AND take back our monetary power anyway--we may have PLENTY of obstacles in being equal financially with Whites, BUT we DO have spending power.<br /><br /> If a designer, company etc. doesn't cater to our African heritage in a positive way, make a REAL impact & DON’T BUY FROM THEM…then SPREAD THE WORD.<br /><br /> It sends a CLEAR message of who’s in control. Sometimes the most potent universal protest comes in the form of cold, hard cash...it's the only thing soulless corporations care about.<br /> We DON'T have to support ANYONE who doesn't respect us. We need to take a lesson from other cultures & learn to spend money on OURSELVES to improve our overall community.<br /><br /> LOVE yourself because ALL CIVILIZATION HERALDS FROM AFRICA FIRST...BLACK PEOPLE ARE BEAUTIFUL & REMARKABLE IN EVERY WAY...ALWAYS HAVE BEEN...ALWAYS WILL BE!<br /><br /> No amount of Euro-obsessed magazine covers, Music videos or runway shows can ever CHANGE THAT.<br /> drop me a line at twitter.com/ifeanyioshun <br /><br />I've written some poetry on the subject of racism, especially with regards to Black beauty. You can find them here: <br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/A-Girls-Life-ebook/dp/B006BKYQHQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325070557&sr=1-1I Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-36441064224449287972012-01-02T09:00:42.077-08:002012-01-02T09:00:42.077-08:00Excellent blog with fantastic responses. I’m rile...Excellent blog with fantastic responses. I’m riled up enough to post about my experience.<br /> I live in LA & I'm 100% Igbo. I’ve received comments about my "button nose.” A white man actually told me I have a "white girl's face,” but I CORRECTED him with "NO, I have a Nigerian woman's face, ok? This is pure Africana right here."<br /><br /> Ugh! I'm so sick of the entertainment/fashion industry’s BULLSH*T. <br /><br />"Elegant features?" Seriously?! Soo "Big African features" go unappreciated UNLESS they're faked by white women.<br /><br /> This is why this industry makes my skin crawl...they don't want OUR big lips unless Jolie's got them, they don't want OUR big booties unless J.Lo's rocking it (because her Puerto Rican-ness isn’t as threatening as our African-ness, right?) or better yet, let's get fixated on Armenian Kim's ass instead.<br /><br /> They'll say we're too dark while getting their tans and dusting their bronzer; Black women are considered tacky & ghetto with "weaves" but White women can have "extensions,” fake lips, tits, faces and STILL be considered beautiful, but our natural beauty doesn't get any love.<br /><br /> Lastly, I'm really sick of effeminate gay men trying to tell women how to BE women with regards to CURVES. Sorry, but most straight men do NOT find most of the girls on the runway with their heroin chic look remotely attractive--it goes against biology.<br /><br /> Fashion is about artistry and creativity, NOT gender or sexual orientation. LOVE my gay men, BUT to assume ALL my gay men are more fashion conscious than the next person is as prejudiced as assuming ALL African American people can play basketball.<br /><br /> So, if many fashion designers are gay men, can you BLAME THEM for showcasing women with manly angles?<br /><br /> No, so sadly I find as a Black woman, I’m up against the Eurocentric standards of beauty, AND Eurocentric homosexual standards of beauty, too. Ya know, the idea an emaciated, angular (masculine) body is more "beautiful" than the voluptuous (feminine) body?<br /><br /> Well, luckily I learned early in life I'd rather be a 1st place ME than a 2nd place someone else...<br /><br /> I got through this insanity by ignoring the media's agenda & looking at WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING with the actions of society. <br /> When I look around, I see so many people trying their damndest to BE AFRICAN, so it's hard to fall for their "you're lesser than" attitude.<br /><br /> If I'm "LESSER THAN" why are you trying to be me, boo?I Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-58247662253844470952011-10-24T06:30:34.117-07:002011-10-24T06:30:34.117-07:00I have modeled for several years but, It is exceed...I have modeled for several years but, It is exceedingly hard to get mainstream assignments even the times when I am the obviously the better choice.<br /><br />Very often I find a white female very under average in looks and skinny to the point of disgustingly unhealthy is chosen first.<br />there are times that there is a model that gets the assignment over me because she is simply more fitting for what they are looking for and then there are times that it is simply because she is white.<br /><br />SERIOUSLY - 5'10 Size 2 !?? That is gross and why would you push females to do that to themselves, It is in-humane, worst of all you toot these girls horns just to keep from acknowledging the beauty of other races and now she walks around like she is the epitome of beauty when in actuality she is a walking crypt keeper. It is ridiculous and petty.<br />It is blatant racism, for every inch we gain in the industry they get more dramatic in turning white models into the very opposite of us and slamming every social avenue that "This is the very image of fashion"!