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The 7 black women on magazine covers in September showcase our greatness Black women on magazine covers in September showcase our greatness
(about 3 hours later)
There are seven black women gracing September magazine covers: Willow Smith, Beyoncé, Kerry Washington, Ciara, Serena Williams, Misty Copeland and Amandla Stenberg. I had to utter their names, because the weight of them all together gives me goosebumps. The editors at Vogue, Shape, Self, New York Magazine, Essence, i-D and Dazed did not plan this coincidence, making it organic and, therefore, all the more exciting. There are seven black women gracing fall magazine covers: Willow Smith, Beyoncé, Kerry Washington, Ciara, Serena Williams, Misty Copeland and Amandla Stenberg. I had to utter their names, because the weight of them all together gives me goosebumps. The editors at Vogue, Shape, Self, New York Magazine, Essence, i-D and Dazed did not plan this coincidence, making it organic and, therefore, all the more exciting.
I’m proud of my fellow black women getting the covers of the most important month of the year, because this is something that everyone needs to see. I am more than well-versed in the grandeur of our different shades of brown, the grace in our cadences, the ferocity in our words. I am of this community, and I’ve seen these layers my entire life, and I’ve lived them. Hopefully now black women’s greatness will get wider recognition.I’m proud of my fellow black women getting the covers of the most important month of the year, because this is something that everyone needs to see. I am more than well-versed in the grandeur of our different shades of brown, the grace in our cadences, the ferocity in our words. I am of this community, and I’ve seen these layers my entire life, and I’ve lived them. Hopefully now black women’s greatness will get wider recognition.
Sure, we’ve seen Oprah, Rihanna and Michelle Obama on past covers of Vogue, and its Italian edition dedicated an entire issue to us back in 2008. This batch of covers is much different; past covers were uncommon occurrences, their uniqueness thrown into relief by the hoards of blonde, white women gracing the pages month after month, year after year. You would think that since black women dominate every sphere of our culture, from sports to music to politics, that we would see them more often – but tokenism and diversity are enemies, rather than partners. Now, however, for this September, these black cover girls do not signify an occasion, but an event.Sure, we’ve seen Oprah, Rihanna and Michelle Obama on past covers of Vogue, and its Italian edition dedicated an entire issue to us back in 2008. This batch of covers is much different; past covers were uncommon occurrences, their uniqueness thrown into relief by the hoards of blonde, white women gracing the pages month after month, year after year. You would think that since black women dominate every sphere of our culture, from sports to music to politics, that we would see them more often – but tokenism and diversity are enemies, rather than partners. Now, however, for this September, these black cover girls do not signify an occasion, but an event.
When I look at their faces, I see nothing but bravado, whether it’s Beyoncé’s stoicism, Kerry Washington’s smirk or Serena’s confidence. The fierceness in their eyes penetrates the pages as though they are making sure that you see them. I have a self-satisfied grin just thinking about these expressions. They will grace the shelves of supermarkets in middle America, and no one will be able to ignore them.When I look at their faces, I see nothing but bravado, whether it’s Beyoncé’s stoicism, Kerry Washington’s smirk or Serena’s confidence. The fierceness in their eyes penetrates the pages as though they are making sure that you see them. I have a self-satisfied grin just thinking about these expressions. They will grace the shelves of supermarkets in middle America, and no one will be able to ignore them.
Perhaps that is why I’m most proud of this achievement; the braggadocio is ever-present. No one of us will be able to find a white woman to drown out black beauty, because this time, we are the majority. What’s even more pleasant is that these black women are not all light-skinned: they are of different brown hues and hair textures. This is diversity in a nutshell.Perhaps that is why I’m most proud of this achievement; the braggadocio is ever-present. No one of us will be able to find a white woman to drown out black beauty, because this time, we are the majority. What’s even more pleasant is that these black women are not all light-skinned: they are of different brown hues and hair textures. This is diversity in a nutshell.
Magazine analyst Samir Husni said to TheWrap, “With any black celebrity, your color is no longer black. Your color is green. They transcend race.” While I understand the sentiment, I strongly disagree. These women are black – and deserving of our money. These components are not mutually exclusive. Having black celebrities does not mean that they or we have transcended race; suggesting as much orients them towards whiteness, and helps cover up the inequalities that pervade every layer of our society.Magazine analyst Samir Husni said to TheWrap, “With any black celebrity, your color is no longer black. Your color is green. They transcend race.” While I understand the sentiment, I strongly disagree. These women are black – and deserving of our money. These components are not mutually exclusive. Having black celebrities does not mean that they or we have transcended race; suggesting as much orients them towards whiteness, and helps cover up the inequalities that pervade every layer of our society.
Related: Beyoncé's Vogue cover shows just how her image control worksRelated: Beyoncé's Vogue cover shows just how her image control works
I hope that our collective understanding of beauty will be undermined by the time October issues hit newsstands, and this month won’t be such an event in the months and years to come. I hope that I continue to see white women of all ages flip through the pages of their favorite magazines and devour our stories as we have done with their stories for years. That discomfort that they may feel when they don’t see any white women on the covers is just the type of reaction I want. If that sounds a bit boastful, so be it: I and as countless other black women have had to promote ourselves without our own communities because, for eons, no one else would feature us in mainstream outlets. Now, we are finally allowed to be the center of all attention, both for merit and for existence.I hope that our collective understanding of beauty will be undermined by the time October issues hit newsstands, and this month won’t be such an event in the months and years to come. I hope that I continue to see white women of all ages flip through the pages of their favorite magazines and devour our stories as we have done with their stories for years. That discomfort that they may feel when they don’t see any white women on the covers is just the type of reaction I want. If that sounds a bit boastful, so be it: I and as countless other black women have had to promote ourselves without our own communities because, for eons, no one else would feature us in mainstream outlets. Now, we are finally allowed to be the center of all attention, both for merit and for existence.