This note was inspired by a blog post by fashion photographer Tarrice Love. His post was about the injustice of blacks in the industry of fashion. I’m a fan of his but, we do not share the same views on the issue.This topic has been rolling around the web and other publications heavily for few years now.

Before I begin, don’t get me wrong. I don’t agree with what’s going on in the industry, but I do think the complaining needs to stop… Now! There are too many talented individuals (of color) in this industry for something not to change. When I say change, I don’t mean by the hands of the industry itself but by ourselves as talented, creative, ingenious people. we have the skill and the know-how but what a lot of us are missing, is the initiative.

It’s almost like were waiting for the fashion industry to validate our own beauty! We get angry when were not covering glossy magazines or being featured on the hottest designer’s runway, this is completely understandable but why do they have to change for us? The fashion industry is a very “niche-driven” industry (high fashion). Those brands are marketing to people who share their views (for the most part or so they like to think so) and like us, they want to see their ideas of themselves. Though there are lots of people of color in this country, blacks still only make up roughly 13.5% of the population, and in relation to fashion, a lot less than that.

What we’re really asking is for them to change their brands to accommodate our passions and likes. This is really all a matter of taste (on our part). if we really had a problem with what they are doing we can easily show it in our numbers. Stop buying their products! African-Americans make up a huge part of those sales (that’s a whole different issue in it’s self lol) and can easily change them if we wanted to!

We have to learn to do for ourselves again and find the support from OUR OWN to do so! I think we’ve subconsciously been taught, as a ‘culture’ to complain about all our injustices and “pray” something or someone changes them. We have to change them ourselves! You can’t be mad at them for putting in the magazines WHAT THEY LIKE. Start a magazine, put your own in your runway shows, know and WANT your audience! If the want or need is their, the support will be also. We have too many free outlets for no one to want to start something powerful. If mediatakeout.com (disgusting) can be featured in Times…

The leader of the free world looks more like we do people! HELLO?! This isn’t an original idea…I just think we forgot it. We have to be willing to humble ourselves and take the first step. Period. Don’t do these things out of spite or to prove a point to “the industry”, do them because you are passionate about it and want to. Just trying to prove a point never works. It just comes off childish and contrived. Remember, “you are the industry”. It wouldn’t work without you or… it just be a lot less interesting lol.

“What you think about and talk about most will come to be”.

Is research into sickle cell anemia racist? YES

Is the fashion industry ugliest? (discriminates against ugly people) YES (I like that, the fashion industry is ugliest.)

Why stop at racist? Why not choose any other category that people are predisposed to choosing? (Ugly/Attractive Rich/Poor Clever/Stupid, etc.)

Oh – and your site asked me is Fire hot or cold, please realise that the temperature of fire is relative to a source value in the question hot/cold. LEARN SOME SCIENCE (some people may find that a little pedantic…. well that is the first indication they are wrong.)

Do you really think that type of question can defeat a computer system? LEARN SOME COMPUTER SCIENCE

Do you have a comment about my spelling or other communication convention? LEARN THAT CONVENTIONS are DESCRIPTIVE… NOT PRESCRIPTIVE.

Am I show boating? ABSOLUTELY… everyone is, but most people are afraid to admit it so hide under the guise of subtlety.

Lalo Schifrin is the very definition of perfection. (Hey if everyone is going to try and claim a monopoly on absolutes…. why not me.)

Computer Science is REALLY the only guide to the absolute….. All else is really just opinion.

If you want to argue, then make sure you are better armed than me. Just a suggestion.

GET A LIFE – since when did the fashion industry count for anything (influence) the people who feed the ideas TO the fashion industry or the consumers of fashion. Give it a break.