The United States is widely known for its billion-dollar revenue in entertainment, but within this industry, there is deep-rooted racism. There was a time when white entertainers performed in blackface and when films glorified the actions of the Ku Klux Klan, mocking and fueling hatred against the Black community. The entertainment industry has a rich history of blatant racism, and although it's more subtle, it still remains prevalent today. The film industry does this by lacking representation for people of color. They whitewash the industry by casting white actors and actresses, instead of people of color, to fit the original ethnic background. In the fashion industry, designers have used white models to showcase their designs from specific cultures, making it cultural appropriation. There is a continuous cycle of racism that fuels both of these industries.
The American film industry is built on systemic racism that limits the opportunity for actors. Many of the nation's classic films have racist outlooks on people of color. Breakfast at Tiffany's, an American classic, contained a white actor wearing yellowface to depict an Asian character. In a more recent event, white actress Scarlet Johansen played a lead role in a movie based on a Japanese animation film. She wore a black bob-cut wig, making a mockery of the Japanese character.
By using white actors to play people of color, it gives the impression that people of color are incapable of properly playing these roles.
This puts people of color in a position of inferiority, giving the most power to white actors.
The film industry is also a very male-dominated field. Male directors, producers, and actors outnumber women in 4 to 1 role. Actresses often go into auditions in a room full of men, already creating a sense of intimidation. For women of color, this gut feeling is even worse. They not only have to worry about feeling powerless in a male-dominated field, but also about being racially discriminated against. In 2016, black actors even boycotted the Oscars for a lack of inclusivity. This lack of representation in a major academy awards show caused havoc on social media platforms, where #OscarsSoWhite started trending. People took a stand against the inequalities within the film industry, and it eventually resulted in the academy reevaluating its values. This should not be the case. A trending hashtag should not make a whole industry suddenly question their racist actions. This lack of opportunity is not because of the lack of talent, it's because of the white majority in the film industry.
The fashion industry uses cultural appropriation to exploit people of color. Famous white models have worn Black hairstyles to showcase ethnic culture. Model Kendall Jenner was seen strutting down the runaway in dreads at a Marc Jacobs show. Amongst the controversy over his show, Marc Jacobs unapologetically defended his white models in dreadlocks, ignorantly questioning how people of color are not criticized for straightening their hair. Big named designers need to be mindful of what exactly their brand is representing.
Using white people to show off a specific culture is not honoring people of color, it's racism. The evident lack of power for people of color makes it cultural appropriation.
Black individuals have been discriminated against for the texture of their hair for decades, so using white models to celebrate Black hair is morally wrong. Victoria's Secret has a history of its many cases of cultural appropriation. They are well known for their debacle of dressing their white models in Native American headdresses. The feathered headdress symbolizes overcoming hardship within the indigenous community. Victoria's Secret claimed to signify the month of November for Thanksgiving, being insensitive to the genocide that took place by European colonizers. These headdresses are sacred in the indigenous community, and a white model wearing them dishonors everything it stands for. There is a difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation, where people recognize and educate themselves on the significance of ethnic fashion items. In the 2015 Met Gala, the theme of the gala was China: Through the Looking Glass, which focused on Chinese influence in Western fashion. Celebrities had Chinese fashion designers create beautiful garments to showcase to the public, which is a prime example of cultural appreciation. There is a desperate need for representation when specific cultures are being honored, no white supermodel should take that away.
The entertainment and fashion industries are highly successful in America, but they need to be held accountable for their racist actions. Both industries need to be more inclusive to people of color and properly honor and respect their cultures. They need to be mindful of the message they are sending to the public. When children don't see characters that look like them in shows and movies, they don't feel seen or understood in society. People of color aren't feeling represented properly, and the entertainment and fashion industry needs to rethink the foundation of their industries.
Writer: Angelica Vivas
Editor: Molly McEwen
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