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In Italy, At Least, Black is Beautiful

By Veronica Chambers | TheRoot.com

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In Italy, At Least, Black is Beautiful

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  • Posted By:
    MrMarques72 at 09/17/2008 12:50:57 PM
    Comment:
    When I heard that Italian Vogue was printing a special "all-black" issue of course I wanted to check it out. But when I picked it up what immediately struck me was how many pages of white models in the advertisements I had to go through before I even got to the "all-black" section. Seeing that it is the advertising that sells magazines, TV shows, etc., the fashion paradigm of whiteness remains the same. In Brazil there is a saying that "the dark/black meat is the cheapest". I guess that applies to fashion and fashion marketing as well. Although I've heard that the "all-black" has become Italian Vogue's top-selling issue, I am curious to see what the models of their next issue will look like. The simple fact that they had to devote part of an issue to black models reinforces blackness as "other", "exotic" and "different". After getting a "taste" of the "flavor of the month", things usually go back to normal. A lack of color on runways and magazines is a global phenomenon whether on the runways of Milan, Paris, London, New York or S??o Paulo, and one issue partially devoted to black models will not solve the problem.
  • Posted By:
    MrMarques72 at 09/17/2008 12:50:16 PM
    Comment:
    When I heard that Italian Vogue was printing a special "all-black" issue of course I wanted to check it out. But when I picked it up what immediately struck me was how many pages of white models in the advertisements I had to go through before I even got to the "all-black" section. Seeing that it is the advertising that sells magazines, TV shows, etc., the fashion paradigm of whiteness remains the same. In Brazil there is a saying that "the dark/black meat is the cheapest". I guess that applies to fashion and fashion marketing as well. Although I've heard that the "all-black" has become Italian Vogue's top-selling issue, I am curious to see what the models of their next issue will look like. The simple fact that they had to devote part of an issue to black models reinforces blackness as "other", "exotic" and "different". After getting a "taste" of the "flavor of the month", things usually go back to normal. A lack of color on runways and magazines is a global phenomenon whether on the runways of Milan, Paris, London, New York or S??o Paulo, and one issue partially devoted to black models will not solve the problem.
  • Posted By:
    dundada at 07/18/2008 10:44:37 AM
    Comment:
    There's an issue that preceeds and is also related to the issue of the lack of black models in the fashion industry. That issue is the national and GLOBAL respect of all Black CONSUMERS!

    The advertisers, and probably the publicists, do not respect that Black people in the US for example are spending billions just to line someone else's pockets, and then these advertisers say that black images won't sell anything or won't sell much of any certain items. As if they've never seen a black consumer in their whole life.

    Black people should definitely continue start their own businesses and not look to whites for validation or anything BUT if Blacks choose to spend in white-owned shops, they should put pressure on the advertisers to show Black images and let them know that Black people will collectively take away their billions of dollars away from these businesses if they don't.

    Black people need to let these execs know that only black images will sell to Black people. There is no respect for the way Black consumers act in real normal life, think, or feel and this relates even to racist security measures of following black people around shops and targeting only them.

    How should we make sure countries such as USA, UK, and Canada respect the image and the money of hard working Black consumers who line CEO pockets just like anybody else?

    This is not about being nice to Blacks, this is also about business and good customer service. If they want billions from Blacks then Blacks should make sure small or large companies earn this with plenty of our positive images being advertised, and only the BEST non-invasive un-security guard-targeting customer service in any of these shops.

    They need to be shown that they need to earn our respect and our money, if they want to make any money out of Blacks at all.
  • Posted By:
    Chocolate1 at 07/14/2008 1:16:50 PM
    Comment:
    Personally I give praise to Italy for realizing that "Black is Beautiful", now it is time for the rest of the world to open their eyes and own up to it. Although, I do feel that the US already recognizes it. I just think that they are afraid and threatened by what could come from it. We are a diverse culture. It is very rare that you will see two black persons and say they look alike. It's so ridiculous that almost every other culture takes our cultures ideas and turn them into what they want them to be but to let a black woman grace the covers of a cosmopolitan, or Vogue it's almost unheard of. I feel that the fashion industry is intimidated by the black womans personality, attitude, and body. The fashion world has set a certain look for society to see as beautiful and they expect us to think the way they think. I feel that everyone needs to let them know we are getting tired of looking at the same ole Blonde hair, blue eyed, stick figures, we want something else and then maybe they will start listening.

    I have to agree with Bethann as far as her statement about it's not just about being tall and beautiful you have to be up there with the elite. When a black woman goes to be a model, she has to own it, because if she doesn't the modeling/fashion industry will chew you up and spit you out. There are beautiful women in every culture but what can you bring to the table other than that beautiful face and vuluptuous body. So own it ladies, show them that we are much more than what society has stereotyped us to be. Outside of all that I have said, it is time for everyone to wake up. Thank you to Italy, hopefully it will rub off on everyone else and thank you beautiful black women-you are gorgeous!
  • Posted By:
    Chocolate1 at 07/14/2008 12:56:17 PM
    Comment:
    I am truly excited that Italy has discovered that "Black is Beautiful", now it is time for the rest of the world to catch on. I feel that the US already knows this but they are threatened by it. It's a fact that black men and women come in all different shades, body types, personalities, etc. It's truly hard to look at two black persons and say they look alike. You get diversity with us and that within itself is a beautiful thing. Out of all this though, I have to agree with Bethann. She said that its not about just being tall and beautiful and its not. It wonderful to be tall and beautiful but you have to come full force in the modeling/fashion industry, or (for lack of better words) they will chew you up and spit you out. Black women are beautiful with amazing body types, but yet the designers/casting directors, or whoever want to pick the stick figures that look alike to walk down that runway. I watch the fashions shows on style and I get truly disgusted because there's nothing new. It's the same ole boring skinny white girl with the same ole ribs showing and I turn it off. Honestly you are suppose to be looking at the wears but you get quite distracted when the clothing doesn't look good on the model that's wearing it. I give a huge praise to Italy....US "WAKE UP"
  • Posted By:
    nubianqueen at 07/12/2008 11:55:18 PM
    Comment:
    SO SAD SO SAD.
  • Posted By:
    Tired of Stupidity and Hatred at 07/11/2008 5:50:24 PM
    Comment:
    Patra sounds like a racist person! I was reading

    the comments down to hers and I couldn't go on;

    people like that need to drop off the face of the internet.

    ''My people, my people...my beautiful BLACK people...''

    Why segregate yourself?

    What is that? Talking bad about how black women look

    better that white women isn't very appropriate either.

    Personally, I don't go fake bake... I like my pasty soft skin.

