Comments on: Is Vanity Fair Sending Dangerous Messages to Little Black Girls? This Black Mom Worries… http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/ Everything for Black Moms Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kimberly http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-819 Kimberly Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:43:38 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-819 Well, my issue is not whether the story is true or not, simply that there are OTHER stories to tell. Stories that show us saving ourselves. But unfortunately those stories don't get told they way the other stories do. I'm pretty sure most of those other movies are actually true as well, which is great, but when you continue to put out only one type of story it creates a dangerous stereotype about our ability to pull our own selves up. That's pretty much my point. Well, my issue is not whether the story is true or not, simply that there are OTHER stories to tell. Stories that show us saving ourselves. But unfortunately those stories don’t get told they way the other stories do. I’m pretty sure most of those other movies are actually true as well, which is great, but when you continue to put out only one type of story it creates a dangerous stereotype about our ability to pull our own selves up. That’s pretty much my point.

]]> By: Meghan http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-817 Meghan Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:29:35 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-817 I agree with your stance, with the exception of the The Blind Side. It's a TRUE story, based off of a book, which was ghost-written! I'm not sure how you can get upset about something that actually happened. The "white woman" exists! It's not like a Hollywood writer decided to write the story, and cast the heroine as a white woman instead of African-American. Come on if you are going to pick on a movie, at least pick on one that isn't (or wasn't) real. I agree with your stance, with the exception of the The Blind Side. It’s a TRUE story, based off of a book, which was ghost-written! I’m not sure how you can get upset about something that actually happened. The “white woman” exists! It’s not like a Hollywood writer decided to write the story, and cast the heroine as a white woman instead of African-American. Come on if you are going to pick on a movie, at least pick on one that isn’t (or wasn’t) real.

]]> By: Oshun http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-793 Oshun Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:43:29 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-793 I love the fashion industry and I love magazines. I grew up on Vanity Fair, Vogue, W you name it, but while reading these publications I always had to reconcile my love for the industry and my dejection and inferiority I experienced whenever I saw a cover like this. Well I am happy to say that these things just do not bother me anymore, because I have finally come to the realization that magazine publishers, Hollywood just do not give a damn. Michael Jackson got it right, "they don't care about us." It doesn't matter that our buying power is nearing a trillion dollars, it doesn't matter that they are quite aware that we read and purchase these magazines. They do not publish with Black consumer in mind. And the more we keep beating our heads against the wall waiting for validation that will not come the more time and energy we waste. Do you know how we can prevent the next generation from feeling the pain that we feel because of exclusion support publications that are not afraid to allow us to grace the cover and fill our houses with those. I read these magazines with an air of indifference now, I get the information I need and laugh when I see things like this. Lets keep in mind that people of color are undeniably beautiful. Imagine putting saldana or latham, or elise on the cover next to the pale, thin ivory soaped colored actresses. I dont think the powers that be can handle it. the truth hurts. I love the fashion industry and I love magazines. I grew up on Vanity Fair, Vogue, W you name it, but while reading these publications I always had to reconcile my love for the industry and my dejection and inferiority I experienced whenever I saw a cover like this. Well I am happy to say that these things just do not bother me anymore, because I have finally come to the realization that magazine publishers, Hollywood just do not give a damn. Michael Jackson got it right, “they don’t care about us.”

It doesn’t matter that our buying power is nearing a trillion dollars, it doesn’t matter that they are quite aware that we read and purchase these magazines. They do not publish with Black consumer in mind. And the more we keep beating our heads against the wall waiting for validation that will not come the more time and energy we waste. Do you know how we can prevent the next generation from feeling the pain that we feel because of exclusion support publications that are not afraid to allow us to grace the cover and fill our houses with those. I read these magazines with an air of indifference now, I get the information I need and laugh when I see things like this. Lets keep in mind that people of color are undeniably beautiful. Imagine putting saldana or latham, or elise on the cover next to the pale, thin ivory soaped colored actresses. I dont think the powers that be can handle it. the truth hurts.

