U.K.-based Black Hair magazine has made the unfortunate mistake of selecting an image of a white woman for its December/January cover. When the race of the model was revealed, the magazine didn’t apologize, but rather said it was a mistake and that the company who sold the magazine the image was partially to blame. Keyshia Davis, an editor for the magazine wrote the following:
“This morning it was brought to our attention that the model gracing our December/January issue is not of black or mixed-race heritage. We were obviously not aware of this prior to selecting the image. We often ask PR companies/salons to submit images for the magazine, specifically stating that models must be Black or mixed race. We can only take their word for it, and of course, try to use our own judgment.” (See full statement below.)
Because the story was covered by BuzzFeed, it’s attracted a lot of attention and Black Hair magazine’s Facebooks comments are currently in a shambles as a result. Some are demanding the cover be changed, which is impossible because it’s already gone to print and hit newsstands. That said, the image could arguably be replaced on its social media pages.
As well, there are commentors saying the magazine should shoot its own content to avoid this type of mistake, but there probably wasn’t ever a budget for that, much less in the current climate in which all print magazines are watching their ad dollars drain away daily in favor of online spends.
The featured model, Emily Bador, also responded to the controversy by apologizing on her Instagram page, writing, “I would deeply and sincerely like to apologise to every one for this, and black women especially. I would like to clarify, I believe this shoot is from when I was around 15 and didn’t understand cultural appropriation or the impact it has on POC. I was uneducated, which obviously is no excuse, ignorant and immature. Growing up in a very very white city, I had no idea the struggles black women face and how often they were persecuted for their hair. I didn’t understand how black women are constantly told their natural hair is inappropriate/unprofessional for the work place, or how young girls are told they can’t go to school with natural hair. I didn’t understand that shoots like this support the very Eurocentric beauty standard that the mainstream media focus on which reinforce the idea that black features are only ok on white women. I didn’t understand that as a white passing woman I’d be praised for this hair, but if I was a black woman I’d be persecuted. I didn’t understand cultural appropriation.✨ I do regret doing this. I hold up my hands, I’m so so so sorry and I’m very sorry this cover was taken away from a black woman.”
She also noted that the image was shot 3-4 years ago and she wasn’t told it would be featured on Black Hair magazines cover. “If I had known it was going to be published, I would never have condoned it. I’m upset and angry I was never asked by the photographer/hair salon/anyone if this image could be used for the cover Black Hair,” said Bador. (See full statement below.)
