Kate Moss photo appeared on a special RED edition of The Independent yesterday and, no suprise, has created a controversy about the edition that was designed by Giorgio Armani.
The story is about the struggle of black women in Africa.
Of course Moss is neither black, nor African or share probably any of the daily hardships of the women profiled in the piece. Hence the controversy.
What do you think?
Here’s a link to the Indy’s article.
And what The Guardian’s Hannah Pool has to say about it.
What exactly is this picture of Moss-as-African-woman supposed to portray? I suppose it is meant to be subversive, but what does it say about race today when a quality newspaper decides that its readers will only relate to Africa through a blacked-up white model rather than a real-life black woman? What does it say about the fight against HIV/Aids if that is the only way to make us care? And, as a black woman (born that way), what does this trick say about me?
Classes in video journalism
I tried to leave Georgio Armani an e-mail letting him know that I intend to voice my reaction to this cover picture by boycotting all of his products as well as anything Kate Moss appears on. Unfortunately, his customer service site is down. (hmmmm) I plan to spread the word on my boycott to every blog, e-mail list, etc. I belong to. There are so many “WRONG” scenarios about putting KATE MOSS in full body blackface. He should have done his research. Most importantly, they have succeeded in clouding the issue of African women and AIDS. No more Armani for me, my kids, my grandkids, my sisters, my friends, my aunts, my……………
What other way to attract massive amounts of attention than by doing just that. The colonialists masters have just gone high tech. And that Jolie lady with her Malawi stunt. Is she a curricullum specialist? Take your Kabalah and go.
‘not a fashion stmnt’. obviously kate is a fashion stmnt. prolly not the best cover idea available, but it does prove a point. the hype it’s getting the mag will no doubt sell more issues.
I don’t know that I agree with the comments above: seems like Armani and Moss might have just been saying that all that lies between the (presumably wealthy) reader and deplorable poverty is circumstance, not some inherent superiority of one over the other.
Didn’t Patti Smith say something like that in the late 1970s and get raked over the coals for all the wrong reasons, to quote, “Jesus Christ was a nigger”?
I think that is racist and as an African girl I FEEL HUMILIATED That kate moss of all people should be used it all a publicity act I mean come on wat black person will smile at that I mean I ‘m black not LITERALLY
Its digusting!!!!!!!!!!!
and I agrre I am BOYCOTTTING RED
it was portrayed in a an unrealistic manner completely offensive and for that matter on a racist newspaper with strong right winged views
As a black woman, I’ve come to realize that racism is something that comes from the soul. For whatever it’s worth, none of us will be inside the minds of the publishers of magazines whose sole purpose is to move volume. This, from a journalist’s viewpoint (mine in this case), is definitely an attention-getter. Would it be controversial if a woman like Kate Moss tanned up very well under a tanning booth, and then pose for the cover? Or would it be any more controversial if Beyonce’ put on very light makeup and highlighed her blonde hair to the point of platinum for cover appeal?
Race is a concept that was created for purposes of power and greed. It was used to divide even light skinned from dark skinned black, and ladies and gentlemen, it worked!
We are families of nations all over the world with common issues to consider as our fight in this present day. . . like war, poverty, hunger, human rights. To put so much emphasis on a press stunt to keep the budget from falling in “the red” (a failing economic position) towards keeping in “the black” (a good economic position) is something that may be getting way more attention than it deserves.
The world will never be perfect. But we can become more compassionate human beings one on one, regardless of how people are portrayed.
clr
Underneath we are all the same.
My view: as if Kate Moss even cares. Who knows what is in her heart, but right now, if we aren’t mistaken, she is a drug addict. Hardly the person to be solving bigger problems than the ones on the front door.
If she (or Armani, or the newspaper editors) wanted to make an anti-racist statement, they would be better off dismantling some of the social exclusion they set up around fashion etc. How can they fight racism while having explicit prohibition of ‘normal’ bodies, fat, ‘ugliness’, bad teeth, inability to afford avant guarde shoes, and so on?
I think their point might simply have been that Kate Moss looks sexual no matter what her skin tone. And we do not have a lack of evidence that people with all kinds of colours, ‘races’, whatever, can look photogenic. They think that she can rehabilitiate her scummy public image by doing something that seems soulful. Perhaps we will see her soon at her local church, helping the elderly up the stairs, tending to the alcoholics, telling the children to love the life within themselves no matter what life throws at them. Miracles do happen.
