Azealia Banks vs Dolce & Gabanna (D&G), Rap Ignorance or Fashion Arrogance?
— 10 / 21 / 2012
writer: Dahryl Pharoah
Rap MC Azealia Banks is going head-up with high fashion powerhouse Dolce & Gabanna. The Italian
clothing & accessories brand is being accused of racism by the sex-charged, female lyricist.
After debuting their "African heritage" Spring 2013 collection at Milan Fashion Week, Azealia Banks
is outraged.
Azealia Banks made a series of tweets about what D&G professes to be the 'Sicily's African Heritage'
fashion works.
"Definitely boycotting Dolce & Gabanna." said Azealia Banks in her first tweet. She then
followed with more:
"Whoever designed that racist ass Dolce and Gabanna collection needs a swift kick in the mouth and a big d*** up the ass."
"I really hate when people do corny, racist things then try to justify it as 'art.'""
"It's all just really unnecessary. the clothes in the collection were fine without all the "black mammies" imagery."
Azealia Banks may have a point, however one must look at Sicily and Sicilian-Italians heritage to
fully justify such statement. Unknown to most, a very high percentage of Sicilian Italians have
African ancestry. According to historians, "Moors" or 'black skinned people', conquered various
countries during ancient civilization periods. As any ancient empire, once gone, their
DNA still remained thriving through the country's future generations.
In looking at the so-called African-Sicilian heritage fashion designs, one can see a possibility
for relation to the 'black mammy' figure. However, the designs present the black woman fashioned
in queen-like attire. The controversial figure used by Dolce & Gabanna is wearing luxury
native headdress, adorned in precious stones.
Here is a few perspective views of this:
What racist would pay to wear clothing that promotes a black skinned woman, well dressed
in luxury? That's not derogatory & there are black-skinned women, especially in the
eastern world countries. "Moors" are black-skinned and they did effect Sicilian heritage.
Various resources on-line state Sicilians faced racial discrimination from Northern Italians for
their African heritage.
Azealia Banks graces magazine covers blowing condoms and using sex, her body, and
lustful lyrics as a tool to market herself. Is that not what the 'black mammy' is supposed
to represent?
Who's doing more destruction to the black community of today? The image of D&G's fashions
or Azealia Banks portrayed image?
If D&G is racist, who can afford this anyway right now? Most of the world is struggling with
issues of trying to feed their family. D&G nor Azealia Banks is going to feed any black households
beyond those they employ.
In all reality, African-Americans wear all types of shirts and fashions that depict
various white celebrities. Is this really a war on a racial issue or attention-seeking?
View the images below and leave a comment. Which image better represents a classy black
woman to you. Base you response off the image you see, not influence of persuasions and
outside opinion (including ours).
Is this Rap Ignorance or Fashion Arrogance ? Azealia Banks needs to check herself on
Sicilian history or is D&G fashion brand arrogantly promoting racism?
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