Weekly Words

Fashion, Racism, and Jesus

While listening to an Atlanta morning show this morning, the issue of Essence Magazine hiring a white fashion director surfaced. Recently, Essence editor Angela Burt-Murray hired Elliana Placas (a white woman), and was heavily criticized by former Essence fashion editor and founding fashion director of Vibe magazine, Michaela Angela Davis. The critique of Davis argues that since “the fashion industry is not diverse – it is an elite, closed world and there is very little place for black women,” then by closing yet another door to a black woman Essence made a lamentable decision. She further contends, since Essence makes black women a part of their brand and DNA, then this should be reflected in its top level hiring practices.

Each radio personality quickly dismissed Davis’ point by caricaturing her as a disgruntled former employee and an embodiment of reverse racism. Now on one hand, I must admit that I have not had enough time to really sort out exactly where I stand on this particular issue and occurrence. Nevertheless, I am saddened by those who do not feel the force of Davis’ point, even if in the end they disagree (or don’t feel it holds enough weight to advocate changing Essence’s decision). More importantly, I am troubled by the shallow and thinly thought argument that it is reverse racism when a black woman contends that a magazine, that claims prioritizing black women is a part of its mission, should not hire a white woman as a fashion director.

Reverse racism is so often misused because of a misunderstanding of racism itself and its distinction from discrimination or race bias. It is not helpful to reduce racism to anyone’s bias for their race or against another race. Racism more comprehensively details a system, and participation in such a system, that historically, methodically, and presently contributes to abuse and subjugation of a race of people. Racism is about the deep interconnections of PRESENCE and POWER. Take fashion for instance. When we look across the landscape of the fashion industry in America, whose presence do we mostly see in fashion and in positions of power? Go to the fashion section in Barnes and Noble and Borders, scan the magazine cover pages, and thumb through the pages and locate the editors, directors, and executives. Is there an overwhelming presence of one race? Are the positions of power in fashion disproportionately filled by a given race of people? Racism is also about the DECISIONS and DEFINITIONS that result from where power is present. When a given race of people is more present in positions of power, then they get to make most of the decisions. Furthermore, the decisions that are made often define, in this case, what “is” fashionable and beautiful. Essence magazine was created in part to resist the injurious results of black women’s lack of presence and power to make decisions and create definitions in the world in which they live. This includes the fashion world. So, when Michaela Davis says that Essence has a responsibility to live up to their name, brand, and motto of prioritizing black women by hiring black women, she is attempting to fight against the reality and results of a preexisting and present racism that exists through the overwhelming presence, power, decision-making, and definition-creating whiteness in the fashion industry. This is not reverse racism, it is anti-racism.

Finally, what does all this have to do with Jesus? Let me ease your mind and tell you that I do not think that Jesus has a real stake in fashion. I don’t believe Jesus prefers paisley over polka dot, stripes over plaids, Rocawear over Sean John, or Michael Kors over Louis Vuitton. I do believe that the ministry of Jesus is concerned for the last and gives priority to those who society has cast off as the least. In terms of gender, this would be women. In terms of economics, this would be the poor. In terms of sexuality, this would be gays and lesbians. In terms of health, this would be the diseased. And in terms of race, this would be people of color in America. Does Jesus care about race in a preferential sense? NO!!! But does Jesus care about those who may be mistreated and misused because of their race? ABSOLUTELY!!! (… Even if this marginalization is just in the fashion industry.) So, just because Jesus does not care about race, Jesus does care about racism …. And so should those who call themselves followers.

Humbly in Christ’s Love,
Pastor B.A. Jackson