Fashion

Gettin’ ‘Racialistic’ at Paris Fashion Week

Thursday Oct 8, 2009 – By Sky Obercam

While covering Fashion Week in Paris, UK fashion mag Grazia, issued a little blurb yesterday entitled: “Louis Vuitton’s ghetto fab mash-up,” where the writer emphatically states:

“Check out those giant Afro wigs! This is like ghetto fabulous!” — Grazia Daily UK

Uhh, say whaaaat?

For the record, the Afro (a.k.a. Natural), which was popularized in the late 60’s, is much more than a fashion trend. It was a symbol that expressed cultural pride amidst a struggle for liberation. The Afro hardly indicates anything remotely ghetto, rather strength, integrity and even enlightenment – bringing us back to the aforementioned thoughtless statement.

Why is it that almost anything related to Black folks referred to as ghetto?

If the giant Afro wigs reminded the writer of black people, we’re sure he or she could’ve come up with a different analogy – one with a positive or neutral connotation. Hell, even folks who live in the hood knows that the term ‘ghetto’ holds negative meaning. We’re not up in arms, just tired of the dealings of small minds, and completely incapable of turning a blind eye in the face of such actions.

So in conclusion, thumbs down to the thoughtless writer, as well as Grazia, for using such an unfortunate choice of words, and a tired ass cliché to boot.

Make sure you check out our piece on people using the word “Ghetto” – here.

Christina says:

October 8, 2009 at 4:18 am

I talked about this issue in a sociology class once. Girls fresh out of high school in the Valley were talking about social groups on their former campus and a lot kept classifying a group as the “ghetto kids”. During discussion I asked them to elaborate on that because if I use the word, I know that it is not synonymous with all things Black but when I heard them use the word, it sounded like juuuust underneath the surface they were also saying “Black” and it was coming out of the backs of their throats like a disgusting taste. Many other people of color (including non-Black students) largely felt the same way. After pointing that out, they looked even more dumb-struck than usual.

I really wish that the media would have this kind of discussion with themselves because I’m tired of hearing the term used as an acceptable replacement for Black.

And hell, white folks have afros too sometimes!

↑ Reply

Kasalina says:

October 8, 2009 at 8:02 am

UK Vogue also had similarly negative comments:
http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-vogue-blog/articles/091007-paris-fashion-week-ss10-louis-vuitton.aspx

Ebony Intuition says:

October 8, 2009 at 8:13 am

“Why is it that almost anything related to Black folks referred to as ghetto?”

Thats usually because black people call most of the things they do ghetto. or refer to things as ghetto.

Jolie says:

October 8, 2009 at 9:47 am

Anything related to white is TRAILER TRASH!

Melissa says:

October 8, 2009 at 10:31 am

When I think of ghetto I think of lil Kim and her plastic weaves circa 1998. But anywho the writer for Degrezia should do a little more research on his/her cultural references before they go spouting at the mouth.

J.G. says:

October 8, 2009 at 10:59 am

The reporter was simply showing their ignorance.

I wouldn’t think too much about it.

Those wigs are beautiful, much better than the stringy junk I see on most people heads. If more of us started wearing afros, more people would realize that it so much nicer to see women that actually have hair on their heads.

There’s also nothing ghetto about an afro.

Laquita says:

October 8, 2009 at 12:28 pm

I agree with J.G. :o)

Debra M. Rolon says:

October 8, 2009 at 2:41 pm

I proudly wear my Afro. All these comments are right on point. I am extremely proud of my heritage and my hair. It shows another aspect of a Black woman’s beauty. The writer of Grazia was being insensitive, thoughtless certainly doesn’t understand how the Black community uses this word. I don’t like the whole use of the word ghetto. I was one of the many unfortunate who had to grow up in an environment that people describe as ghetto and I can tell you this, to us it wasn’t a ghetto, it was our home and where we had to live without choice. We didn’t view ourselves as ghetto dwellers and when we could, we moved on to better lives. Ghetto and the various ways it is used today, is an extremely haphazard use of the word. Ghetto may be a joke to some people but to others who had to deal with all of it, it still lingers on as a pain that has to be healed.

sandra says:

October 8, 2009 at 6:44 pm

i dont see what is wrong with the uk vogue review. i liked what they said.

sinitta says:

December 17, 2009 at 9:10 am

the ‘wild’ bunch? ‘tribe’ of afro-wigged models…? you dont see anything wrong? black people or their genetic make-up and look is always seen as ethnic or other. as if these European designers just dropped by planet earth and found some interesting ‘tribes’ – as though there were no visigoths, normans, vikings etc…oh no! they do not belong to tribes. why, they’re ‘civilized’. get a grip people. as long as we’re seen as ‘other’ we will never be seen as poeple, human beings. just curiosities at the museum shop downstairs…

thinkpink says:

October 8, 2009 at 6:45 pm

I love how people trip over the word ghetto but don’t think twice about spouting out the N WORD every two seconds in a rap song.If you don’t like the depictions of African Americans in the media and the words associated with it then quit buying into the culture. Period. Ya’ll are on here tripping over some afro wigs because “white people” did it. As a culture we degrade ourselves everyday in movies, television and especially music. But because “black folks” produce them no one bats an eyelash. Seriously? Give me a break.

Geneva S. Thomas says:

October 8, 2009 at 11:51 pm

Perhaps this is an all too intentional extension off the heels of their last spring collection which massively appropriated African aesthetics and sold well. But here we have the tragic collision of an excess of cultural aesthetics that is not even executed well. I mean thank God for the afro wigs, the garments leaves little to talk about.

Rhue b says:

October 9, 2009 at 1:20 am

Oh, well if afros r ghetto, then I’m ghetto….
Annoying ghetto comment(lol):
My boss told me spelling my name R-e-b-e-k-a-h was ghetto lol He was shocked and embarrassed when I informed him it was biblical and an old Hebrew name… I guess having brown skin just makes everything about me ghetto…..

sil says:

October 10, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Wow, not only is the fashion horrorible looking I wouldnt be caught alive in any of that except for the fros which are rockin and not ghetto.

Alex says:

October 12, 2009 at 5:09 am

Rhue b LMFAO that is too funny and ignorant. But it’s Vogue , European at that are we really surprised they take something that comes natural to blacks and making negative comments about it? F*ck ‘em all the more reason to support and celebrate non European designers and beauty standards in my book.

charles campbell says:

October 14, 2009 at 8:14 pm

We have learned to take something bad and make it good. Like “N”. You know …You my “N” I love You!!! That is really a turn around. Crazy? Live in realty in America? You better have Your head on straight. The games that are played are beyond belief!!!
Thank You for your Question.