    It is people like that who keep hatred going. Obviously

    this person has some pent up hatred and needs some

    form of counseling.

    I can refer you to someone;

    his name is

    JESUS.

  • Posted By:
    slingback1 at 07/10/2008 5:32:07 PM
    Comment:
    I worked in for during the early 80's and late 90's in various capcity. The comment of the designers not having muses is very true, but here is the thing there are hardly any true designers anymore...what we have is just names....a true designer is one who can sketch, drape and even sew....if you are just giving out your ideas and color swatches you don't care what color wears you cloths!!! I am shocked at what is called fashion now adays..., slap your name on a pair of jeans and charge $175, you don't care about fit or fabric. Until we get back to true fashion in this country you will continue to see a black out in fashion....If you want to see true fashion you have to go Europe....there is black all over the place not just in one issue of a magazine.
  • Posted By:
    seymoba at 07/10/2008 4:29:40 PM
    Comment:
    Why is the name NAOMI SIMS always left out of these types of conversations. Frankly until now I had never heard of Bethann, but as a child, a young African American in the late 50s the only model of color I knew of was Ms Naomi Sims. She deserves a lot more credit than she gets. These women mentioned in this article all owe a great debt to Ms Sims.
  • Posted By:
    zdee at 07/09/2008 9:34:12 PM
    Comment:
    If you want beautiful black and slim women, check out BET's Top Ten. Rap is something to be proud of.
  • Posted By:
    abby at 07/08/2008 3:10:49 PM
    Comment:
    This article gets five stars because we are all muses of the industry.
    Human hangers walking around with physical frames waiting to model clothes by top designers. I'm approaching 54 years of age and I just purchased a size 6 jean.
    We possess a natural metabolism culturally speaking in other words we ROCK!
  • Posted By:
    steelecal at 07/08/2008 12:19:05 PM
    Comment:
    If you think the Italians are praising Black as beautiful, you're sadly mistaken. These people are about selling magazines. This issue of Vogue is gaining a lot of press and sales are increasing. Italians, at least here in the US, do not like or respect the black community. Italian men may love our women but aside from using black people to make money they have nothing to really do with us.
  • Posted By:
    steelecal at 07/08/2008 12:09:22 PM
    Comment:
    Jdylan, are you serious?? What the hell is your point?
    • Posted By:
      jdylan at 07/13/2008 8:35:53 PM
      Comment:
      For you it would be that the vast majority of people are extremely stupid when compared with the few. That insanity in an individual is rare, but in the mass it is the norm. Of course, it is likely that reason can not be taught, common sense is not very common. That in order to speak to the mass of people one must know how to speak like a five year old; plainly and simply. All things the mass believe in today has had to be dumbed down and hence lost its true meaning. So maybe I write for the few, and like it that way. Like the preface of Nietzsche's "The Antichrist". " This book belongs to the very few. Maybe not one of them is yet alive... aware of the conditions of which a man understands and then necessarily understands...intellectually upright to the point of hardness... used to living on mountain tops; feeling the wretched gabble of politics and national egotism beneath him...never inquire whether truth is profitable or may prove fatal... A new conscience for truths which hitherto have remained dumb... He must love himself, honour himself, be absolutely free with regard to himself... of what account are the rest? The rest are simply humanity... One must be superior to humanity in power, loftiness of soul, in contempt." No one today can separate truth from aesthetics. As it a good feeling was the standard of truth. That if it did not give one a good feeling than it must be wrong in it's content. Of course to understand here, one must already know it; so it doesn't surprise me in the least that you and many don't. That the world is so full of stupidity that it reaches insanity. That progress is only the action of the masses striving to be where the few have already been and moved beyond. The mass of humanity will always be a day behind the few. To understand that every leap forward humanity makes there are some who laugh and say about time; but are still shamed because the leap was not far enough.
  • Posted By:
    bigbill at 07/08/2008 11:28:29 AM
    Comment:
    It isn't whether "black is beautiful" to American whites (or Italians whites for that matter), it is whether black models will sell magazines, cosmetics, dresses, shoes, handbags or accessories.

    If they DO sell product, believe me, the advertisers and editors will fawn over them. Please enlighten us. Please report back with a follow-up telling us what the circulation of that month's issue was.

    If they don't sell product, so be it.
  • Posted By:
    PatraPatra at 07/06/2008 2:20:32 PM
    Comment:
    (continued)

    seige in this country. This isn't about hating other groups, it is about African American people embracing each other, taking charge of our own lives, and having our OWN (god bless that child that's got his own...or does that not apply to African Americans???))))

    Finally, it is not required that I love "other" people, or that they "love" me...all we need to do is respect each other as fellow human beings.
  • Posted By:
    PatraPatra at 07/06/2008 2:13:27 PM
    Comment:
    paulapaulapaula said: Why is is necessary for us to have our own fashion magazine?

    It is necessary for African American people to stop begging white america to love us, respect us, accept us and "give us" anything. If it were not for the very few, brave African American men and women who dared to stop begging white folks, we would not have Johnson Publishing Company and other successful big and small businesses owned and operated by African American people. We would do well to put all of the energy we use begging the white man, the asian man, the latino/hispanic man, the jewish man, etc. to love us and "give us something", into loving, respecting and accepting ourselves...and developing our own successful businesses. We also need to put that energy into educating black and brown children and helping them to become the successful men and women of the future. We need to seriously start looking after EACH OTHER, loving EACH OTHER, building EACH OTHER up, in lieu of begging for, and accepting, the mere crumbs that the white man and others throw our way.

    paulapaulapaula said:This kind of thinking is what feeds racism.

    No, this kind of thinking leads to us becoming an independent, successful people who possess our own successful ventures. Why do some AA's think that we cannot be successful without the presence or interference of white people? Why do we need white people to validate us? I live in a successful AA neighborhood comprised of successful blue collar and white collar workers, our town boasts several successful black businesses -- a black owned pharmacy, a black owned flower shop, auto repair shop, barbershops, hair salons, resturants and two fitness centers (Curves) both black owned. I work for a small yet successful insurance broker, my husband and two brothers have a landscaping company that they run, in addition to their "regular" jobs; their dream is to develope it into a full time business, and our children attend a successful black school. My husband spend and I volunteer at an outreach program that works with at risk youth, particularly young black men. So as you can see, we are quite a productive family in that we spend our time reaching out to our people in need, in lieu of begging for the white man's approval...which we do just fine without.

    paulapaulapaula said: How about a magazine for just ordinary people? Get a life and live it and quit worrying about race. Perhaps if we start trying to be good, decent people who love one another in spite of our differences we would not have to worry about "our own" magazine.

