Fashion Discussion: Black Men as Props

by Guest Contributor Claire, originally published at The Fashion Bomb

I was cruising on one of my favorite fashion editorial sites, Fashion Gone Rogue, when I happened upon this February/March 2011 cover of Russh Magazine featuring Delfine Bafort:

The Belgian model is surrounded by a group of adoring black men, who all seem to be looking at her lustfully. Her white dress, blonde tresses, and aloof stare contrasts markedly with their dark naked skin and enraptured looks.

Interesting.

The shoot seemed very reminiscent of other editorials I’ve seen in the past few years:

Alessandra Ambrosio, Rob Evans, and TaeJahn Taylor by Matthias Vriens-McGrath for Numero Tokyo January/February 2011.

Chanel Iman for Elle Italia October 2010.

Gisele Bundchen by Sølve Sundsbø.

Black men being used as props is nothing new. Remember slavery?

In 2011, I think it’s past time to let these tropes go, don’t you think?

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