Tyra Banks Celebrates Vogue's All Black Issue
AUG 13, 2008 AT 01:11 PM
Tyra Banks along with other models, including Selita Elbanks, Iman Beverly Johnson and Veronica Webb, that she invited on the show take to the streets with black balloons to celebrate the success of Italian Vogue's "Black Issue." The magazine featured some of the great black models of our time and it was a huge success selling out worldwide. Now the question remains to be seen...did it make an actual difference? Will magazines finally start to feature more diverse models on a regular basis?
What do you think?
Photos by Bauer Griffin.
Read more about: Tyra Banks, Out and About
300 points
What gorgeous women!
http://www.realstylerealpeople.com
I don't see Iman...don't you mean Chanel Iman?
I LOVED this idea...and they are some beautiful woman. If the industry was smart they would notice the magazine sales and start diversifying their images.
yeah they are gorgeous, but make a big deal about having an all White Issue of Vouge and expect all hell to break loose.
every issue of Vogue is basically an all white issue. i think it's nice to celebrate beauty in all cultures not just one. go tyra!
3420 points
I agree, it's white dominated. I'd like to see more Asian models as well. They are a rarity.
473838 points
More Asian, Hispanic, African American, full figured...anything diverse would be nicer than the norm--stick thin, white as ghosts. Not that there aren't great white models, but seeing everyone looks the same is boringa fter a while.
Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff :)
ALMOST EVERY ISSUE OF VOGUE IS ALL WHITE
If anyone does ANYTHING that is secluded specifically to one race/nationality the race card is surely to be pulled. What's wrong with celebrating EVERYONE equally and not making a big deal out of "I'm black" or "I'm white" or "I'm purple". There are too many groups that like to seclude themselves and call them selves impowered. I don't get it.
well people are different so why act like they're not? some people like to celebrate their race/ethnicity as well as their nationality, gender, religion, etc. especially when the mainstream all but ignores them. when you look in magazines and don't see anyone like you, it's noticeable. also some people are voluntarily secluded, sometimes they haven't always been able to fully be part of the larger society for whatever reason. these norms get passed down from one generation to the next. people form their won little groups and cling to that. change takes time. to me, beauty is beauty but there's nothing wrong with celebrating a part of who you are, especially when others don't celebrate it.
oops it should say INvoluntarily secluded
300 points
As much as I hate to feel this way, I'd say "marketing ploy".
I think you are correct. Since when has Vogue been interested in race issues? It is a business which makes most of its money out of selling advertising space. Perhaps this issue is recognizing black women in one way, and that is they are now seen as a viable market to be targeted. Is it really about raising the status of black women, or getting into their pockets?
I'd like to see Vogue magazine do an all white spread. We'll see who says what then.
Most of the models are in fact white. Hence the uniqueness of this issue. Duh.
3250 points
If people want to see more diversity, put more diversity in the magazine... we do NOT need to dedicate a whole issue to one race - GAY!
Gee why didn't anyone think of that? You're such a genius (NOT), as underscored by your seemingly derogatory use of the word gay.
3250 points
Bite me. I can use the word "gay" however I would like. For example, and to repeat, I think its GAY that they are dedicating an entire issue of Vogue to one race - isnt that what JET is for?
are you serious, tbtrfli. I am talking about the Jet comment. I hope you are not saying that to get attention. There are magazines like Jet, Ebony, Essence, etc b/c of the fact that Anglo-Saxons didnt recognize African Americans. For some reason we still live in a world where people think that a certain race makes you have a certain status. Having this issue obvious served its purpose in getting peoples attention. Unless you live under a rock people of color in general are not on every cover of magazines or inside.
Um Jet isn't a fashion magazine. You are a homophobe AND a doofus!
3250 points
I love these conversations. You can just feel the love in the air!!!! Oh, and for the record, I think Tyra sucks too.
awww cute a little girl with an 'opinion'...there is ALWAYS a rebel in the bunch. Finish middle school and then come back to talk to the grown ups...ok hun
ugly girls need to have an opinion.... thats really all they have. Ask tbtrfli...she just looks like she's full of em :)
Black people didn't have anyone to look up to back then and look how long it took them to finally get on the cover of a magazine. Fashion magazines probably came out around in the late 1800's. Black model didn't appear on the cover until around late 1970's or early 1980's and it was still rare back then. Nothing wrong with celebrating - they deserve it. I (I'm white btw) do not find this offensive whatsoever. Everybody else should stop their whining and let them have their fun.
If we had diversity in magazines we wouldnt need an issue dedicated to any race in particular.
Gabby, I agree. To answer the questions Vera asked: unfortunately this magazine won't make a difference. Eventhough the photographs of the women looked beautiful and amazing and Italian Vogue made a lot of money, the only thing Italian Vogue created was a TOKEN. Everything comes down to two things: money and the people who control it. And it is VERY easy to identify who controls the wealth in America. IMO, it is important that every race be equally represented in the modelling/advertising/entertainment world because every race has women and men who are beautiful. Although mainstream media will make you think otherwise, the White race does not have this market cornered. However, I am not a dumb idealist and judging by some of these comments, we all know that this utopia will never exist in the modelling or real world.