I liked it. I thought it was a great idea. Kate Moss is a living icon, an instantly identifiable face. I thought the make up was completely opposite of being rascist. It, I thought, was saying we’re all the same, it could’ve been you, it could’ve been her, etc. It’s a human problem, we should all take care of eachother, it’s our responsibility. Artistically, I say congratulations, Armani. I’m sorry for the way it was received by some.
-amber
I just want all you people to answer a question for me… For all of you who are “outraged” over this. Why is nobody screaming when movies such as “White Chicks” or comedians such as Dave Chapelle put white makeup on? Why are you not outraged with that? Perhaps because it is flipped and you tend to not care? I think it’s rather hypocritical. Minorities would like equality but do not give it. Equality means equal treatment for EVERYBODY. Stop playing the race card when you simply look over other misgivings by African Americans/Black People. I could see you being angry if there was no opposite case in contemporary times. And do not bother responding with historical significance of blackface, because I already know. This does not me under any circumstances that someone cannot put black paint on their face. I am aware there is racism still alive in this country and around the world just as there is reverse racism and unequal treatment on both regards. But this is not a case of it. This is just being blown out of proportion for black people looking to point fingers and cry racism. I know I probably will raise eyebrows with this but I make logical points, and if you fail to see these points, you are turning a blind eye to the epidemic of calling racism at every chance when a black and white person is involved.
They couldnt find a damn black model?
I agree with how some are saying that this is an offensive cover. I agree that they should have gotten an african-american woman on it instead. However, boycotting it is just, stupid. This is a company that is saving a few lies. Look past it.
In fact, after just having a revelation. I think that’s what this advertisement means. I think he wants us to look past her white skin and that underneath we are all the same.
only problem is
not everyone sees that.
moral of the story don’t boycott it
we are only hurting our brothers and sisters in Africa.
As a black model, I am very disgusted to see this.
What has painting Kate Moss black got to do with the struggle of black women in Africa?
What about the struggle of black women in Europe or America?
Sticking to the modelling industry, how come there are no black women on the catwalk? Why do shows like britain’s next top model usually have only one black woman, so it won’t look like they didn’t choose any black woman? I am in the industry, and I know how very beautiful and intelligent black women struggle to get decent jobs.
If the editor really needed a story like that, they could have used a black model, there are so many of them out there. They could have used Naomi or Alek Wek (if they had to use a famous face).
Kate Moss isn’t my definition of a top model anyway, she hasn’t got the height, and neither is she a role model. How many successful black models under 6ft have you seen?
If they wanted to pass the message that we are all the same, they could have come up with a different concept.
There is no explanation for what they’ve done. They simply wanted a black woman on the cover, and decided to paint a white woman black……………. It’s total rubbish!
Oh get the hell over it.
Do you have a competition going to see how many times you can cry ‘racist!!!’?
In response to Ryan Franco’s ignorant take on this important issue, I would like to state exactly why his argument falls flat on its face. In arguing that Black Americans (such as myself) are “looking to point fingers and cry racism” I say that you are insensitive, ignorant, blind, and unwilling to even try to be empathetic (in case you don’t know what that means, here is the definition: characterized by the identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives). Seems to me that you need a hefty serving of empathy. In order for you to understand a person of another race, culture, or ethnic group, you must first try to place yourself in the other person’s shoes. You must look deep within yourself and feel what that person is feeling and believe what they believe.
Once you have tried this (more than once, mind you), you then must re-examine your pre-existing notions of Whiteness/Blackness in American society today. I assume that you are neither Black nor a minority. Your insensitivity to this grave matter and your lack of understanding and competence reveals your true beliefs.
In your first sentence, you shoot down the central argument of this posting and defend your point of view by trying to invert the argument in your favor. Why is no one screaming about White Chicks or Dave Chappelle’s skits you ask? I was not aware that we were discussing that. How do you know what the feelings of Black, White, Latino, Asian, and people of numerous other races and ethnicities think about those skits. In this culture where we are obsessed with seeming “politically correct”, few people are bold enough to assert their real opinion regarding the skits that Dave Chappelle puts on or the movie “White Chicks” by the Wayans Brothers. The fact is, you have no idea what Black people think about that. Many Blacks(including myself) would question the benefit of these kinds of movies and tv shows, that while trying to humorously highlight the differences between Blacks and Whites, only succeeds in trivializing the inequality of Whites and Blacks. You think you know how we African-Americans think, but what is your assertion based upon, may I ask? How many Black friends do you have? How many Black relatives? How many Black co-workers? If you can answer any of these questions with a number more than 2 or 3, than I would then ask you, have you asked them their opinion on these matters? If not, then you have no right to claim to know the motive of Black people the world over who are offended by this Kate Moss cover.