    Apparently you don't get that this issue transcends a magazine. As for my getting a life, thank you for the offer, but as you can see from my comments above, my life is quite full, thank you...it is quite full caring about African American people, a people who are not very much cared for in this country. Unless you live under a rock, you do know that black men, including INNOCENT black men, are under
  • Posted By:
    PatraPatra at 07/06/2008 1:34:29 PM
    Comment:
    Posted By:
    jdylan at 07/06/2008 12:03:33 PM
    Comment:
    Excuse me if I interrupt your argument but I have noticed a tremendous error in reason that is rampant among people. It is difficult to remain quite in regards to this. You will not say one can't be proud of their race? I will. You can't be proud of your race and I would even venture to extend it to the whole of the human race.

    Apparently you don't understand the concept of one being proud of one's race...as an African American woman, I am very proud of the accomplishments and successes of my people. Sorry, but you don't get to dictate to any person, but esp. black people, whether we can or cannot be proud of our own...that's a bit too controlling on your part, don't you think? I don't take kindly to people trying to control me in that manner....
    • Posted By:
      jdylan at 07/07/2008 6:31:39 PM
      Comment:
      It has nothing to do with controlling or dictating. It is about a failure of reason. Intellectual incompetence. Riding on the coat tails of what others have done because you have nothing else to be proud of. Like a fan of a sports team who refers to them as "we". Or there is such a lack of pride among others that you have to be proud for them. To admire is one thing, but pride is another. I'll say it again, pride is meant for the individual accomplishments. What YOU have done, not what others have done. What reason do I have to be proud of the invention of the airplane? None, I had nothing to do with it. What reason do I have to be proud of the fact my grandfather is a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. None, I had nothing to do with it. But I admire the fact that these things were done. The difference between the two is distance and more than one can't live in one body. Of course one has to have the ability to think beyond superficiality; truly it is not a very deep thought. So when ever I see some claim racial pride whether it is black, white, brown, or yellow I see an idiot propagator of racism. And truly a person who can't count to three and how foolish I feel by even attempting to explain basic reason to an old person who never learned how to see with two eyes. Who holds two fingures in front of their face and says two; when two eyes see four.
      • Posted By:
        Patra at 07/09/2008 1:37:38 PM
        Comment:
        jdylan, are you really this stupid, or are you just pretending to be this stupid? AGAIN...as an AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN, I am very proud of the successes of African American people. I LOVE it when MY PEOPLE succeed. It does my heart good to see African American people...MY PEOPLE... doing well. Two years ago, when I attended my nephew's commencement ceremony (Morehouse College), I was extremely proud of him, but I was also extremely proud to see all those beautiful black and brown faces, degrees in hand. You see, I happen to love my black and brown people. And I will continue to be PROUD of each and every single one of our successes. You don't get to tell me how to feel...about MY people. End of discussion.
        • Posted By:
          jdylan at 07/13/2008 8:42:11 PM
          Comment:
          My stupidity tells me admitation and pride are two diffeerent things. That to many misunderstand the meaning of both, and you are one of them.
  • Posted By:
    MsKlassy at 07/05/2008 1:30:12 PM
    Comment:
    susanr61,
    First, I never once said that you cannot be proud of your race. Go for it...say it loud....But it is the manner in which you do it and the intent behind it. Second...th oh please at the beginning of your comment, now if I was not akind hearted person and if I did not put myself in your shoes...I would have taken offense to that. For the simple fact that I could have felt that you sompletley brushed of the issues that I addressed in my previous comment. But I chose to look at it from you point of view. Sure you may have felt that I was attacking white people...which was not my intnent at all...I was just addressing the fact that to see someone who looks like me on the cover of such a prestigious magazine made me feel good about myself and my race. To see that yes, our beauty is finally accepted and recognized.

    So I would just like for you to step outside of yourself and take a look at the things that my people have gone through and you would see how this situation would make us proud. You would see why the struggles that we have gone through and still are going through are so improtant to who we are. You would see that our history needs to be remembered, you would see the purpsoe of Black History Month. You would understand that if we do not inform each other young and old about the stories and history of our ancestors, then wew would not know. We would not know about Haiti being the first to revolt against their slave masters...we would not know that a lot of the modern day inventions were inspired if not orignially made by African Americans. You would know that the first president was not Washington...he was an African American...but things like that seem to easily drift away from the history books.

    So please don't tell us to just let it go...it will not work that way...we can not and will not let go of our past...I also have a word for you to look up: SANKOFA...read the definition and ponder on that for a minute and you will see why our history is so important.

    So on that note...I'm going to conclude and challenge everyone to step out of theirselves and see the issues from different points of views...That's my challenge to everyone...including myself...


