I wanted to share with everyone the latest cover of Vogue magazine.
http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/26/808683.aspx If it doesn't work, type in "Vogue cover LeBron" in Google.
The cover features Gisele and LeBron James.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding this cover because it shows an aggressive "Hong Kong" face and stance on LeBron with the tiny Gisele in his arm playing the role of the "damsel in distress".
I believe LeBron is the first black male athlete to ever be on the cover of Vogue (reminded me of Denzel Washington being the only black male honored as People's sexiest man alive).
The picture of the man in black face seems to disturb me the most. To my understanding, the character began as a white man protraying a black man, drawing out the stereotypes of the time. Then, black men began playing the black face character. It was the only part a black man could play. He had to darken his face because he wasn't "dark enough" and wear white gloves to hide his real black hands. The inner turmoil must have been insane for that man. To perform he must reinforce the negative stereotypes that keep him from from being able to hold other roles.
It makes me also wonder how it relates to today. There seems to be a stereotype of black performers- how they dress, what they sing about, how they talk. It makes me wonder if they are this way because it sells- because this is the character that has been created? How far have we come?
These pictures are most likely one persons perception of another race and now each person from that race is put into the same category as this one person. When in reality there are so many different types of people in one race people don't even realize it. no one race has one exact feature that doesn't identify with anothers. No one race looks all the same or has all of the same characteristics. It really makes me sick when people put me in the same category with others of may race when i am my own individual. I hate to hear comments that are supposed to fit every black person just because they are black and it doesn't only happen with blacks but since in am black that is the only racial group i can speak or relate to or about. Even small comments like hair texture my hair isn't the same as every other black person or people believing that my skin cant tan or be burnt because i snd already dark. Things like that have always bothered me and i can only blame it on ignorance. One image i forgot to mention in class was the lady on the Tom and Jerry cartoon she looks like Aunt Jemimia like the pancake lady and for many years as we have already seen in pictures that was the only look they had for black women. With a scarf on her head, a apron, house shoes, and a ragged dress. THis lady was also very dark with pink lips and that is not how all black women or people look yet young children are expossed to this image and they only know what they see.
As per typical history repeats itself. It seems as long as people continue to suppoert the old and familiar without being disturbed by its representation, these types of images will continue to sublety influence and reinforce familiar stereotypes. It takes people to stand up and take notice that these images are no longer thought of as appropriate for things to change
4 comments:
I wanted to share with everyone the latest cover of Vogue magazine.
http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/26/808683.aspx
If it doesn't work, type in "Vogue cover LeBron" in Google.
The cover features Gisele and LeBron James.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding this cover because it shows an aggressive "Hong Kong" face and stance on LeBron with the tiny Gisele in his arm playing the role of the "damsel in distress".
I believe LeBron is the first black male athlete to ever be on the cover of Vogue (reminded me of Denzel Washington being the only black male honored as People's sexiest man alive).
What do you think?
The picture of the man in black face seems to disturb me the most. To my understanding, the character began as a white man protraying a black man, drawing out the stereotypes of the time. Then, black men began playing the black face character. It was the only part a black man could play. He had to darken his face because he wasn't "dark enough" and wear white gloves to hide his real black hands. The inner turmoil must have been insane for that man. To perform he must reinforce the negative stereotypes that keep him from from being able to hold other roles.
It makes me also wonder how it relates to today. There seems to be a stereotype of black performers- how they dress, what they sing about, how they talk. It makes me wonder if they are this way because it sells- because this is the character that has been created? How far have we come?
These pictures are most likely one persons perception of another race and now each person from that race is put into the same category as this one person. When in reality there are so many different types of people in one race people don't even realize it. no one race has one exact feature that doesn't identify with anothers. No one race looks all the same or has all of the same characteristics. It really makes me sick when people put me in the same category with others of may race when i am my own individual. I hate to hear comments that are supposed to fit every black person just because they are black and it doesn't only happen with blacks but since in am black that is the only racial group i can speak or relate to or about. Even small comments like hair texture my hair isn't the same as every other black person or people believing that my skin cant tan or be burnt because i snd already dark. Things like that have always bothered me and i can only blame it on ignorance. One image i forgot to mention in class was the lady on the Tom and Jerry cartoon she looks like Aunt Jemimia like the pancake lady and for many years as we have already seen in pictures that was the only look they had for black women. With a scarf on her head, a apron, house shoes, and a ragged dress. THis lady was also very dark with pink lips and that is not how all black women or people look yet young children are expossed to this image and they only know what they see.
As per typical history repeats itself. It seems as long as people continue to suppoert the old and familiar without being disturbed by its representation, these types of images will continue to sublety influence and reinforce familiar stereotypes. It takes people to stand up and take notice that these images are no longer thought of as appropriate for things to change
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