You claim to already know the significance of blackface in American History and breezily dismiss it with, “And do not bother responding with historical significance of blackface, because I already know.” I would ask you, what exactly is it that you think you know about “blackface”? I’m really intrigued. Someone that legitimately has a knowledge of blackface and understands its racist motives and malignant caricature of human beings, could not dismiss this magazine cover as summarily as you do.
The Independent, if truly concerned with the ravaging affect of AIDS in many African countries, should have spent more time to research the proper way to portray solidarity for the cause. It is in no way unifying or glorifying of the African culture to use a White model in blackface to bring awareness to a cause. If this revered publication cared at all about the message they are trying to disseminate, they would have done the proper research and brought in the opinions of others with a vested interest in this crusade. Once the idea of painting Kate Moss in blackface was proposed(instead of using a well-known African model like Alex Wek or Liya Kebede), there should have been members on the team that were intelligent enough to realize the implications of this decision. If the argument is that they are simply trying to be “controversial” or “subversive”, then why not call it like it is and allow that they are at the same time making a conscious choice to be insensitive and ignorant to the years and years of ostensible racism relating to blackface.
The owners of this illustrious magazine and countless other publications today are growing more and more concerned with how their “controversial” covers and photos will bring in the dough, and less and less concerned with the negative consequences. The truth is that a person who is less aware of society at large and infantile in his understanding will look at this magazine cover and not see anything significant or offensive. They will take from this cover that it is “okay” in society today to put on blackface if it’s with the lofty purpose of attracting more people to a cause. Never mind the fact that this publication could have easily used a “real” Black person to helm the issue and therefore the cause. The underlying assertion here is that Black models simply aren’t “good enough” or as “widely recognized” by the public. This is a dangerous and lamentable view.
While I readily admit that some minorities (including Blacks) actively denounce racism against their own race while simultaneously announcing their disdain and even hatred for many other races (including Whites), you are not justified in the assumption that every time a Black person objects to (in this case) blatant racist overtones, that they are, in your own words, “playing the race card “.
Nowadays, that phrase has been lovingly embraced by non-minorites and used as a common accusation against anyone voicing their opinions about racial injustice. I charge you to quit hiding behind that convenient phrase as you attempt to shoot down every comment that even remotely challenges America’s (and the world’s) clouded view of race relations.
I am very disheartened by your unwillingness to remove the veil that is so thoroughly obscuring your vision. I feel sorry for you because it seems to me that while claiming to be “aware that racism is still alive in this country”, you fail to realize how much racism is alive within you. If you truly care enough about this topic to comment on this blog, than care enough about yourself and your imprint on the lives of countless others as a result of your small-minded views of the world by re-evaluating your concepts of race, injustice, and equality in America today. Do some research. Get outside of your comfort zone. Try to be empathetic. Perhaps one day you will graduate to the strata of those enlightened and honest human beings around the world who acknowledge the reality of insidious and covert concepts about race and the affect it still has on virtually every aspect of society, while hoping for the day when we all will come to respect, honor, and celebrate each other for being of the same race- the human race.
As an African American woman, I don’t see an racial overtones. As a matter of fact she looks beautiful.
As an African American woman, I don’t see any racial overtones. As a matter of fact she looks beautiful.
You should feel honored when someone wants to look like you. I do not see it as demeaning. For years we have faced the stereotype of trying to be “White” when we speak Standard English, dress like Yuppies, live in certain areas, make six figures, attend certain schools, live a certain life style, use a relaxed to straighten our hair (for these who do- such as myself), change our features, and our complexion. Some of us are prejudice against each other. So ask yourself, has anyone ever been toooo dark for you? Now if someone wants to run out and get that dark beautiful tan, or inject collagen into their lips to make them full like yours- then let them. Beautify comes in all sizes, shapes and colors and this is nothing new under the sun, we are now a little more vocal and honest about what we consider beautiful, and black is beautiful too.
I apologies, I have found a couple of typos- I changed relaxed to relaxer and these to those. If anyone spots any errors, please let me know, thank you.
