Hey curvy girls all over the world,
The other day I went on a Twitter rant, which I never do. My rant was triggered by an article on Fashionista listing the most influential personal style bloggers. After reading the article and viewing the list, I realized there was only one black woman on that list. Why is that? I felt as if the article was implying that there is only one black style blogger in all the blogosphere that was influential. While I know that isn’t true, I couldn’t help but to feel some kind of way about it. Repeatedly black bloggers are not acknowledged by mainstream fashion sites and magazines. If we are, there is only one black blogger mentioned. I find it absurd.
There are so many black fashion bloggers who have just as much influence as their non-black peers. Their social media influence is in the 6 figure range, they’ve partnered with major brands, and when they mention a product they sell out.Unless it is a predominantly African American site, black bloggers influence is rarely acknowledged. The problem doesn’t only exist with mainstream fashion sites either. When it comes to major fashion brands their collaborations are normally done with non-black bloggers.
Blogger guru Claire Sulmers, creator of The Fashion Bomb has one of the most influential multi-cultural fashion sites on the internet. Her personal style and keen eye for fashion has landed her doing fashion recaps on MTV and BET.
Style Blogger Folake Kuye Huntoon of Style Pantry boasts over 700K Facebook followers and has her own boutique.
Blogger Patrice of Afrobella (not a personal style blogger) an extremely popular hair and beauty site has had major partnerships with Target and MAC.
Whenever we see just one black fashion blogger represented, its almost like a quota is being filled. It often makes me believe even more in the old adage, “As an African American, you have to work twice as hard as anyone else just to get by.” I also think when one black blogger is recognized, it causes division in the community and takes away excitement for said bloggers acknowledgement because now the focus is on, why is it just one?
Speaking as a plus size fashion blogger, brown plus size bloggers are often not acknowledged or represented either. Bloggers like Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista and Chastity of Garnerstyle have social media influence in the 6 figure range and have done partnerships with mega brands. Last year Marie partnered with Nordstrom.
RecentlyChastity was one of 3 plus size bloggers to work on Target’s new plus size campaign. Her article on boycotting Target went viral. Recently, blogger Gabifresh did her own list of 16 curvy and black fashion bloggers (read HERE) because there is a lack of representation, especially when you’re of a deeper complexion.
While, its good to even see just one black blogger recognized for their talents and influence, mainstream fashion sites still need to work on being more diverse. I believe the more we speak up the more things will change.
Oh and before anyone starts with the, why must black people beg for validation theory, stop. It’s about more than just validation. We live in a multi-cultural world that consistently ignores or omits the contributions of minorities. All races should be represented and acknowledged for the merits and contributions.
What do you guys think? Do you feel like black fashion bloggers are represented well on mainstream fashion sites?
Photo Credits: Afrobella.com, Fashionbombdaily.com, Stylepantry.com
I think the mainstream fashion sites just figure the black blogger influence is limited to just black people.
It’s so sad that in this day and time we have to still say things like this.
It is sad. However, if you want change create the opportunity. I feel bad when people don’t get oscars or Grammys or (fill in the blank) Recognition but just because you are not acknowledge by these industries does not mean that you are not valued. I don’t read Marie Clare, red book or lucky mag to find people that want to see. I look for you through recommendations from other bloggers, Pinterest or youtube, to name a few. I value your input and appreciate your drive. If someone is not acknowledged due to the quota, build your own facet in the industry. Didn’t Geen Devoe create a full figured fashion week? There are others blazing trails too. None of you should limit yourself to their standards of acceptance because you have ignored them thus far. Just some encouragement from a person that loves the influence that you and many others bring to the table
It’s interesting that I don’t look to mainstream media for validation or even representation but you do make very valid points. what’s been of interest to me is in addition to race, my age AS a 50+ year old black woman is not represented. its been a novelty of late to focus on 70+ years old but the intersections of race, age, and weight are not often seen. One must “choose” in order to full marginally represented and reflected.
I’ve never understood that and for the longest I have always thought there to be a very limited number of black bloggers out there. It is said that in this day and age this is still an issue since clearly from recent developments black bloggers are indeed very prominent in the fashionn world.