    • Posted By:
      jdylan at 07/06/2008 12:03:33 PM
      Comment:
      Excuse me if I interrupt your argument but I have noticed a tremendous error in reason that is rampant among people. It is difficult to remain quite in regards to this. You will not say one can't be proud of their race? I will. You can't be proud of your race and I would even venture to extend it to the whole of the human race. One doesn't choose the race they are born to; unless I seemed to have forgotten that from pre-life experience. If one is born in America they are an American, not because they examined the worlds nations and found it to be the most beneficial, it is a given. Pride doesn't extend itself to things which come of no choice. To do so is what is called foolish pride.
      And what has this foolish pride revealed to the world? Racism. The weak individual ego that would rather run to a lie, a group, rather than be alone. The fear of oneself and of others has perpetuated this weak, false belief system. This drive has caused individuals to congregate into a herd to combat other herds of people. And what is the tie that binds these herds together? The lie which claims your herd is better, more fit, safer, stronger; the deserver of pride is the oldest of all lies. This type of false pride does nothing but maintain a barrier between races of the same race and inhabitants of the same home.
      Pride is only suited for the individual accomplishments, self over-comings, victories... and at times defeats. To fall short here, to not hear, to belief racial pride to be just; is to stand in the core of racism. Oh, but others can be proud of their race too, you exclaim. But that is just the latest ramblings of the herd which still believes it needs the lie to survive. But it is the lie which is striving for survival. So when someone claims to have pride I ask you to question it. Is it self deserving? Did it come from a self overcoming? Or did come as a birth right? Pride is earned, it is not given. And never does it extend farther than the one who gained it.
  • Posted By:
    rj3624 at 07/05/2008 12:18:11 PM
    Comment:
    I go to Europe twice a year and have been since I was a little girl, not because the color of my skin is more accepted, it's because it's a beautiful country. My mother was a White Russian Jew and my father a Black man. They were married in 1952 when bi-racial marriages weren't heard of and definitely looked down at. Although chastized for many years they hung in there and then came me. I was born in 1959 and can't begin to tell you the things that I had to go through growing up. I was brought up to accept both races and yet was always excepted more by white people then black and honestly could never understand that. Was it because I spoke too well, was it because I am very light skinned and I have "good" hair as I was always told by blacks, was it because my mother was an attorney and my father a doctor... who the hell knows but it's fact. I'm not and have never been prejudice towards any race yet feel more prejudice from blacks then other races. There isn't a race in america that hasn't been chastized in some way, from jews, to spanish, to asians, to the irish, to italians and even religious races like the mormans, jews, etc.... Leave the past in the past.... we can't take it with us, we can only learn from our mistakes all of our mistakes... how can we move on if we don't let it go..... why the hell can't people just look at "who" people are..... do you not hang out with a very intelligent and well educated person because of their color or do you CHOOSE who you associate with because of "WHO" they are and "HOW" they treat you????? Come on people get real..... we all have hangups good and bad no matter what our color is.... can't we get over the "COLOR" issue and learn to love people for "WHO THEY ARE NOT WHAT COLOR THEY ARE.....!!!!! and the sad thing about all of these comments is that it's based in AMERICA..... in every country I visit in Europe color isn't the issue.... it's "who" the person is..... are blacks more accepted in Italy/Europe.... or is it that 'COLOR ISN'T AN ISSUE" LOVE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE NOT WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. AND IT'S COMMENTS LIKE THESE THAT KEEP US IN THE PAST.... LET IT GO....GROW UP AMERICA IT'S THE 21ST CENTURY FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!!
  • Posted By:
    Chris at 07/05/2008 2:10:45 AM
    Comment:
    Dear jjones45,
    I agree with you (you're probably already surprised). We should not have gone to all countries you are referencing???. YOU???RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IT WAS WRONG in every single way???Imagine if we didn???t???.We would not be having such discussions now???. I regret and truly think that it was a huge mistake in every single count for us to intrude into these people???s land???. We should have left it for the natural evolutionary way of development. Wouldn???t be wonderful if now your people were coming to our countries as tourists and were leaving peacefully back home when their vacation visa expires and we did the same. There would be no jealousy who drives what and how much someone makes, wears, looks. There would not be any claims as to slavery, and/or whatever endless entitlements that come after we went to your countries. Think about it??? Think.
  • Posted By:
    paulapaulapaula at 07/04/2008 9:43:55 PM
    Comment:
    Why is is necessary for us to have our own fashion magazine? This kind of thinking is what feeds racism. How about a magazine for just ordinary people? Black, hispanic, asian, white or any other colour, I just don't understand such hate spewing forth from people's mouths. Get a life and live it and quit worrying about race. Perhaps if we start trying to be good, decent people who love one another in spite of our differences we would not have to worry about "our own" magazine.








    • Posted By:
      rj3624 at 07/05/2008 12:21:23 PM
      Comment:
      Agreed totally :) I go to Europe twice a year and have been since I was a little girl, not because the color of my skin is more accepted, it's because it's a beautiful country. My mother was a White Russian Jew and my father a Black man. They were married in 1952 when bi-racial marriages weren't heard of and definitely looked down at. Although chastized for many years they hung in there and then came me. I was born in 1959 and can't begin to tell you the things that I had to go through growing up. I was brought up to accept both races and yet was always excepted more by white people then black and honestly could never understand that. Was it because I spoke too well, was it because I am very light skinned and I have "good" hair as I was always told by blacks, was it because my mother was an attorney and my father a doctor... who the hell knows but it's fact. I'm not and have never been prejudice towards any race yet feel more prejudice from blacks then other races. There isn't a race in america that hasn't been chastized in some way, from jews, to spanish, to asians, to the irish, to italians and even religious races like the mormans, jews, etc.... Leave the past in the past.... we can't take it with us, we can only learn from our mistakes all of our mistakes... how can we move on if we don't let it go..... why the hell can't people just look at "who" people are..... do you not hang out with a very intelligent and well educated person because of their color or do you CHOOSE who you associate with because of "WHO" they are and "HOW" they treat you????? Come on people get real..... we all have hangups good and bad no matter what our color is.... can't we get over the "COLOR" issue and learn to love people for "WHO THEY ARE NOT WHAT COLOR THEY ARE.....!!!!! and the sad thing about all of these comments is that it's based in AMERICA..... in every country I visit in Europe color isn't the issue.... it's "who" the person is..... are blacks more accepted in Italy/Europe.... or is it that 'COLOR ISN'T AN ISSUE" LOVE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE NOT WHAT COLOR THEY ARE. AND IT'S COMMENTS LIKE THESE THAT KEEP US IN THE PAST.... LET IT GO....GROW UP AMERICA IT'S THE 21ST CENTURY FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!!
  • Posted By:
    smilingonlife at 07/04/2008 12:12:48 PM
    Comment:
    As a half Black half irish american 24 Y/O educated model, it disturbs me more to see that people are spewing hateful things (both black and white) in defense of their own representations... does this really make sense?? Why can't we all just take things for what they are: it is a lot harder to find work as a (even mixed) black model... that is just the way it is. until the market changes do we all sit here behind our computer screens and fight each other over what can not be forced?? apparently...
    everyone is entitled to their own opinions. the baker, for example, their are some very racist over tones... but they come across as more of a selective preference brought on by her upbringing/environment. I have studied the african (afrikaan) slave trade and have read about some of the chieftans having a hand in turning over their own people... granted they were not fully disclosed the terms and conditions, but you look at africa today and their it still is black on black violence at its best (and sadly it is reflected here in the states as well)... It is very sad that this article has generated such a negative response. Most of you have not even commented on the articles content. Italian black vogue is a wonderful thing!! it will not however (again) change what people want... time will.
    IT IS UNNECESSARY TO DOWNGRADE ANY RACE...WE ALL HAVE OBVIOUS THINGS TO OVERCOME AND CHANGE. WILL WE HAVE THIS SAME DISCUSSION WHEN THE EVER POPULOUS/PRESENT MEXICAN/HISPANICS PRODUCE A SIMILAR ARTICLE??
    JUST SMILE...
  • Posted By:
    kayzedd at 07/04/2008 12:04:16 PM
    Comment:
    I read a comment from Chris..right? Africans don't depend on the Western world for help.It's a payback of our kind gestures to them.Don't you know Africa is so blessed with so many resources that they have givena and still giving to out..name it,material and human resources etc that have built all the so called great Economies of the world.Without the significant contribution of the Africans Chris,do u think u will have the guts to insult a whole rich continent ( not shying away from bad Leadership) who brought civilization to the world ( and now for those who doesn't knw history,this is d reality),please let's be constructive when we post comments and let's stop thinking below the sea level.
  • Posted By:
    Digital Gentleman at 07/04/2008 5:57:49 AM
    Comment:
    It is interesting to see thebaker's comments. I am wondering, given then nature of her comments, why she is even reading this site to post on it?
    • Posted By:
      Moxie_Nouveaux at 07/05/2008 4:59:35 AM
      Comment:
      Amen! And apparently doesn't know the TRUE meaning of her hypocritical comment, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Once again, whites are trying to tell us how we should feel, i.e., the control factor kicking in, instead of educating themselves about other cultures (other than their own), and not only what you see on the news. Take your mind out of that narrow box for a change. Oh, I forgot, they frown upon change. They only accept fear.
  • Posted By:
    thebaker at 07/03/2008 10:28:56 PM
    Comment:
    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'm a white woman that never dated out of her race. Why? Because I am not attracted to men other than the white race. Speaking frankly, it is not the color, but the features of most blacks that I don;t find attractive. I don't like large noses or large lips, and I like smaller features and straight hair. If you want to call that racist, okay, thats okay with me. I call it preference. Sorry if you don't like this comment, you have no problem insulting white people. I'm glad as a woman I was born in America. Many countries treat their women horribly and that includes Africa. Lets see, we live in 2008, 150 years past slavery. It is human history that one nation trys to obliterate another. The Irish were very much discriminated against during one period of our history. As were others. The jews have their own history. It goes back to the beginning of time. As far as slavery, African chieftans had a hand in turning over Africans to slavers. Actually, there is some slavery still on-going in Africa. A family demands payment in the form of servitude and it can continue through generations. As far as an all black Vogue, thats okay with me, as a matter of fact an all black issue in the US would be fine. And I repeat beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  • Posted By:
    cherylsinks at 07/03/2008 8:52:02 PM
    Comment:
    Since reading about white people sharing a common shade of pale, let me inform your readers of the obvious-we come in shades of black hair all the way to various shades of brown to shades of blonde and the rarer redhead. Our eye color can be dark brown, hazel blue and green. Our skin color varies from ivory or pale to olive. Its unnecessary to constantly downgrade the white race.
  • Posted By:
    kayzedd at 07/03/2008 7:14:37 PM
    Comment:
    Civilization started from Africa,Egypt precisely.Even Jesus Christ sought refuge in Africa.If the so called 'people of Colour" and We should think who is the real people of colour ??? ...The 'Blacks'(Have u ever seen anyone as black that he/she is so Invisible?) that changes no colour or the "Whites"(Have u ever seen someone as white as snow?) who changes colour of the body due to the different events ? RACISM IS A SPIRIT OF HATE that will continue to linger on in our different societies not just in the United States.
    I am a medical student in Romania where u still find my fellow white skinned dudes still looking @ U like HBO,MTV and CNN just because of your skin colour.wow! It's cool to be surrounded by paparazis for almost half a decade now with the same attitudes and mindsets.When I was in the US,it was a 'civilized form of it ( not the KUNTA KUNTE type we have here in Romania..lol).
    It's high time we make people of different race acknowlege the fact RACISM in different forms has taken a different mask in our societies which can be seen clearly as well in the Fashion Industry.
    Whether u are Blue.Green,Orange,Brown or Pink,Hispanics,Latinos,Asian,Arab etc,Please let's acknowlege the SAD REALITY that needs to be reduced atleast if it cannot be stopped.
  • Posted By:
    Patra at 07/03/2008 6:11:50 PM
    Comment:
    My people...brothas and sistas...one more comment before I leave...

