BEYONCE’S L’OFFICIEL PARIS PHOTO SHOOT CAUSING CONTROVERSY !!!!!

 

 Behind the scenes footage of video shoot:

Last week, images of Beyonce in black face for a French Magazine circulated online and eventually sparked heated debates from sites such as The Huffington Post and MSNBC. According to the publication, the fashion shoot was to honor Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti, however some critics are not buying it.

As a fan of Fela Kuti, a man who was passionate about the freedom of Blacks/Africans throughout the Diaspora, I’m not quite sure as to how blackface pays tribute to him. While my adoration for Beyonce’s talent and work ethic are unparallel, I’m not quite sure as to why she would agree to do a photo shoot that associates her with one of the most deeply rooted racist images in American history. Nor do I understand the L’Officiel Paris’ rationale that to revel in one’s “African roots,” they have to be “far away from glamorous” and fierce.

Nevertheless, Beyonce is just the tip of the black-faced iceberg since designers throughout the fashion world have taken the potentially racist symbol and turned it into the hottest thing on and off the catwalk. French Vogue was among the first to initiate the blackface trend when they featured a 14 page editorial of Dutch model Lara Stone in blackface. Not to be outdone, Paris-based Mongolian designer Tsolmandakh Munkhuu photographed her models in black paint from head to toe for the Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography.

There are many more examples of this trend. But with the frequent use of this image on both the catwalk and in fashion editorial, it makes one wonder if this is a form of art or racism?

The tradition of blackface began as theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows that would “blacken” an actor’s face using shoe paint, burnt cork and greasepaint. The practice became synonymous with racism because it used by white actors to entertain white audiences with stereotypical caricatures of blacks. This once beloved art form has played a significant role in cementing globally racist imagery and perceptions about black people.

The current tone of blackface may seem to be less malevolent today; still, the fashion industry has shown their insensitivity because this imagery is still considered in the black community to be just as insidious and hurtful as it was in the past. Blackface is not fashion forward or edgy and in my opinion, it is just flat out offensive. Black folks must have a zero tolerance policy for any manifestation of blackface, period – Via Atlanta Post

Some will argue that it is time to let go of the past. For example, Will.I.Am was slammed for wearing black paint on his face during a performance with Nicki Minaj at the MTV Music Awards last year. He responded via twitter:

1st. Just because I where all black including head mask as expression and emphasize my outfit, it shouldn’t be looked at as racial…Let go of the past. there are far more important things 2 bark about. (Jobs, health, education) not a black man wearing all black everything. Are you guys serious? My outfit set “black people back 100 yrs” choose your twits wisely. No, education sets people back, no jobs, bad health”