I can't WAIT to an All-Caucasian Issue!
Oh, wait. That'll NEVER happen.
It happens every month. Just pick up an issue. White people are so used to being represented that they don't notice how minority groups feel until something like this happens. This is probably how black people feel all the time. Get over it. Vogue will be back to "normal" with the next issue. So stop whining.
tbtrfli and Gabby are 100% correct!
I agree... it's wonderful to be proud of your race and your heritage, etc., but to dedicate an entire issue to that is another story. If any other race were to do such a thing there would be all kinds of backlash about it. Larry King would be doing a special report on it...lol! Therefore, I think it would have been fairer to perhaps dedicate the issue to all ethnic models and role models, who throughout the years have made a diiference...
Like whom? Names, please? I can't think of many other big-name ethnic models. The fashion world is primarily white. Blacks are probably the next biggest groups that is represented. I don't see the big deal. This is like having a Blonde Issue or Male Issue or Over Age 35 issue. Just another marketing ply to sell magazines.
Tyra Banks is pretty.......when she sits there with her mouth shut. But once she starts flapping her gums I tune her out, no matter what she is endorsing. Black, white who cares? Vogue is nothing but three hundred pages of ads that a person on a normal salary can't afford. I care what color the model's skin is about as much as I care what colors that $800 bag is offered in.
How many of the models in this issue do you suppose do not have any caucasian blood in their background somewhere?
1%. Just like 99% of white people have African blood. Same difference.
The way so many of you are complaining shows why this issue was needed. So spoiled, indifferent to the plight of others, and used to privilege.
I can't wait for the all Hispanic/Latin issue!!! I'm being serious.
20885 points
I live in Toronto. As a white person I'm a minority most places I go - not crying about it, just stating facts. I guess thats why I have to stop every time someone pulls the race card out. I'm so used to seeing every nationality represented that I forget there are actually places in the world that don't live the same way we do.
495 points
All of you are all "every month is an all white issue" and you need to STFU, srsly. If the cover is going to say "ALL BLACK ISSUE" I think it's only appropiate that we write "ALL WHITE ISSUE" on one as well.
OKay let's do it if it makes you feel better. I think white models are beautiful also!
2585 points
WELL DANG IT! Until they dedicate an issue to multicolored people such as myself i think no one should freak out ;)
Most of those "black" models are half white anyway....
Can we just ENJOY the pics and stop analyzing the race issue???!
Hmm... how do you think people would feel if we all stood there with white balloons celebrating an all white Vogue issue?
Oh, well of course... that would be RACIST!!! But y'know... having an all back issue is not... ugh... I get so tired of this double standard... WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST BE PROUD OF THIER WHITE HERITAGE??? No, these white women like Heidi Klum have to go get rid of their beautiful white race (yes, I know she has one white kid) that the Europeans fought for for centuries? Let's all just watch the white race be flushed down the toilet!!! Ugh!
If we EVER want to become a more diversified nation, we must stop with the "labeling"....all black, white, latino, gay...whatever it may be. I think it's the actual labeling of the magazine that is getting everyone in a tither.
In the end....it ends up hurting some group or another. No one wins....so end it!! P.S. The third girl from the right, definitely looks asian/mixed. So...I think they're wrong with the "all black" label. I don't know just my assumption :)
Where is my all WHITE issue? Please.
I blame the magazine for creating/adding to the race problems. Just like most of you all said, this "ALL BLACK" issue is unfair, and the rest of the issues that are predominantly white are unfair. You are all right and you all have great points. Yet how many of us still buy the magazine and add to the money in VOGUE's pockets regardless of the race of the models. I honestly couldn't care less what a model's race is. I'm looking at the fashion (that I can't afford), as well as the model's stick-skinny body shape (black, white or asian---they are all too skinny). So maybe if instead of bashing each other and arguing over this issue, we women should unify and stick together and not tolerate any racial unjustice from our fashion industry! But unfortunately if we all keep acting like angry immature children, we have no hope of change. So regardless of your race, get over yoursleves and inspire change!
Had it been an "all-white" magazine, people would be calling racism. GIVE ME A BREAK.
I think its a great idea to actually dedicate issues to other races whom in the modeling world get little to no exposure...ie Middle Eastern and Asian. When was the last time you saw that at "supermodel" status. All I have to say to say is until u lived it PLEASE dont relate. There will NEVER be an All white vouge b/c guess what like its been said in this blog over and over again that is an every issue thing with Vogue. I infact work in the fashion industry and can tell you many ethnic models dont get a chance to walk the runways at Bryant park...So for those of you A) not even exposed to the heart of the fashion industy B) not ethinic in any scence of the word....let it be. At the end of the day we have it easier then we think.
300 points
I have to say I agree with those people who are saying it's a marketing ploy. I wonder how many of the average Vogue readers aren't white? I'm sure this issue is meant to reach new readers since magazine readership in general is going down and they need to increase sales.
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