<br /><br />The very features they say are unsellable in ethnic girls they strive to achieve.....Lol<br /><br />Beauty is Beauty despite the color, Whether you like it or not.<br /><br />The industry will pick an unattractive and underweight white model over a slender but healthy and very attractive ethnic model.<br />Reality - Racism and Haterism fully exist!<br />You can stick as many bag of bones models on the runway and covers of mags as you want and it still doesn't change reality.Lyannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04114785501778318381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-61209489082955369402010-12-26T21:26:33.615-08:002010-12-26T21:26:33.615-08:00I really like your post it is such an eye opener y...I really like your post it is such an eye opener you are truly an inspiration to me! :DUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07278373288657049198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-25847150703315794512010-12-20T09:35:14.614-08:002010-12-20T09:35:14.614-08:00Wow. I totally teared up at your post.
I have no ...Wow. I totally teared up at your post.<br /><br />I have no words to tell you how much I feel your pain, each and every day.<br /><br />If I think about what I endure, be it willful ignorance, ignorance or plain old hate, I'd resort to staying in bed forever.<br /><br />But that is the plan isn't it, make us believe we are inferior, until we truly become inferior.Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07035985503863087816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-70352089250200229622010-12-16T10:35:25.642-08:002010-12-16T10:35:25.642-08:00And people wonder where black rage comes from. We...And people wonder where black rage comes from. We are told anyone can reach the American Dream, but how? We often aren't even considered American really. When you are constantly told and shown that you aren't beautiful or don't look white enough. The constant rejection and pain is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed and frustrated.Arainahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489418577521309246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-10464316123564927332010-11-26T21:08:42.265-08:002010-11-26T21:08:42.265-08:00To all of you who are either unaware, uninformed o...To all of you who are either unaware, uninformed or in abject denial about prejudice against Black Models: simply Google search Black Models. You will get more results for white models with black in some keyword than you will for Black models. Worst, if you include pretty, sexy or glamor you will get a load of raunchy porn crap. If this isn't evidence of racism, then what is?calburnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117253849338365456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-74230595368560969022010-10-30T18:17:43.614-07:002010-10-30T18:17:43.614-07:00This is such a great topic, if black women are onl...This is such a great topic, if black women are only deemed beautiful with so"white features", then why is the so called "Latina" percentage in the fashion world so late. So called "Latinas" possess the same facial features as white women, i personally think that it is another inferiority complex of most whites. They have to always be seen as the most beautiful, the smartest, the most riches etc. You always hear about Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, but how many people know of Mark Dean? He holds three of the nine original IBM patents upon which the IBM PC personal computers were based. He led the team that developed the ISA bus, and he led the design team responsible for creating the first one-gigahertz computer processor chip.I think that it is another way to try and make us feel inferior to others, or that we can only be athletes and musicians(rappers etc). p.s. sorry for my english, it is my second language.mochahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14720637915409232992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-63584679759287100992010-10-27T18:00:22.053-07:002010-10-27T18:00:22.053-07:00The fashion industry needs to include diversity if...The fashion industry needs to include diversity if it wishes to remain up to date. Maintaining the status quo will catch up to them and hurt them in the long run.