    ...do you see all this ugliness coming from THEM??? Keep one thing in mind...although they are hiding behind their computers and spewing their hate, remember that these are the SAME people that WE work with...the SAME people who, at work, come over to our offices/workspaces, say good morning, chat with us, smile at us, laugh with us, pretend to like us, pretend to respect us...only to go home and type ugly, racist rhetoric about us. Bottom line is this: These people are threatened by a certain type of black person...not the poor, disenfranchised brothas and sistas, but the educated ones, the ones who can compete with them, whether it is in corporate america or in the fashion industry. This is the REAL reason they resent Italian Vogue devoting an issue to black women...because it means that someone has recognized...no, recognized is not a good word to use (they've always recognized our beauty)...acknowledged our beauty as marketable, and it's scaring the hell out of them. We're invading THEIR territory. Stepping on THEIR toes. And when they get scared, they get especially ugly and hateful.

    I just hope no African or African American model finds a noose lying on her dressing table.
  • Posted By:
    Patra at 07/03/2008 5:58:11 PM
    Comment:
    My people, my people...my beautiful BLACK people...

    ...please...PLEASE do yourselves a favor and STOP trying to explain anything to the hateful, racist whites and "others" in discussion. We all know that nothing upsets them more than black people "stepping out of their place" and being "uppity". Personally, I'm not the least bit impressed that Vogue, be it the Italian issue or whatever issue, has FINALLY devoted an issue to black women. I'd be much more impressed if WE had our OWN fashion magazine. But I duly respect the right of my fellow sistas and brothas to be pleased about this. Let's just leave "those people" to their own devices...let them hold on to their hateful, racist ways.

    Finally, a word about black beauty...to all the caucasion and "other" haters here.

    BLACK DON'T CRACK...!!!

    I am 48 years old. Most black women my age look YEARS younger. Now ask me how do WHITE women 48 years old look?

    CRACKED.

    Lines.
    Wrinkles
    Crows Feet
    Bags
    Sags
    Turkey neck
    Liver spots
    Age spots

    Not to mention all those ugly age spots and oh my god, the leathery luggage look some of you have from baking yourselves in the sun to get brown...the same silly assed women like the ones I work with, who'd insist on placing their weathered, worn, leathery arm next to mine in an effort to compare their dried up semi burnt color next to my deep, golden brown color. After I started turning my back on their extended arms, guess they got the message that I wasn't interested in color comparisons!!

    White folks...stop hating.

    • Posted By:
      jdylan at 07/06/2008 3:48:09 AM
      Comment:
      Only beauty should preach repentence? And you belief that muffled misery. Your thoughts fall right in line when the whites said the blacks weren't human because they looked like monkeys. Perhaps you should stop hating since you now have become your enemy.
      • Posted By:
        Patra at 07/09/2008 1:49:55 PM
        Comment:
        jdylan said: . Your thoughts fall right in line when the whites said the blacks weren't human because they looked like monkeys.

