Dear French Vogue,

You disgust me. I’ve heard several people make the argument that your Lara Stone spread was provocative. They claim that the photographs were starting a conversation about the modern complexities of race but I reject those claims. You put a white woman in blackface, added designer duds, and called it a fashion spread. Not only that, but you failed to include any models of natural color in this issue, which is just ridiculous. What exactly were you trying to say about race? The French have no need for real women of color? You’re more inclined to spend hours spraying pigment on a white woman than to hire someone whose pigment doesn’t cost extra? Come on, you must see the absurdity in that.

We don’t live in a post racial world. We live on planet Earth where RACE and RACISM exist. We do not get a free pass to start living out our wildest most racist fantasies just because Obama is living his dream and sitting in the Oval Office. Whether we like it or not, the children of the world (and honestly, many adults) look to popular media to gain an understanding of the world around them. They turn to Vogue to learn about beauty and fashion – are these the messages that you would like to impart upon them? Obviously, you must find some beauty in women of color – right? Why else would you promote tanning? Why else would you spray Lara Stone’s skin until she looked brown skinned? Why not find healthier, more progressive and responsible, ways of celebrating the beauty of women of color. Preferably in a manner that actually includes women of color.

And lest anyone think that I’m picking on you unfairly and not addressing other industry offenders, let me remind you of how ridiculous I think Tyra Banks is. More specifically, Cycle 4/Episode 5 of America’s Next Top Model, when Tyra has the contestants dress up as other races for the “Got Milk” challenge.

No one loves to do ridiculous and socially irresponsible things, under the guise of art and innovation, more than people in fashion. However, this is not innovative, it is offensive. History repeats itself , especially in fashion, but it is truly unfortunate that you decided to take a tradition, from one of the ugliest parts of our collective history, and rework it into something that, while it is modern, is still incredibly hurtful.

I’ll leave you with this thought from French activist, Dominique Sopo: “If the aim was artistic, and not to pass off the model as a black girl, the fact that it produces such reactions shows that the world of images — advertising, fashion, whatever — is now paying for its long tradition of not allowing black people to show their bodies in public”. I urge you, and others, to consider this.

Sincerely,

Jillian

PS – Are there no new ideas left in the world?