You should feel honored when someone wants to look like you. I do not see it as demeaning. For years we have faced the stereotype of trying to be “White” when we speak Standard English, dress like Yuppies, live in certain areas, make six figures, attend certain schools, live a certain life style, use a relaxer to straighten our hair (for those who do- such as myself), change our features, and our complexion. Some of us are prejudice against each other. So ask yourself, has anyone ever been toooo dark for you? Now if someone wants to run out and get that dark beautiful tan, or inject collagen into their lips to make them full like yours- then let them. Beautify comes in all sizes, shapes and colors and this is nothing new under the sun, we are now a little more vocal and honest about what we consider beautiful, and black is beautiful too.
Hey Grace Rodgers, you think just becuase your black and have black friends you know about being a minority. Well you dont, all you people taking about how kate moss is a bad example of representing AIDS in Africa, and that they should have gotten a black model. Well what have you done to help? hmmmm At least kate moss cares about the situation and has the power to do something about it. And that Angel girl, you seem like your pissed becuase you didnt get the job. Stop playing the race card and then wanting equality.
I think the person who is humiliated, and is going to boycott Red, is stupid as hell. Way to go, becuase your offended you are going to boycott a organization that helps AIDS in Africa…..real nice
She wasn’t actually wearing black make up, she was painted red as a promotion for the “Red” campaign to fight Aids in Africa. The designer then decided to stoke up some controversy by printing it in black and white.
This a beautiful picture - I say that as an artist. She’s not trying to be black, so she puts black paint on. Is the colour of our skin the only thing that makes us black or is it a collection of our culture, history, heritage, hue and our close links to the motherland? Now don’t get me wrong I am Black and I am down with the red, black and green and I fully understand the issue of black-facing but I do think that is this not in the same vain, at least it’s sentiments are not.
Black people are angry, I’m angry but often we choose to be angry at the wrong people, at the wrong situations at the wrong time. We’ve got to start learning to pick our battles, chooses important issues to protest against and do it on mass otherwise there is no point. That why the Bus boycotts worked, tackling one issue with gusto BUT picking that issue on it merits, on it’s ability to affect change and make lives better for us and our off-spring.
Individually complaining about everything and collectively doing nothing about the issues that a REALLY affecting us is the easy thing to do. Getting stoked up enough to boycott certain organisations/people that we know are doing us wrong especially those doing it with intent now that IS important. If we complain about absolutely EVERYTHING we become like the boy that cried wolf people stop listening that is just human nature.
THis simply is not that much of a deal (to me at least)I am an African and for me Kate Moss has no relevance, signifies nothing in term of Africa or inded Africa as it relates to HIV/AIDS but if by this they reach another part of society whose aid will help then I’m all for it. The sick mother in Africa does not care how the money (or rather the publicity that leads to money) comes her way she does not have that luxury. Armani, Kate and The Independent, in this particular case have not committed any moral crime, they have made some decisions that may offend some sensibilities but I do not think that this is racist or worth protesting. I work in the media so I get to read all the UK national papers and the Independent tends to be generally quite measured.
I am all for protests and boycotts and I want the spirit of the 60’s and the 70’s to reign again. I hate apathy but we must be measured. If there is a lesson I picked up from watching, reading about the civil rights movement and reading Nelson Mandela’s autobiography it is the importance of picking ones battles!
Re: Ryan Franco - It very presumptuous of you to think that as a community we do not say anything at the suggest stupidity such as White Chicks. I for one refuse to see that film, I never have and never will. Thank you! and most of the black folk I know think similarly
Mx
P.S If you that offends you what would you say about this TimeOut Magazine Issue issue 1939 (uk ed)cover - I think this is equally beautiful.
STFU. Stop complaining. You act like racism has a huge negative effect on your lives. It’s a fucking picture.
@ Lex N Co.
If only you knew, white boy.
Stop tryina come up in shit you don’t understand. Look like u just up here tryina be funny. Ain’t no one laughing.
It’s not us who runnin shit, and we doin our damnest to make a difference, while you ignorant ass white boys up here talkin bout some “Get over it!”
Butt the fuck out.
Well, as a black African woman I had to laugh at the suggestion to put an African American woman on the cover instead. What, because we’re black we’re all the same? African Americans have nothing in common with Africans except colour. It isn’t all about colour, and if you think it is then there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you. You Americans can only think about Africa in terms of other Americans. If you think Tyra Banks represents the women of Africa more than Kate Moss, you’re delusional.
That said, it’s insulting, but what more can we expect? I actually think Kate Moss is beautiful, but the image goes beyond subversion to outright offensive to me.
O.M.G, Her picture is so offensive. i mean G.A. finds black women that ugly that he could not have used a black woman to potray a black woman. Anyways whatever, i guess some things never change.
