There are a few people in the fashion/magazine community up in arms because Essence Magazine (dedicated to uplifting and using positive images of black women in their pages) has hired a white woman as their new fashion director.
And that new woman is: Ellianna Placas, who has worked at O: The Oprah Magazine and Us Weekly.
CLEARLY she is qualified!!!
Of the many people that are upset with this move on Essence's part is writer, stylist, and cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis who stirred up controversy when she tweeted, "It is with a heavy heavy heart I have learned that Essence magazine has engaged a white fashion director, this hurts, literally, spiritually."
More info under the break.....
Offering her immediate reaction to the hiring, Michaela says, “I am so so hurt and confused and frankly angry by this news. I feel like a girlfriend has died.” Michaela’s tweets and Facebook comments on the hiring informed many media insiders, and former Essence staff members who had no clue... Michaela says her feelings on the news have much to do with black women’s hostile history with the fashion industry. Further explaining her concerns around the issue, Michaela wrote on Facebook: “It is personal and it’s also professional. If there were balance in the industry; if we didn’t have a history of being ignored and disrespected; if more mainstream fashion media included people of color before the ONE magazine dedicated to black women ‘diversified’, it would feel different.”Very strong and valid points, Michaela but this (IMO) is reverse racism (YEP....just like that)! There is NO SECRET that we live in a world where the playing fields aren't leveled at all, BUT in order for us to be the best human being we are, we have to let go of living in a place where the color of a person's skin is always at the forefront of a discussion.
This is definitely a form of racism! How is this any different if the roles were reversed and people were upset if a black woman got a Fashion Dir. position at Vogue?
Wake up people, and pick and choose your battles! Isn't there a war going?
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