send news tips to the editor; thevoice.fsu@gmail.com □ www.fsuvoice.com
□ September 7, 2011 □ ThE VoiCE, For Students, By Students 9
image” by tossing it. The phrases “Look Like
You Give a Damn” and “Re-Civilize Your
self’ were positioned next to the visual, as if
the natural form of African-American hair is
somehow not civilized, and unwelcomed if
Black men expect to be treated like humans.
In an apology later, Nivea stated, “The ad
vertisement offended many and for this we
are deeply sorry. After realizing this, we act
ed immediately to remove the advertisement
from all marketing activities.”
Less than a month later, Vogue Italia fea
tured a trendy style of earrings on their Web
site. And dubbed them “slave earrings.”
Excuse me, but though I am not a history
major I’m well aware that negro slaves were
not prancing around plantations in varieties
of large gold or silver-plated hoop earrings
with colorful studded shapes attached to the
lobe portion. For an esteemed fashion pub
lication like Vogue Italia to derive anything
even remotely fashionable from a brutal era
in history is just, well, not so post racial.
I, along with millions of other offended
parties, wondered that too; hence, Vogue Ita
lia’s apology to which they stated, “We’ve
decided to remove the article from the site to
prove our good faith and show it wasn’t our
intention to insult anyone.”
In a post-racial society, global companies
like Nivea and Vogue would understand the
social repercussions of publishing uncouth
material. They’d run their ads through some
type of diversity agency or have employees
on hand to address those racially-insensitive
issues before they angered the masses.
To be clear, blacks have not been the only
targets. Women, Muslims, Latinos, Asians,
and other groups have fallen victim to shady
marketing practices and half-witted govern
ment leaders.
Blacks have also perpetuated some of our
own stereotypes, giving other races the false
belief that it’s alright and we don’t mind. This
too, is intolerable.
Having noticed the hail of “oopsy daisies”
by these corporate giants, I’ve concluded that
there is nothing post-racial about this national
and global atmosphere.
We could say that it’s “post blatantly-rac-
ist” because, for the
most part, the days of
mainstream racial ex
tremism are over, but
until public figures
and companies begin
to value their audi
ence’s history, cul
ture, and journey that
lies ahead, they don’t
get the “post” icing
to sweeten the bitter
racial cake they just
won’t stop serving.
V, \ i vj«a )• j.son mo ,
OcTA ‘V. r«t
\ \ nUirU \ \ \\
' IvNiUtN P llOM > X OiTtK*
earrmgs
YOORSE
(Above) A screen shot of Vogue Italia’s con
troversial “slave earrings” web feature. (Left)
The “Re-Civilize Yourself” Nivea advertise
ment that riled African-Americans.
You can count on us for annual exams, birth control, abortion
services, emergency contraception,
pregnancy testing, testing and treatment for STDs
4551 Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville 866-942-7762
An evening with champions
Voice photo by Jennifer Lucas
North Carolina Assistant Secretary of State and FSU alumnus Robert Wilson
speaks to an intimate crowd at FSU’s “Evening with Champions” gala, on
September 2, in Capel Arena where former FSU athletes were honored.