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05958213003573823860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-74920477937234216202010-07-19T19:34:25.973-07:002010-07-19T19:34:25.973-07:00IT's NOT THE WHITEMAN'S JOB TO CHANGE.HE&#...IT's NOT THE WHITEMAN'S JOB TO CHANGE.HE'S RULING MOST OF THE WORLD WITH AN IRON SWORD BECAUSE OF HIS VICIOUSNESS.It's time for black people to change.If they won't let you in create your own.It's not their postion to accept us.Why are we crying for their crumbs?.Create your own industry.Buy from each other.Stop looking up to them as the ideal.Value who we are as blk people.Imitation is the biggest form of flattery and white people have been mimicking our looks and swagger from day one.It upsets me when our people go crazy for the Kim Kardashian's when these people have took your look and made millions,became sex symbols all the while the natural blk women is seen as unattractive with these same features.Blk people know when you are being dooped.Until we stand up for ourselves and stop begging for others to give us a piece of their pie,we will never be respected.I believe in making your own pie.Stop looking for white America or any other race to validate you.We make the world go round,and until we understand that we are the SH#T and we don't have to beg for acceptance, people will begin to see our dignity and strength and realize they have no controll over us anymore.FREE YOUR MIND AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03003232049360136647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-69639283570683324802010-07-03T09:51:54.494-07:002010-07-03T09:51:54.494-07:00Man so many just wonderful view points and intelli...Man so many just wonderful view points and intelligent writers. i read every single comment on this thread, followed the links and educated myself as a young african woman trying to break into modeling myself. thank you to all. :)Lindahttp://www.modelmayhem.com/cococabindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-68684414154639297602010-06-13T05:48:29.624-07:002010-06-13T05:48:29.624-07:00This is very interesting actually. I am saying t...This is very interesting actually. I am saying this because well the media has been targetting black americans in general. Its odd to sit here and single us out on poverty, crime rates, etc etc. When you look at the real statistics. You soon realize there are more black college students than there are black people who are incarcerated at the moment. That of course there aren't that many wealthy blacks as in percentage there aren't that many wealthy whites. But lets ignore that and put these "negroes" in their place. THis is the message I am getting, and to be honest I wasn't in the US when Obama got elected, and when he was inagurated. When I came back to what I called "home" I found it to be very very racist. With both white & black people giving me the message that I will be hated no matter where I go in this world. The fact that it is almost competely false is what baffles me. Being brainwashed willingly is a grand ole American tradition. Because no one likes to admit they're wrong. Anyway I'm tired of this backlash. People ask me why I am heading back overseas, and well shit, you got my bloody answer. Too much bullshit in the US over shit that well isn't even an issue in some countries, but well the US isn't perfect. I hate how many of my people in the professional world have to cater to white supremacist in order to get anywhere. That right there is outright, and overt oppression.kuznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-5081986969106603222010-05-28T14:40:16.777-07:002010-05-28T14:40:16.777-07:00why forget the fake hair?why forget the fake hair?jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-72543639345533720002010-05-25T12:52:54.368-07:002010-05-25T12:52:54.368-07:00A few people have brought up white women with &quo...A few people have brought up white women with "black" features as being still thought of as beautiful and able to have careers... Angelina Jolie, for example. I don't think this quite applies to the modeling parallel. Jolie is vilified for being overtly sexy and a tad threatening. Jennifer A, while far less "beautiful" would probably have a better time breaking into the modeling if neither had their acting careers. Oprah's another case of celebrity trumping race. Her magazine sells because it's a good product and she has spent decades building a trusting relationship with the public. The public does not trust a black person's face when the face is all they have... modeling is not about who the model is as an individual. It's about a story they are trying to tell through images. That imagery relies on the collective baggage of the viewer, so the most common baggage, ie bias, wins. At least what the decision makers believe is the most common biases. <br />Models are not the most beautiful people in the world, but their done up images arguably are. <br />Many of the women who turn heads in nyc probably couldn't make it in TOP MODELING.<br />Of course, there is work in the lower levels for ethnic models. The racially ambiguous seem to be popular right now. What is she? You can't say? perfect! Pander to everyone. <br />I've always been amused by the compliment "you could be a model." I'm like, um... I'm five feet tall, I am not modeling anything anytime soon. Plus, I don't want to look like a model. I want to look like someone who could lift my own suitcase into overhead storage in an airplane. <br />Many models are quite icky and though renee is gorgeous in photos, she looks like she could use some sleep.callanjalnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-72137817158397441202010-05-21T14:29:25.828-07:002010-05-21T14:29:25.828-07:00Ladydai,
