Macys Seeks to Confuse Father's Day for all New Yorkers, not just Harlem.

Oh the perils of multiracial advertising:
We cry, we yearn for inclusion, we shout of discrimination and create campaigns around the perils of identity politics and representation in the media. We inspire dreamy eyed aspiring journalists to go to school and study media representation and write chapters of dissertations that ... (Okay, that was only me. Yes, before I became disillusioned and repackaged as a former aspiring journalist trying to make sense of the utilities industry). We get to the point.

Its 2010 and although the bitter can always point to the areas of failed representation, we have to give credit where it is due and acknowledge that long strides have been made in terms of a wider mainstream representation across racial groups. Then there's the Taye Diggs syndrome.

Taye Diggs is the guy - that black guy - that all my fellow educated friends met somewhere during their academic studies. If you didn't have or can't remember the school days, just think of all the times we've seen Taye Diggs in a role recently (post helping Stella get her groove back or being anyone's best man,) good or bad, right or wrong.

Real Life Taye: Married to the definitely better singer Idina Menzel
Broadway-cum-Hollywood Musical Taye*:

If you really have no idea what I'm talking about, just think of this guy.

Family Taye: Kevin Hill


Best Buddy (may be confused with Best Man) Taye:



ABC Taye:
Daybreak


Private Practice:

You see Taye is everything the collective "we" asked for and discussed in magazines, beauty shops, churches, and around dinner tables. He's everything we asked for, before we got specific.

And then, we got the watered down Macy*s Taye.
(Disclaimer: it's not really Taye Diggs)

This picture makes little sense to me. I don't know this guy. I don't know many people who do know or want to know this guy.  Who is this baby? Where did the baby come from? Why is this phenotypically black man kidnapping this phenotypically not black child without an allusion to his multiracial friends in sight? Whose Father's Day is this? This is worse than trying to figure out where the one curly headed child came from in the black family on television.

Maybe, Macy*s is making commentary on the changing demographic of...

SMH.

This made sense Macy*s. Safe, but adorable and sensible.

Well to all my fathers, no matter if you and you children look alike, Happy Father's Day.

Coloring in the Fashion World

This cover for Life Magazine was taken in 1969. It's almost forty years later, and while some people may feel like the fifty states and white house make up for the forty acres and a mule, obviously some of the same conversations are occurring and the changes may seem cyclical to those that have come off of the election high. Ebony proclaimed earlier this year that "Black is Back" but this is also the same publication that cautioned me when I was younger, pointing out that black representation in government post-Civil War and even through Redemption was at an all time high before falling again in the 20th century. History doesn't have to repeat itself if the nation remains vigilant and aware. There seems to be better work at that nowadays.

Fashion isn't the purview of this blog. Neither is it my area of expertise, but I have written about it from time to time. (This is part of my blog focus complex. Click here for references) This does not mean that I do not follow the fashion world and like to note what is going on. As I traveled the internet world this evening while enjoying Teen Jeopardy and ignoring the never ending job search I was pleasantly surprised to note that some things are changing in the fashion world besides for Ciara wearing ankle purses.

Magazines and ad campaigns are getting colored! You can check WWD and Style.com for industry written reports as well as the more entertaining and accessible pieces written by two of my favorite fashion websites, Fashionista and Make Fetch Happen. Check here and here here.

Bisous (HAUL)
Kim

Things I'm pondering now: Letters to the Stars

Dear Barack,

It's pretty clear that I think your wife is fabu. And well, yea I want you to win: not only so Michelle can be a great first lady; not only because I want to have a self identifying black president;not only because supporting you is cool and trendy; and not only because I swoon every time I see your great dance skills on Ellen but because I like your politics. Yes We Can (use your healthcare plan to deal with this swelling on top of my foot since the stupid British NHS won't pay for a podiatrist and my job is withholding a week of pay).
But Barack, I have a bone to pick. Really could we not include one other recognizable racial minority in your first national commercial? I'm sure there are some ethnically ambiguous folks or maybe they're hidden in the black and white shots, but lets be real...I know you have a photo with a minority. I'll let the whole hijab wearing ladies thing slide. YES WE CAN!

Love,
Kimberly

Dear Robert Kelly,
You're a perv. We all knew something was up with your songs. We also knew something was up when the Aaliyah wedding rumors came about while "Age Aint Nothing But A Number" was still blaring on the radio. I also don't doubt the possibilities that the girl was a fast little girl, but regard yourself a lucky man. Please go repent and make another of your gospel songs...you're too talented to waste after you received this break.
But I wonder do you think you got better treatment because you were a celebrity? Do you think the media coverage was different because it was a little black girl and not a little white girl?
I'm not passing judgment because we Christians aren't supposed to do that. I'm just saying you're a pervert because you are.
Love,
Kimberly

Dear Vogue Italia,
I anxiously await next Thursday. But did Naomi need the cover? She's crazy and not in the self obsessed Tyra way! But I guess that sells.
Love,
Kimberly

Dear View Ladies,
Loved the Michelle episode.
Barbara please stop the old lady madness. No one wants to know whose families you destroyed of that Alan Greenspan has hooked up with any one, much less you.Also I have the feeling bare isn't so great on you. Please wear panty hose.
Sherri, I wonder about you. Are all the screws alright? Eh, watev you're fun. I so feel you on the sleeveless thing
Joy...you must be the fun aunt. I'm certain of it.
Elizabeth continue being yourself.
Whoopi, I | you. I'm not sure what it means, but you're cool and keep it all the way real. Thanks for helping out Michelle on the show. Also your comment about dark skin black women, on point. Rock ON!.
But can we please stop calling it a fist bump: its a pound/dap and Michelle you know you knew it before the young folk on the campaign. Even today's issue of The Guardian has a photo spread dedicated to old people doing it.
Love,
Kimberly

Dear self,
We need to chat. cough*Dissertation*cough*laundry*cough.
loathe,
me

"Because like cockroaches and taxes, Lil Kim isn't going anywhere":A Clotel Reference

This definitely has to be one of my new favorite blogs. The rant is a bit close to typical, but oh so necessary. I'm not even a feminist/womanist and I did the head nod a lot.

And there's a Clotel reference. If you don't know, go look it up. I won't even hyperlink this one for you ( it's not so much that its standard knowledge, but more that I'm lazy. While you're at it look on One Blood). Reliving my Af-Am lit course in my head.

http://blacksnob.blogspot.com/2008/05/hip-hop-hedonism-in-p-power-era.html

THROWBACK POP CULTURE CLIP OF THE WEEK

Won't even pretend that I have any recollection of this, but in honor of my new obsession with The Game and a post on the CW's board, I bring you old school Tia and Tamera Mowry...yep I think this is even before the The Full House episodes (why were all of Michelle's friends little curly headed black kids from huge entertainment families...Tahj Mowry, Jurnee Smollet?):




Bonus Clip: Now this I do remember. At the same time as Party of Five on Fox, the Smollett clan had their own version entitled On Our Own on ABC's TGIF. Classic.(For a review of both that I don't necessarily endorse, but it gives background and shows reasons for one show's success and the other's failure click here.) Has much changed in television and conception of shows?




Too bad it didn't last long. Maybe because this is how minority children are supposed to appear: Keke Palmer not urban enough? (redirected from YBF).


Sigh...
HAUL,
The Queen