So What If Essence Has A White Fashion Editor?
The fashion world African Americans in the fashion world are up in arms over Essence‘s new fashion director. Why? Because Elliana Placas is white. And while people continuously site President Barack Obama as an example of how far our country has come, the fact of the matter is that you can regulate and legislate about race relations all you want, but you can’t change what’s in an individual’s mind.
I’m going to tell you a secret: white people are here to stay (*gasp*).
That said, my concern is not over Placas being white. My concern is over what looks to me as almost a reverse-racism that could potentially be just as crippling as the original. Black people in this country need to get over what, at least in my opinion, is largely in the past. If we want to continue to progress, then we need to continue to put ourselves out there into the mainstream, outside of Harlem, Atlanta and Detroit, outside of the baptist churches and the Black Student Unions, and demand that our talents be recognized by more than just our own.
I understand that for forty years Essence has been the one largely-fashion publication that caters to black women: our body types, interests, and struggles. I understand that the fashion industry is unfortunately one that remains extremely homogenous in its appearance. However I also understand that change is more likely to lead to progress than stagnation. Refusing to hire a white fashion editor is perpetually compartmentalizing black people in the fashion industry, rather than beginning a dialogue that will hopefully open the door to individuals traversing the color line in fashion.
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Essence editor-in-chief and the one responsible for hiring Elliana Placas, Angela Burt-Murray wrote, ‘Forty years ago Essence was founded to empower, celebrate, and inspire black women to climb higher, go further and break down barriers.’ And I think her decision is keeping this message intact, and especially furthering that last part.
Placas initially joined the magazine six months ago to run the fashion section on a freelance basis before being hired permanently as fashion director. As Burt-Murray wrote, ‘I got to see firsthand her creativity, her vision, the positive reader response to her work, and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand. As such, I thought she’d make an excellent addition to our team. And I still do. This decision in no way diminishes my commitment to black women, our issues, our fights.’
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Placas’ story first came to light when former Essence staffer Michaela Angela Davis posted on Facebook: ‘It’s with a heavy heart I’ve learned Essence Magazine has engaged a white Fashion Director.’ She later continued with: ‘I hate that I’m even having this conversation because I love Essence — it was my home. But I spoke out for all the black girls who called me crying because what does this say to them?’
I’ll tell you what it should say to them: I am not in any way in denial about the ‘black tax’ placed on many African American individuals, but I think what this says to us (and rightfully so) is that your qualifications should be why you get something…you e