I hear you, however, most women that mod...Ladydai,<br /><br />I hear you, however, most women that model wouldn't be described as 'polished'. A high society lady one would expect some degree of polish,heck any classy lady, but for people that are basically clothes horses, not so!<br />The point is that Renee as a black women has to be PERFECT, when thousands of white models as per video are booked, imperfections and all. Therein lies the problem. That extra mile long hurdle erected for the likes of Renee and countless black models when white models aren't held to the same standards.<br />A white model need be rail thin, little quirky nuances that brand then 'hot' or supermodel come later. For black women being thin isn't enough. As you've pointed out she's not 'polished', Id wager most white models are far from that too. At what point, bar being rail thin, 'polished' and black does she deserve to be given a second look??<br />What the hell does it take for a black woman to model period? At what point does she BREAK EVEN???MerriMayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07282830468595517287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-36358326241321701022010-05-21T10:09:29.310-07:002010-05-21T10:09:29.310-07:00Mirror,
I knew progressive White men who'd da...Mirror,<br /><br />I knew progressive White men who'd date any woman BUT African-American women. I asked them what trait did ALL AA women have to the exclusion of not only all other women but to the exclusion of all other non-American BLACK women that made us such a turn off? I asked them that question in 1997.<br /><br />I'm still waiting on an answer.<br /><br />I'd venture it was our ability to see through their bs better being as African-American women may have been around American WM moreso than non-American Black women.<br /><br />Oh, and your friend IS a racist-ass-racist.Witchsistahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603586060096649666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-77592515437282403442010-05-21T09:28:57.398-07:002010-05-21T09:28:57.398-07:00Ok, you use a young women who has been described a...Ok, you use a young women who has been described as having "white features" and proclaim that there is racism in the fashion industry. Apparently, it is not because she is black. If you used a model who looked like Alek Wek, for this post, I would believe it.<br /><br />Renee's problem is not because she is black. It is because of her presentation. There is nothing that screams Model about this girl. She is not polished. <br /><br />A model commands attention, not only because of her features but because of her "eye command." When she walks, EVERYONE, turns to look. This doesn't happen with Renee. <br /><br />Yes, there is racism in the fashion industry. However, there are girls walking around bedstuy who make Renee look like a cabbage patch. There is too much beauty in New York.grouchyasswomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858772318229522302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-29095019229187022082010-05-20T09:30:12.902-07:002010-05-20T09:30:12.902-07:00RE: the not attracted to Black women meme
the rea...RE: the not attracted to Black women meme<br /><br />the reason this is a racist statement is because it assumes that all Black women look alike<br /><br />Black is an extremely broad category with a great diversity of physical features.modest-goddesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02349577841986972240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-29838985383886538762010-05-20T08:14:08.285-07:002010-05-20T08:14:08.285-07:00@Jim, I know a guy who not only wouldn't descr...@Jim, I know a guy who not only wouldn't describe himself as racist, but who genuinely strives (imperfectly, but then, aren't we all imperfect?) to be nonracist...but who says he is not attracted to black women. I'm puzzled--both on the level that so many women of all colors are beautiful and I don't understand how anyone could be unable to see that, and on the other level where I can't see a way for this stance to be unracist, despite knowing the guy in question to be generally not a racist. And, of course, far be it from any of us to say who someone else should be sexually attracted to, so then I feel like a jerk for judging him in a way I don't want to be judged; we are all "looks-ist" when it comes to that, because you can't control being attracted to some people and not others. <br /><br />Um, like a lot of my comments, this seems not to have much point, other than that I find this issue a vexing one.Mirrornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-1335145375368283902010-05-19T10:51:43.899-07:002010-05-19T10:51:43.899-07:00Great so only white features are "elegant&quo...Great so only white features are "elegant" and black women that are bore with such features should be thankful because they are part of the "lucky" few...<br /><br />So if this is the case and only "white girls dipped in chocolate" are the sought after black models then why cant black women like Renee get as much work as white counterparts. Oh I know why! Its not about the features, its about the skin tone.<br /><br />They dont say they "dont want a black model" they just reject most of them unless they look white is some capacity.