Sydney Sweeney, star of Euphoria, is going through backlash for her latest American Eagle denim advert. The advert performs on the pun, “Genes are handed down from mother and father… my denims are blue,” and ends with the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has nice denims.” Many noticed this as greater than a wordplay, arguing it hinted at eugenics and previous magnificence beliefs rooted in whiteness.
Critics identified the advert’s deal with Sweeney’s blonde hair, blue eyes and “genetic” greatness strengthened outdated, racially loaded requirements of magnificence. It didn’t assist that white fashions have traditionally been praised for options lengthy shunned or exoticized when worn by Black girls.
Because the controversy grew, some folks started evaluating the marketing campaign to Beyoncé’s Levi’s advert from final yr. Beyoncé’s advert had zero genetic messaging. It was tied to her Cowboy Carter album and celebrated Black legacy in nation music, a far cry from the coded undertones in Sweeney’s spot.
So why the comparability? It reveals how in another way Black and white artists are handled. Beyoncé’s each transfer is over-analyzed. Sweeney, in the meantime, will get the good thing about the doubt till social media calls it out.
That is about how magnificence is marketed and who will get to be the default. Till manufacturers perceive that language, visuals and historical past matter, they’ll proceed to come across this type of controversy, and we’ll proceed to name it what it’s.
Trump fires prime labor official over jobs report ‘Conspiracy’
President Donald Trump lately fired Dr. Erika McEntarfer, head of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), after accusing her of tampering with federal job numbers to make him “look dangerous.” Trump claimed, with out proof, {that a} latest jobs report was “rigged,” though consultants say the numbers had been routine revisions, not political sabotage.
The BLS is a authorities company that tracks the financial system, job development, wages, inflation and all of the stuff that issues to working households. It’s supposed to remain impartial, regardless of who the President is. However Trump’s firing of McEntarfer sends a harmful sign that he’ll simply fireplace the messenger if the numbers don’t match his narrative.
Why ought to Black communities care? As a result of information drives selections. If the BLS turns into political, how will we all know whether or not job packages are working for us? Who will report on unemployment in our neighborhoods or wage disparities in our industries?
Eradicating McEntarfer undermines confidence in one of many few businesses that offers us an actual snapshot of our financial system. And when fact will get changed by spin, on a regular basis persons are left at nighttime.
U.S. proposes $15K visa bonds for candidates
The U.S. State Division is proposing a brand new visa rule requiring guests from sure nations to pay a bond of as much as $15,000 to enter the US. This might apply to folks approaching enterprise or vacationer visas from nations with “excessive overstay charges,” a lot of that are in Africa, the Caribbean and different elements of the World South.
The bond is supposed to discourage folks from overstaying their visas. However in actuality, it creates an enormous monetary barrier, particularly for on a regular basis vacationers. Most individuals in such nations can’t afford to drop $5K, $10K or $15K simply to get a visa. Even when the bond is refunded later, the injury has already been carried out.
Black vacationers usually tend to be impacted. Whether or not households are visiting family members, college students are attending summer season packages, or entrepreneurs are coming to conferences, this coverage makes it more durable for Black folks to entry alternatives.
It sends the message that “We don’t belief you. You don’t belong right here until you possibly can pay further to show your value.”