I am really glad we are having this conversation. I wanted to write a post like this for while now ,but I did not want to be seen as I whiner or pulling the black card. A great style has nothing to do with your skin color. We have so many amazing women with amazing styles but they never make it to mainstream because for them our skin color is not appealing enough. The truth is when you are a black fashion blogger you do not only inspire black women but women of all colors. I do agree that everytime a list is made not everyone make it there,but only one black woman is ridiculous.
I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ON THIS SUBJECT. i TOO AM GLAD WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECA– USE IT IS IMPORTANT. we ARE SO MARGINALIZED TO THIS DAY NO MATTER HOW HARD WE WORK AND HOW GOOD WE ARE. THE FACT THAT BRANDS STILL — USE MARKETABILITY AS A REASON TO NOT — USE WOMEN OF COLOR (ESPECIALLY DARKER COLOR) IS SO INTERESTING. i AM OFTEN STRUCK BY HOW MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT A BLACK WOMAN’S MARKET REACH IS TO BLACK AUDIENCES IS RIDICULOUS! Women of all races and sizes inspire me and I hope that my blog audience feels the same way! Great post Alissa!
This is my first time on your blog but I ditto everything you’ve said. It’s so sad and unfortunate. It’s the same thing when it comes to books, movies and everything else too.
I think one of the major problems is that the Mainstream lacks Diversity. And not only do they lack diversity but they also lack EXPOSURE to things outside of the mainstream bubble! As someone who grew up reading 17 Magazine and knowing everything there is to know about White culture and turning around and going to school to teach the white girls in my class about hair tells me not much has changed since I’ve been 17.
African American bloggers definitely deserve more visibility. There is a tremendous need to bring shine a spotlight on them and a great way to do so would be through an event similar to Hispanicize. I hope someone takes the lead to produce it!!
I have never heard of Fashionista before so I took a look at it real quick before I replied. I did notice other races were included on the list as well as a man but I was also surprised not to see more women of color. As I looked around their site, I could see why maybe. Almost every single article looked like it had photographs of white people and that’s it. I am a white woman myself but most of the blogs I follow are women of color, plus size bloggers. I think I had never heard of Fashionista because it would never appeal to me, and I feel like their “research” may be skewed a bit to fit the readers of their site. I look for real bloggers with fabulous plus style…not canned articles about the latest straight size designers. I look for my reality and that website is not it for me. Maybe for someone else, but not my cuppa tea. I think what I’m saying is that it really does suck that more women of color, more plus bloggers ( let’s face it, lots and lots of women are plus sized), and more reality was not featured in this article. The sad truth is most people would rather be ignorant of reality and go for numbers when it comes to the readers they target. I, for one, will not be seeking out that site ever, but I will read your blog as well as several others that I love based on what awesome women you all are… plus the fashion is fabulous and it actually fits me, which is another thing I won’t find on Fashionista. Keep up the good work! It matters to your readers!
We certainly know African American bloggers are under represented in every area, but what we must keep in mind is that this is not a new fight. We can expect change when we take a stand together. There is so much POWER in the black fashion community. We have the power to create our own main stream media outlets and platforms where our concerns will be heard. Some may see it as a form of segregation, but if they won’t let us join them, we need to build our own mountains to stand tall. We need our own campaigns and we need to spend our monies in our own brands. We need a new form of unity because the division we see is not because of what “mainstream” media is doing. This division was already there. It was instilled before we were born and we must wake up and realize it in order to take a stand. Our strength has always been in coming together as seen over generations and I would dare to question if that level of unity is what the African American fashion community truly want to see. We are a house divided, but we can change that if we choose.
I read the Fashionista article and it clearly explained how it was decided who made the list. If an African American blogger’s numbers, influence, etc exceeded someone on this list, then get mad. If not, get your weight up!
@lynn Wright That’s my point! I read how they were chosen and here are black bloggers who have those numbers or close to them.
When do we feature whites and other races on our own sites and blogs? We don’t? Let’s start there. How about WE do for other races what we want them to do for us instead of bitching and moaning about it?
@Eden I for one do feature all races on my blog. I’ve featured white bloggers, Hispanic, and Asian. It’s not about bitching and moaning its about speaking up when we see we are being ignored especially when black bloggers have just as much influence analytically.
IT IS Sad that this reality extends far beyond the fashion world. it also exists in the travel blogging world as well and it has been discussed heavily among bloggers of color. i hope that one day bloggers of all races and nationalities will be recognized on different lists (there is also a lack of representation for latina and asians as well!)