<br /><br />Seriously speaking, if my black self is too ugly to have a co-ethnic model your clothes, Im also too ugly to pay top dollar for them.Unekwuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05411358812833083001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-80982784033655443692010-05-19T00:24:52.735-07:002010-05-19T00:24:52.735-07:00Stupid modeling agencies, haven't they heard t...Stupid modeling agencies, haven't they heard that "black is slimming?" Many of the body problems supermodels have - skin hanging off bones in the legs etc - are less visible on dark skin. <br /><br />The idiotic phenomenon of "white girls dipped in chocolate" is everywhere, especially the whole "Rihanna vs. Beyonce" war in which white men always vote for Rihanna because Beyonce is "too sassy." <br /><br />I'm sick of it all. And I've always found the most striking models are the ones who look like real people, not the doped-up mouth-half-open-question-mark-faced ones with tiny features.Krampushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06460804757583280283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-54884341330362541102010-05-18T06:35:34.137-07:002010-05-18T06:35:34.137-07:00Agree with M. Gibson. It's funny that the fash...Agree with M. Gibson. It's funny that the fashion world pushes this white aesthetic as synonymous with beauty...<br /><br />...yet here in the real world you have white women tanning to make their skin darker, getting botox to make their lips and butts fuller, and getting breast implants to get bigger there as well.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09750215304228534982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-78816483955571112852010-05-17T18:30:36.068-07:002010-05-17T18:30:36.068-07:00Co-sign on honeybrown1976.
This was an excellen...Co-sign on honeybrown1976. <br /><br />This was an excellent piece and still irritates me to this day to see that crap being played out. The fashion industry is garbage as far as I'm concerned; it isn't representative of me or anyone I know.<br /> <br />Great post, Renee! Thanks for putting the ish out there!Amaya Radjanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06018534467097974996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-85679476320490380892010-05-17T18:26:34.492-07:002010-05-17T18:26:34.492-07:00@leedevious
I saw Krista win America's Next ...@leedevious<br /> <br />I saw Krista win America's Next Top Model, too, and was disturbed to see today that Seventeen magazine seems to have significantly lightened her skin on her Seventeen magazine cover. It's particularly painful given her comment about wanting to be a role model to girls with complexions like hers.<br /><br />Photo and discussion here: http://community.livejournal.com/topmodel/2670093.html?nc=94SLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528074983146803930.post-70779730753783197432010-05-17T18:07:24.231-07:002010-05-17T18:07:24.231-07:00this subject is one that i've found to be rath...this subject is one that i've found to be rather revealing, in conversations i've had about it with people (mainly white men).<br /><br />there is a contingent of people who would flat-out say that they don't find women of color--in this case black women--attractive, who would wear their racism proudly.<br /><br />there are a lot of others who, if asked, would deny that their criteria for attractiveness was racially motivated, but then wouldn't even stop to think about the patterns of what they considered attractive, who they dated, or how they framed their understanding of femininity (especially the femininity of women of color).<br /><br />there are others (and i suspect a majority) who would say that, for them, it depended on the woman--that it didn't matter what race the woman was (and they would be able to point to specific examples). but then they wouldn't have any real awareness of something like what renee wrote, where the larger cultural definition of beauty and appeal was dominated by a white-centric gaze.<br /><br /><br />in general, the topic of women, and attraction to them, comes up in certain male circles rather frequently. this conversation is one in which i've seen a lot of guys who would identify with the two latter categories become aware of the contradiction in their claims. there's a moment in which they realize, possibly for the first time, that they aren't as open or fair as they thought they were. and i think that has been constructive, sometimes.<br /><br /><br />that's a little rambling. i guess mainly what i'm saying is that i was struck, when reading this, how many times i've had rather deep and insightful conversations about racism, in the context of this particular issue--definitions of attractiveness, and beauty, when it comes to women of color. <br /><br />maybe this is just anecdotal. regardless, i guess i can attest to this particular issue being rather eye-opening for some of my friends, in conversations i've had over the past few years.jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241168909318892558noreply@blogger.com