We’ve seen this formula before. Dress in blackface, get ridiculed, and eventually issue a sorry-I’m-not-sorry type of apology.
The latest culprits were the organizers behind a “Disco-Africa” themed party attended by a group of Italian fashion figures like Anna Dello Russo, Stefano Gabbana, and Alessandro Dell’Acqua, who attended the party dressed in their rendition of “Africa.”
The “African” themed party, called “Disco Africa,” brought out masses dressed as safari animals, in tribal gear and in their twisted representation of what the continent stands for. The most offensive of them all was designer Allesandro Dell’Acqua, who blatantly dressed as a minstrel show from a vintage Italian TV commercial (see the video here) and there was even a man who was painted black and chained like a slave.
Alas, nearly 4 days later, the organizers of the party have posted an apology on Instagram. It reads:
As the organizers of the fashion party “Hallowood Disco Africa,” we would like to sincerely apologize that this private party offended so many people. It was never our intention to do so. We had named the party “Disco Africa” to reflect the growing influence of Africa in the design and fashion world, not only as a growing market but also as the source of creative ideas. In retrospect, we clearly failed to think through the possible negative consequences and interpretations that might have resulted and appeared in both traditional and social media. These interpretations are all the more upsetting because most people in the fashion industry, from which we come, have always taken a strong stand against social discrimination whether on sexual, religious or racial grounds. Creative talent is what counts, not a person’s social, racial, religious or sexual background. We’re so sorry that we failed to make our position clear and gave the impression of racism. We are now much wiser and will do our very best to clarify our position in the future.
Sounds a lot like, “blah blah blah, blah blah.”
Let’s just all put our hands in a circle, and on the count of three vow to never dress up of members of a different race by painting our skin. All in? Good.
Take a look at some of the photos from the event below.
Read more about the blackface nonsense of Halloween 2013 here.
PHOTO CREDIT: INSTAGRAM, Only Stylish People