        I'm sure those are YOUR thoughts, but who cares what you think about black people? MY thoughts do not fall in that line. I never said white people resembled animals, I said many age start to show the signs of aging early on, and in many cases, they age horribly, because of their own doing (i.e. too much time spent in the sun. I didn't make that up, it's the truth.
    • Posted By:
      michellemae at 07/04/2008 1:09:27 AM
      Comment:
      It's does no good to totally put down and insult people, and then tell *THEM* to stop hating. I acknowledge that beautiful people are beautiful. There are a lot more average people, than beauties no matter where you go. You seem really bitter Patra. And that makes anyone ugly. And how do you know these women are 48? Maybe they're 70. And everyone gets old. You just want to hate everyone not like you. Asians, Arabs, Whites, Hispanics. You only look at appearance? What about how decent the person is? Does that matter? It's like you have to reassure yourself. By the way, YOU are also one of the same people that says horrible things about the people around you. You're the same person that pretends you don't hate them. Hypocrite.
  • Posted By:
    Patra at 07/03/2008 5:13:08 PM
    Comment:
    Oh my god, I am so TIRED of US always sitting around waiting for white folks to validate and acknowledge our beauty! Why are we (black people) always begging white people and "others" to "accept us"??????? Our problem ISN'T whether or not whites or "others" will accept us, the problem is that we're still awaiting for a group of people who will NEVER fully accept us, to accept us! Instead of us sitting on our asses waiting for Vogue to pay homage to us, the powers that be over at the Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony, Essence) should have started a fashion magazine devoted to the features, skin tones, hair textures and body types of black women YEARS ago! We need to get our OWN ish and stop begging the white man to be a part of HIS ish!!!!
  • Posted By:
    CherryV at 07/03/2008 1:52:38 PM
    Comment:
    It is not just in modeling, Black women seem to be disappearing.
  • Posted By:
    Lesley-Ann at 07/03/2008 1:49:50 PM
    Comment:
    Fabulous article.
  • Posted By:
    piess at 07/03/2008 12:47:51 PM
    Comment:
    This Chris chick is obviously an ignorant racist and has no knowledge of her so called "Jewish title', the Religion comes from Ethiopia and these are the original Jews, not Europeans from the Cacus mountains. Chris please read "They came before Columbus", "Black Power White Wealth" and "Destruction of Black Civilization" if you want to know the truth. If you are as educated as you claim, then reading should be welcomed.
  • Posted By:
    piess at 07/03/2008 12:29:05 PM
    Comment:
    I am almost 50 years old and I still model in Cleveland and people cannot believe my age. That is because BLACk is beautiful at any age. I have tried to get with national agencies, because as a country we are getting older and there are alot of older models working more than I have seen, yet the racisim still exist. It is sad and the hipocrisy in the U.S. is never ending!!!
  • Posted By:
    Brittany B at 07/03/2008 11:50:17 AM
    Comment:
    I agree with Moon child... Liya is gorgeous, beautiful.. And I would take here anyday over Kate Moss or Carmen Kass.. And I think the issue is that people are intimidated by our beauty, resilience and strength. White women spend there time trying to look like us anyway... Hello! Lip injections, *** and but implants, and tanning? what do you want to be dark for??? Hmmmmm.. But hey, I know I'm beautiful and I don't even have to defend myself against the ignorance that has shown itself on this page. I won't argue with Chris or Brooke anymore because their minds are made up... They are convinced they are better, we are the worst and that is fine because I'm still going to live my life, my great life. I know that I'm not anything that they think the majority are... we have made many achievements and we continue to move forward.. We may have our 1st Black president by the end of the year.. So all I can do at the end of the day is just SMILE... I'm just so proud to be Black and a Woman... So blessed...
  • Posted By:
    SimplyComplex at 07/03/2008 10:58:37 AM
    Comment:
    And also, about your comment to Moon Beam. It's not that easy to do all that. You make it sound as if it's a piece of cake. When, obviously, it's not.
  • Posted By:
    SimplyComplex at 07/03/2008 10:53:28 AM
    Comment:
    Um, Chris? I don't want to ruin the debate you and Brittany B have going on, but I'd like to add my two cents in.

    I disagree when you said China is doing "just fine". No large continent in America is doing "just fine". Something is always going on. In fact didn't you hear about the earthquakes that killed quite a lot of people in China? Does that sound "just fine" to you?

    And you're also incorrect when you said Black people are going to Europe just for free. Nothing in the world is free. Either you or somebody else is paying for it.

    You know what's really laughable? Your mind set. The way you think. Please don't take this the wrong way, but from your post it sounds as if you're trying to make yourself higher. Very uppity and it's going to offend.

    :)
  • Posted By:
    Chris at 07/03/2008 10:19:41 AM
    Comment:
    Hey Brittany B,
    I am part Jewish so please be careful! IQ..... educate yourself better before making any statements - it???s quite touchy subject among your own; it's actually laughable how you are trying to jump out of your skin to seek for inventions done by a black man???.. Not enough to be proud of, unless it is a writer who plagiarized the other???s intellectual product???. MLK is a good example! Well, go ahead and make a defensive speech, tell us about the famous in Africa who is capable to feed their own and blaming the rest of the world for this. China has enormous population and guess what they are doing jus fine. Your people are flooding Europe because they are things there for FREE if you are black???. ??? housing, food, education. Just admit that the majority of your people are not capable of supporting themselves???. You are probably very angry at them, because 2% of your good people get trashed by the 98% of useless??? (don???t check my math ??? it???s just a example) and don???t get foamed, please.
  • Posted By:
    Chris at 07/03/2008 10:02:40 AM
    Comment:
    Hey Moon child ,
    If you are so superior why don't you take of your own people in AFrica - cure the deseases and feed the starving, why do you keep looking at us to FEED you, TREAT you, PROVIDE for you? If you are that superior do IT YOURSELF, get of the tree and do it!
  • Posted By:
    Moonchild at 07/03/2008 9:55:29 AM
    Comment:
    Those of you who don't know Liya Kebede. She's the beautiful model from Adadas Ababa, Ethiopia. (excuse me if I spelled it wrong). See, this is why we need to see MORE black women from all over the globe in American magazines like Essence, Ebony/Jet, Hair mags etc. There are alot of beautiful sisters that aren't even recognized in American black publication. And that is sad.

    And as for racism. It has been proven that people of color ( especially blacks) IS more superior then white. Scientist know this. Why else do you all think they created awful disease for people of color to die? To wipe us out.