]]> By: Dionne http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-792 Dionne Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:15:55 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-792 The thing that struck me most was not Vanity Fair's stance because, well, that has been Vanity Fair's stance (Oprah is a brand, not an individual, right?) but the willingness of the actressess to participate in the shoot and their subsequent silence thereafter. Haven't we learned what happens when right thinking people remain silent in the face of chicanery , tomfoolery, and downright wrong-ness? Not one of those waifs pictured popped up on ET to share their indignation. None of the button-nosed, Ivory soap girls Twitted about their disappointment or dismay. No one showed up on Tyra or Ellen to express their outrage over Penelope's absence. And Penelope Cruz turned out not one but two stunning performances; one entirely en espanol and you didn't need a Spanish to English dictionary to know mujer marvelosa when you saw her. I know they were cool with Monique and Gaborey not being there. (Again, Oprah is a brand, not an individual.) But Paula Patton was also in the movie. And I guess what I'm saying is while the concept of the global village consciousness is being pushed as the panacea for 21st century humanity; where millions of dollars were raised for victims of the earthquake in Haiti; where Madonna and Brad/Angelina have included brown babies in their households; where the world's reigning tennis champion is from Compton, where a dude who walks like my daddy, looks like my cousin David and listens to Jay Z was overwhelmingly elected to lead the land of the free and the home of the brave, while all of this is taking place, you mean to tell me that not one, not nary one of them chicks thought it odd that not even Penelope Cruz was not present for that shoot? Well, then, I guess I'm also supposed to believe that Taylor Swift disagreed with Kanye about that whole video thing. The thing that struck me most was not Vanity Fair’s stance because, well, that has been Vanity Fair’s stance (Oprah is a brand, not an individual, right?) but the willingness of the actressess to participate in the shoot and their subsequent silence thereafter. Haven’t we learned what happens when right thinking people remain silent in the face of chicanery , tomfoolery, and downright wrong-ness? Not one of those waifs pictured popped up on ET to share their indignation. None of the button-nosed, Ivory soap girls Twitted about their disappointment or dismay. No one showed up on Tyra or Ellen to express their outrage over Penelope’s absence. And Penelope Cruz turned out not one but two stunning performances; one entirely en espanol and you didn’t need a Spanish to English dictionary to know mujer marvelosa when you saw her. I know they were cool with Monique and Gaborey not being there. (Again, Oprah is a brand, not an individual.) But Paula Patton was also in the movie. And I guess what I’m saying is while the concept of the global village consciousness is being pushed as the panacea for 21st century humanity; where millions of dollars were raised for victims of the earthquake in Haiti; where Madonna and Brad/Angelina have included brown babies in their households; where the world’s reigning tennis champion is from Compton, where a dude who walks like my daddy, looks like my cousin David and listens to Jay Z was overwhelmingly elected to lead the land of the free and the home of the brave, while all of this is taking place, you mean to tell me that not one, not nary one of them chicks thought it odd that not even Penelope Cruz was not present for that shoot? Well, then, I guess I’m also supposed to believe that Taylor Swift disagreed with Kanye about that whole video thing.

]]> By: Kimberly http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-790 Kimberly Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:32:03 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-790 well said, Joyce...lets pray our daughters' daughters will have even less pain. well said, Joyce…lets pray our daughters’ daughters will have even less pain.

]]> By: Enjoyceinglife http://mochamanual.com/blog/2010/02/is-vanity-fair-sending-dangerous-messages-to-little-black-girls-this-black-mom-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Enjoyceinglife Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:31:35 +0000 http://mochamanual.com/blog/?p=197#comment-789 you read my thoughts exactly. unfortunately I've lowered my expectations about most "mainstream" media being fair and balanced; or even accurate. and that is saying something because I'm a journalist, who's spent some years in "mainstream" media. thank GOD I'm able to keep tons of positive influences around my daughter. i just hate for them to have to learn the hard road they have to travel for some aspirations they might have. i remember my mother's heart-breaking when reality seeped in when I was a child....i was hoping that 30 years later things would change at least a bit...maybe they have a tad, but the heartbreak is just as painful...and now I'm feeling it for my child..jd you read my thoughts exactly. unfortunately I’ve lowered my expectations about most “mainstream” media being fair and balanced; or even accurate. and that is saying something because I’m a journalist, who’s spent some years in “mainstream” media. thank GOD I’m able to keep tons of positive influences around my daughter. i just hate for them to have to learn the hard road they have to travel for some aspirations they might have. i remember my mother’s heart-breaking when reality seeped in when I was a child….i was hoping that 30 years later things would change at least a bit…maybe they have a tad, but the heartbreak is just as painful…and now I’m feeling it for my child..jd

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