Arts and Humanities Commons^™

My Face Is Not The Problem, Malique I. Morris

Capstones

In 2019, after a weekend full of rejection in the gayest neighborhood in Los Angeles, I became so ashamed of my phenotypically black facial features, I completely stopped looking in the mirror. As it turns out, I’m one of many black people who have internalized anti-blackness to such an extent. Skin bleaching is a multi-billion-dollar sector of the cosmetics industry, with Africa being its biggest market, and studies show that black people with darker skin and wider noses are more likely to be killed during encounters with the police. So, an honest conversation about systemic racism is actually a conversation …

Mask On: How Fashion Erased The Politics Of Streetwear In 2017, Frances Sola-Santiago

Capstones

This year, fashion embraced streetwear in the highest echelons of luxury. From a Louis Vuitton and Supreme collaboration to Gucci’s support of Harlem designer Dapper Dan’s store reopening, streetwear was catapulted into the fashion zeitgeist— hoodies, do-rags, sneakers, and chains included. But fashion’s history of temporary blackness questions the industry’s ability to deal with the politics of criminalization, discrimination, appropriation, and inequality that come with this trend.

In an era when white supremacy lives within the mainstream conversation and African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately targeted by police and criminal justice, it’s clear that what we wear and the culture …

The Blurred Lines Of Cultural Appropriation, Jaja Grays

Capstones

For centuries, fashion designers, music artists and other celebrities alike have borrowed elements or styles from other cultures for personal gain. In my piece, "The Blurred Lines of Cultural Appropriation," I demonstrate the countless ways celebrities have appropriated different cultures whether at high-end fashion shows or live music performances. Cultural appropriation refers to a privileged culture borrowing or stealing from a marginalized culture-- striping elements of the culture to use it as a prop or for profit. I also discuss how to avoid cultural appropriation and engage in respectful cultural appreciation.