    Its true.....its d@mn true.
  • Posted By:
    Moonchild at 07/03/2008 9:40:51 AM
    Comment:
    Its nice to know that Italian magazines are doing this. I think Amerikkka need to take note and do the same (which I doubt it. They to busy haten on blacks by making us look inferior in the media across the globe). And who ever said History is not important, they're a lair!! History IS VERY IMPORTANT. In fact, this is where all this crap begin, in past. You ever heard of the quote saying "YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU"RE GOING UNTIL YOU KNOW WHERE YOU BEEN." And that sooo true. Amerikkka need to stop.....know, wait, WHITE AMERIKKKA need to stop all the ignorance by haten on people of color and celebrate all beauty here. I think these people are nothing more then just jealous of the original. They have been for centuries ya know?

    And racism still exist because to me, whites (not all, but the majority) are afraid because they're about to be wiped out. Its true. They try to to keep it as white as possible because they know their race IS THE REAL INFERIOR GROUP. It has been proven that people of color (especially blacks) are really more superior then white folks. That's why I don't understand why these East Indian people and other South East Asians are trippin about their color. Know wait. YT is surely responsible for this. Nuff said.
  • Posted By:
    kayzedd at 07/03/2008 4:29:42 AM
    Comment:
    I 'stumbled' on this website and this Vogue Issue of Black Models.I have read through all the Member Comments in details and I came to 2 conclusions :
    1.If History is not important,we should have prevented events from taking place.
    2.Why do we make a 'fuss' about Colour,dark skinned,white skinned,Latinos,Hispanics,Asians etc,,,why?It's just because there is still a sad reality that still exists.RACISM...When one race sees itself more superior than the other in all Ramifications,the fashion industry/Media inclusive.BUT one thing we should realise as well is that THERE IS NO MONOPOLY OF RACISM.The fire was Ignited by some Race,then it spreads..now what do we have : WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
    I shall conclude by this poem written by an African Child :
    When I born, I black. When I grow up, I black. When I go in Sun, I black. When I scared, I black. When I sick, I black. And when I die, I still black. And you white fellow. When you born, you pink .When you go in sun, you red. When you cold, you blue. When you scared, you yellow. When you sick, you green. And when you die, you gray. And you calling me coloured???
  • Posted By:
    kayzedd at 07/03/2008 4:28:58 AM
    Comment:
    I 'stumbled' on this website and this Vogue Issue of Black Models.I have read through all the Member Comments in details and I came to 2 conclusions :
    1.If History is not important,we should have prevented events from taking place.
    2.Why do we make a 'fuss' about Colour,dark skinned,white skinned,Latinos,Hispanics,Asians etc,,,why?It's just because there is still a sad reality that still exists.RACISM...When one race sees itself more superior than the other in all Ramifications,the fashion industry/Media inclusive.BUT one thing we should realise as well is that THERE IS NO MONOPOLY OF RACISM.The fire was Ignited by some Race,then it spreads..now what do we have : WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
    I shall conclude by this poem written by an African Child :
    When I born, I black. When I grow up, I black. When I go in Sun, I black. When I scared, I black. When I sick, I black. And when I die, I still black. And you white fellow. When you born, you pink .When you go in sun, you red. When you cold, you blue. When you scared, you yellow. When you sick, you green. And when you die, you gray. And you calling me coloured???
    Kay,Oradea,Romania.
  • Posted By:
    yomama at 07/03/2008 3:58:33 AM
    Comment:
    i'd like to see some less generic looking models; models of different body and face shapes. Other than skin colour, how do these black models look significantly different from white models? Iman and Naomi are trading on old, established fame and glory ...where are all the new black models? kate moss may still be around, but there are many other white girls since...Lily Cole, Agnes Deyn. I couldn't name a black model that wasn't a famous (super)model from the 90s and has only become famous recently. Will a magazine in Italy change this? I doubt it. btw, I don't even know who Liya Kebede is.
  • Posted By:
    66coco at 07/03/2008 3:31:06 AM
    Comment:
    As a women of color and working in the fashion industry I know that this won't make a diffrence at all.....The point is not to put black models in ONE issue of the Italian vogue and never use them again.This is what normally happens.
    And the Italian houses are the worst one using black models just check the run ways from milan...so the artical " In italy at least black is beautiful" is just soo not true.........!
    There needs to be more diversity in the fashion industry period,I think also that people that can make a diffrence such as Andre leon tally,editor of the american vogue. Pat macgrath make up artist just to mention too really powerfull black people in the fashion industry....They are not influencing the industry enough they can do more...!
  • Posted By:
    kingdevin at 07/03/2008 3:12:42 AM
    Comment:
    An issue of the prestigious magazine of Vogue that highlights the beauty of blacks is great, good job! It must be understood that we have a black history month, once a year. Hey, one month is better than no months at all, likewise, one issue is better than no issue at all, however, something is tragically wrong when it takes a special issue.

    The magazine does deserve a short applause. On the flip side, those of color, particularly blacks, should have learned by now that when not included creat and support your own.
  • Posted By:
    kingdevin at 07/03/2008 3:10:12 AM
    Comment:
    An issue of the prestigious magazine of Vogue that highlights the beauty is great, good job! It must be understood that we have a black history month, once a year. Hey, one month is better than no months at all, likewise, one issue is better than no issue at all, however, something is tragically wrong when it takes a special issue.

    Confession suggests that it is business and the readership is critically important. Looking at the problem or challenge in a parallel perspective, it has black (African and African-American) readership who subscribes and potential new customer bases. As always, when you are not included in things, you must and have to creat your own, then support them with your dollars!
  • Posted By:
    LadyEeeBee at 07/03/2008 2:40:54 AM
    Comment:
    I am black, and all though I love the fact that VOGUE went Black for this issue, I am still a firm believer that the fashion world is obsessed with the pure African over African American... know what I mean? I havent read the mag yet, but I plan to. And I sure hope to see models that are BLACK coming straight out of the cities of America instead of the motherland. No disrespect, but Black has many different faces.
  • Posted By:
    fatblackcat at 07/03/2008 2:00:25 AM
    Comment:
    and for gods sake there are thousands of children who are "just like you" in Africa who are totally homeless bc of families who ides of aids -- why not do soemthing helpful instead of worrying "How can I get into Fashion!" -- JEEZ ITS SO STUPID AND UGLY
  • Posted By:
    fatblackcat at 07/03/2008 1:58:30 AM
    Comment:
    color does not diversity make -- you can have one asian one black and one white and have no diversityat all -- in terms of mind orexperience or upbrigning.... in fact -- mostly true diversity leads to conflict bc of the human nature which can barely tolerate thoughts that differ from itself. in gernal like attracts like regardless of color.
  • Posted By:
    Brittany B at 07/03/2008 1:55:47 AM
    Comment:
    Or you are completely ridiculous Chris,
    Why don't you look up the Inventions of Blacks and see that we have made numerous contributions to this Country! For example, the refrigerator and traffic light just to name a few... you think we are useless and it is seething through the words you write on this page... Your hatred is dispicable and you obviously have been misinformed on what we have contributed to this country.. I don't even want to think about what you would say about hispanics.. And I wouldn't dare bring up the past because something tells me that your ignorance level about Us as a people is equivalent to your IQ... Its comical really to read... You are not hurting us, maybe you will make a few people mad but not me because you are so irrelevant..
  • Posted By:
    MSVN at 07/03/2008 1:50:20 AM
    Comment:
    I think you raise a valid argument. As a black male fashion designer and model I agree that it is not incumbent upon an industry that is developed by and for the white community to include non European beauty in their work. It is a choice. Many in the black community agree and feel that we should ignore white media and industries in favor of our creating our own. We could all live and work side by side but shop and enjoy completely isolated forms of fashion and entertainment. When I consider the diversity of my own tastes as well as the kinds of things that have endeared me to so many of my white friends, I cannot help but be overcome by a *** sense of sadness by such a state of affairs.