Dearest,
Looking at this picture, I see Kate Moss but with darker skin. The publisher I think are trying to reach out to their reader (predominantly white) in an espousal manner. This picture is not for the black reader. Yet it is quiet interesting to follow this discourse, the different views between blacks in white societies. Or how much of aliens Africans actually are. What if Chinese where the poorest people in the world, by what means would Kate Moss then be modified? One would think that Independent readers are erudite, well-educates and middle-class English people who clearly regard African’s as objects, the opposite of everything they are (only the opposite of what they actually are in this world, in this created world of theirs). I’m not pointing fingers, but it’s sad to see that to ‘raise awareness’ requires an infamous supermodel (most teenage girls dream achievement) to be portrayed as a black woman, I thought this society was well passed that stage. Celebrity colonialism and moralistic posturing is once again fostering a different form of failed development.
Nonetheless, this picture as with everything Kate Moss is absolutely stunning.
Nadia: The Independent has “right winged views”? Have you gone mad? That’s true if and ONLY if by “right” you mean LEFT.
As for the picture, I feel it’s interesting. It was tastefully done, not like the parody i was expecting. More over, this “outcry” is causing awareness so it’s down right effective.
If the model would have been a black women rather then a white woman painted black, it wouldn’t have been different. It wouldn’t have stood out as a unique piece of art because black women are in art everywhere. People are acting as if she was chosen in stead of a black women because white models are better. A ridiculous notion if you’ve ever seen a runway. This was done to be provocative and different, not to be racist.
everyone knows what a white blacked FACE MEANS….
why not stripes or something….
racists images like this have ALWAYS been to degrade blacks, so why do it? do something else
i just want to highlight this post:
“@ Lex N Co.
If only you knew, white boy.
Stop tryina come up in shit you don’t understand. Look like u just up here tryina be funny. Ain’t no one laughing.
It’s not us who runnin shit, and we doin our damnest to make a difference, while you ignorant ass white boys up here talkin bout some “Get over it!”
Butt the fuck out.”
Yes, you are really doing your piece for race relations aren’t you? You’ve entirely undermined the arguments of every black person who has posted an intelligent and coherent comment, with your racial slurs and poor grasp of basic grammar and spelling.
I have closely studied the work of Malcolm X and it is people like you who have misinterpreted his arguments and used it as an excuse to vent your racist views of the white man. Martin Luther King did not work for people to end up bickering about a picture of a supermodel on website. The basis for these people’s dreams were independence and equality, and for people of all colours to live alongside one another in peace (X preached financial independence from the white man, not power over him). People like you do little to help this situation.
Of course there are still white racists, but there are also black racists, Chinese racists, Jewish racists and people all over the world who believe in the divinity of the race or country to which they belong. There is nothing wrong with having pride in your colour and your heritage but to use derogatory comments like “white ass boys” in absolutely diabolical English just brings us back to square one. I hope you become educated enough one day to see that black people can be racist too, and that because you are black this doesn’t make it ok to use racist remarks on others because your race has suffered in history. What about the 6 million Jews who were killed by the Nazi regime? What about all the Eastern Europeans supressed in Stalin and Lenin’s Russia? What about those in the Middle East supressed by Sadam Hussain’s regime? You are not the only race or person who has endured persecution in history. Many all over the world are still enuduring such persecutions today - what are you doing to help those people?
And i’d like to add that i find you offensive, abusing my mother language in such a manner.
Kate is beautiful. Just dont worry people and be happy as Bob M. said.
Wow. After reading the comments I am astounded. Some people just make stereotypes so fucking true. I agree with the one comment about the difference between black and african americans. There’s a huge difference. Living in philadelphia, I deal with racism on a daily basis. I find that the more uneducated a person is, the more likely they are to be racist. I’m so sick of black people ‘crying racism’ as another commentator pointed out. More often than not, black people create racism. It just makes everyone so much more racist. They do it to themselves. They act like it was them that was a slave. None of us that are alive today had anything to do with slavery. I’m a ‘White’ guy, or caucasian if you’d like. I dated an African-American girl for 5 years. She was amazing, her family was amazing. I loved them all and my family loved them all. Color of skin means nothing in today’s society. Life is what you make of it. There is no difference between growing up in a black ghetto or a white trailer park. People need to stop creating racism through assumption. And how bout the ignorant comment that some black woman made about georgio armani being so racist he couldn’t put a black woman on the cover? He has black models for christs sake. Dumbass. Amy made some of the best comments on here and is commendable for agreeing with me and making sense of the situation.