Racial Diversity In Modeling

[ApertureRomance]

What the agency said clearly isn't true though , I could name 5 models just off the top of my head !

 

[ApertureRomance]

Did Sabrina walk for JPG , she did last season? She is in the new issue of WAD btw if anyone is a fan

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I'm a little confused by the "no black models in Paris" thing too ... I mean, we know models are routinely "imported" to all the fashion capitals for the shows--there will be black models in Paris during his show, I'm sure. Is it that he's using a local agency ... ?? But in any case the market seems to be ripening for a diverse agency now ... someone help this guy out ...

 

[Fontenrose]

What do Russian couture clients think of black (or asian) models on the runway? Anyone know? Chanel says they have customers there who buy 20-30 dresses a year.

I was just reading an interesting article on how people from poorer countries/communities/sub-groups spent proportionately more on cars, personal adornment than people from established groups. To establish that they, unlike the others, are doing fine. For established groups, wealth is not flaunted in public for various reasons, but enjoyed in private.

Warren Buffett can drive an old car and it's impressive, but the Russian or Chinese entrepreneur has something to prove.

 

[Guessgirl96]

I am from Belarus and I can tell you that my grandparents and mom are somewhat racist towards blacks. They wouldnt treat them any different but you can just tell when they talk amongst themselves. But at the same time they look down on most Americans, you know the dumb lazy stereotype that the entire world holds. There is no diversity there so I dont think these values are taught in russia or belarus. I'm honestly not sure what they think of asians.

 

[Fontenrose]

I guess people from Russia and China might assume black models were American.

 

[Grunged]

The fashion industry is just being overbearing with this **** and i'm sick of it.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I guess people from Russia and China might assume black models were American.

I'm sure they've heard of Africa & all I guess now that you mention it there are/have been quite a few British black models ...

GG, are you sure the whole world thinks we're dumb & lazy?

 

[SHSH]

Im from the UK and everywhere i go before i speak they think that i am American, even Americans, I do find french people and europeans in general more receptive to me as a black person once i convince them im not American, i can speak petit francais and im not out to bloody attack them blind... What makes me laugh for anybody that truly knows Paris knows it is the most black city in Europe! in the words of Alanis isnt it Ironic?

I blame the agencies but again I love fashion because it really is just a microcosm of how prejudiced the world, i.e. me and you really are with the conflict and oppression and yes Sessilee in my opinion could really suit that haute couture model persona as bahiyya said about dior perfect match

 

[nyc_art_style]

soooo everybody really hates black americans?

 

[Fontenrose]

soooo everybody really hates black americans?

All I can think of, is maybe black American urban culture, as shown on music videos and TV to the globe, comes across as glorifying behaviours that most people around the world are shocked by.

 

[kahlilg]

and yet there are tons and tons of movies of white people murdering, r*ping, and being idiots but wait... it doesn't effect white people at all. yet when 1 black person does something i constantly feel the repercussion for it.

 

[Fontenrose]

In countries where most people are white (or Asian), those videos and TV shows are pretty much their only experience of black people.

To a lot of them, Paris Hilton represents white American, if that's any consolation.

 

[kahlilg]

In countries where most people are white (or Asian), those videos and TV shows are pretty much their only experience of black people.

To a lot of them, Paris Hilton represents white American, if that's any consolation.

lol it shouldn't be, but it's kinda making me feel better haha.

 

[lesypersound]

....wth? what does being a black american model have to do with anything? how can anyone tell what nationality a model is in pictures or on paper? if people discriminate against black models it's because they're black women.

 

[birgitta]

regardless of nationality, being of african descent can be a double-edged sword when abroad. even in countries without the same diversity as the west, prejudices and ideas of superiority based on skin tone/background exist and are held by many. the fact that there probably aren't many people of vastly varied backgrounds or phenotypes living among each other makes it even less likely for anyone to stand up to discredit and discount prejudices.

for example, i was looking at Supreme Models blog and i came across a post that made the disgusting comparison of a certain U.S. presidential candidate to a monkey. the first few comments denounced the comparison as racist and in poor taste. one of the commenter said she saw nothing wrong with it and went on to direct anyone interested to a japanese comedian who performed a blackface routine of this candidate that she found highly amusing . i clicked the commenter's url link to see what kind of person would think that such an insensitive comment was appropriate?it linked to her blog in which she explains she has lived in various parts of Asia
(i was actually surprised because the place she states as her home is supposed to be an incredibly diverse country). i have heard that in asia and eastern europe the use of racial slurs, depictions of Afro-descended people in "sambo" and "blackface " style, and idea that the browner your skin is the dirtier/uglier you are are condoned by many but i'm optimistic that it isn't representative of all.

another reason is that america imports negative racial stereotypes through the media within the continent and abroad, as some of you have said. people of african descent are only shown in a few ways that are taken as the prototype. anyone with common sense knows there isn't just one prototype of african descended people, especially since there are so many different cultures children of the diaspora have come from ( even more considering the impact in N.+S. America, Europe, etc cultures.) There isn't one afro-descended prototype anymore than there is an asian or euro-descended prototype! but when that idea is being perpetuated even in diverse nations that should know better (even while there are people trying to speak out about these issues) it probably gives nations that are not yet as diverse culturally an excuse to see the use or lack of stereotypes as not being a pertinent issue.
Ugh, it's such a frustrating issue to wrap your head around.It's truly a shame,but hopefully there are as many people who see through stereotypes as there are people who buy into them.

sorry that this is incredibly long-winded for anyone who bothers reading it. it's sometimes difficult condensing ones thoughts on such a complex issue.

 

[Fontenrose]

....wth? what does being a black american model have to do with anything? how can anyone tell what nationality a model is in pictures or on paper? if people discriminate against black models it's because they're black women.

Not necessarily. It's all based on assumptions. No one is scouting Africa for models. People see a black model and assume she's American. They don't assume that for a white model. If they have negative feelings about Americans, or black Americans, the model could be viewed negatively, whether she's American or not.

 

[nyc_art_style]

thats true, if i see a white model i assume she's from Europe.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Wow ... a couple of your posts have absolutely dumbfounded me

I had no idea that there was prejudice against African-Americans as opposed to other blacks abroad, and I'm quite surprised to hear of a Japanese blackface routine ridiculing our presidential candidate To say the very least, I don't find anything funny in that.

For all the darkness being revealed in the hearts and minds of the unevolved, the same person is inspiring lots of great things, like the Italian Vogue issue we've been talking about. Probably the most touching for me was a slideshow of American supporters abroad in which a number of old white guys in countries around the world (against the backdrop of structures older than our country) were giving the black power salute. There's something you don't see every day.

I remember reading an essay written by a black American woman who lived in Paris for awhile ... she said she loved being free of the prejudice she experiences here, that it kind of opened up a whole new world for her.

 

[nyc_art_style]

i'm not trying to be offensive. when i first click on a model's thread, and if she's white with very unique features i assume she's european. then i read up on the model and find out her background. i don't care where a model comes from or what her skin tone is. i'm not going to discriminate against a girl just because of where she comes from. thats ridiculous.

i was just saying i could understand fontenrose's point on how people jump to assume where a model is from.

and also isn't the "trend" for models these days from western europe? why would that be a dumbfounding statement?