    Please, consider it, if we followed such a mentality I would not enjoy the fashion of so many superb European designers, or the great films or music that is produced by white artist. Radiohead, Fellini, Mahler, and Versace have contributed as much to my childhood and outlook on life as has John Coltrane, Spike Lee, Prince, and Toni Morrison. I understand your arguments about magazines like Ebony but these forms of media cater to black interest purely because of neglect from mainstream media. To miss that fact is to view our present state of affairs from the very limited prism of the present, at the cost of neglected the very painful and overwhelming dismissal and even demonization of all things black throughout the 20th century and beyond. Nevertheless, there are black magazines that do include all forms of beauty, Vibe is just one example.

    As for Naomi, I believe that she is much more striking than most models, and her catwalk is legendary for a reason. That said, she is not the be all end all of black beauty any more than Kate Moss is for white beauty. As for some black people and their issues of beauty, although you may not know any, many black people suffer from a powerful and insidious form of self hatred regarding their beauty that stems directly from the Euro-centric ideal of beauty that you mention. Yes, white people can insist that the Western sense of beauty was created by and for whites, but the increasing change in the diversity of the population in America and places like London and Paris, is making that position appear more and more unrealistic. What is more, is it not cruel and draconian to force a significant portion of your fellow citizens to retreat to their own autonomous and isolated resources for fashion and all other forms of art and entertainment?

    MSVN
  • Posted By:
    Chris at 07/03/2008 1:47:46 AM
    Comment:
    I'm always amused by this group's virtual masturbation at the "successes" of its members. So, a few black women managed to stave off pregnancy or obesity long enough to make it in front of a camera that isn't for a mugshot. What black person (I use that term loosely) has performed or achieved a position that wasn't tailor made for them? What USEFUL contribution (leaving aside peanut butter and hip hop for a change) have blacks made to the World?
    The pure black race is obsolete without infusions of white blood to artificially raise the IQ and temper the savagery.
    • Posted By:
      kinhsolamon at 07/03/2008 2:29:11 AM
      Comment:
      OM effing G Chris are you seriously that ignorant to world history??? I bet you believe the the Greeks actually came up with all the philosophy and mathematics that they are credited with discovering...They discovered it all right, in the library of Alexandria though you may also believe that Cleopatra looked like Elizabeth Taylor or that Ramses resembled Yule Brenner or that Charleton Heston is the spitting image of Moses for that matter. Wake up and view the reality. The fact that there are actually people (And I use the term loosely) out there in the world to day who hold such beliefs is evidence to the deplorable levels of education and understanding of reality. How about you go and actually do some research into the facts of which groups of people possess the most dominate and superior genes, then make comments. Be for real, The fact that the Sun is the life giving for ce on this earth and that is brings death to those who are deficient in melanin content should be telling enough. Come on now.....
    • Posted By:
      jjones45 at 07/03/2008 2:16:13 AM
      Comment:
      Chris,
      Let me give some History. When my people was building Pyramids, your people was still living in caves. Your people went over to Africa and learned from them. Your people went over and when they saw all the Gold and Diamonds greed took over them and they wanted it. You see everywhere your people went there was distruction. You went to Australia and killed up the Black Aborigines and took their land. Now they only make up 1% of the population and it was a billion of them. You came to America and killed the Indians and took their land. When you move futher west you killed the Mexicans and ran the remainder down into Mexico and now you have the nerve to complain that they are coming back home. You went over to Africa and brought Africans back here as slaves because you was to lazy to build this Country yourself. You see every place your people went there was distruction. Your people travel around the World Killing, Stealing and Inslaving. Nothing anyone in the World do can compare to what your people have done but you want to complain about erveryone else. You don't have any room to complain. You ask what have Blcaks contrubute to this Country. Everyday you use things that Blacks have invented. When you turn on you Lights, when you get in your car and stop at a Red Light and the lest goes on. Blacks have fault in every War this Country has ever fault. We invented every form of Dance and Music in this Country. You like Rock, well we invented that. You like Country, well the first Country Singers was Black. Your people have copied everything we have created. America wouldn't be what it is today if it was not for Black People.
  • Posted By:
    cubsfanz at 07/03/2008 1:25:17 AM
    Comment:
    Mr. Lugnut, I appreciate your input in this matter. I LOVE the deep south, as I was raised there. You are absolutely correct that slavery ended over 140 years ago...which is why it boggles my mind that these discussions are even taking place. No one participating in these discussions can say that they have been a slave or were repressed by "whites" during that volatile time in our country. The average "white" person is NOT prejudice...the average "white" person is desperate for equality. I know that is difficult to understand, but it is true.

    I want you all to understand something:
    I am a white working class woman who was raised in the deep south. "Black" traditions run very deep in my life and family. My spirituality, my marriage, my children's upbringing, my cooking, my outlook and my fatih has been influenced by my time in the south.

    I have educated my children about slavery...we have prayed for the after-shock of slavery. We feel that each person in this country, that is here legally, has been given the same freedoms and rights that we have...only some choose to complain about those freedoms. For some, too much is never enough.

    At some point this needs to be resolved. Whites do not "hate" blacks. I honestly believe that blacks do not "hate" whites. I feel that this entire issue is not about color, rather it concerns mentality.
  • Posted By:
    Brittany B at 07/03/2008 1:20:14 AM
    Comment:
    Brooke,
    Yes I am currently in college and I graduate next year. And I didn't to a Black college or get a Black scholarship, I did it all by myself. I also work 2 jobs and pay for my own things! Is that sur