the First Prada. Ago Gucci. And then Katy Perry.

All had been caught selling clothes and accessories which are reminiscent of the racist being blackface, that is to say, the excessive black the make-up with big red lips with origins in the american entertainment industry.

A resilient stereotype that already in 1848, was described as a white society, the dirty scum, the filthy scum of white society – by an american politician and human rights activist by the name of Frederick Douglass.

It did not, however, blackface from becoming hugely popular, for a long time.

, ”Jazzsångaren” from 1927, was the main character of black and white is like black, Al Jolson. A jewish man born in the current Lithuania who have previously made a name for himself in the theater by performing in blackface. The film made him a superstar – and got blackface to spread even more.

To watch white people paint themselves black and pretending to be – not infrequently småkorkade – the descendants of american slaves became a genre that has not lost momentum until the 1950s. The list of famous white actors who paint themselves black in the scene, and the film is bothersome long.

Read more stilkrönikor by Susanne Ljung

Blackface is deeply rooted in the american culture.

It is also one of the reasons that some people today refuse to realize how degrading and racist, it is. It has, of course, as well as ”always been there”.

However, many is also aware of its meaning, and ready to hit when it shows up its ugly fejs.

have the awareness of racial stereotypes also been raised in the world of fashion, an industry that has long been surprised each time it led to uproar when you paint white models black. As late as 2010, for instance, the French fashion magazine Numéro, a ljushyllt model appear as dark, including the afro.

Both brands pudlade quickly. The products were withdrawn and Gucci and Prada sounded to announce that they are now concretely working on to increase both the knowledge and the diversity of its staff.

in particular, Gucci has promoted itself as an inclusive brand that cares about diversity and really have a passion to include everyone, regardless of ethnicity and orientation.

So that just the brand stepped wrong in a black knitted polo shirt with extra long collar and a cutout part for the mouth, edged by a thick red stripe that is similar to the lips, was therefore extra attention.

the Label’s designer Alessandro Michele claimed that the shirt was a tribute to performancekonstnären Leigh Bowery, a man active in London during the 1980s. A very narrow, popkulturell wink that was not understood in the united states. Where was drawn instead of parallels to blackface in which excessively large and the red lips are a distinctive detail.

fashion brand Prada said to have had a thought of their black small prydnadsfiguriner with big red lips, to hang on handbag, could be perceived as anything other than imaginary figures.

Both brands pudlade quickly. The products were withdrawn and Gucci and Prada sounded to announce that they are now concretely working on to increase both the knowledge and the diversity of its staff. Gucci quickly employed five new designs from various countries and has set up the position of global director for diversity and inclusion. Prada has created a mångfaldsråd, led by film director Ava DuVernay, who among other things directed the film ”Selma,” and artist Theaster Gates.

During a lecture on modeskolan Parsons in New York for a couple of weeks ago, gucci’s ceo Marco Bizzarri that he himself had not a clue what the hubbub to a the beginning was about, and admit their previous ignorance of the blackface. ”We come from a different culture. We are italians. We don’t know all the cultural differences”, he said.

alarm bells with singer Katy Perry, born and raised in the united states, not rang when she launched black shoes adorned with eyes and big red mouths is unclear.

But clearly that it is not more anger that needed in blackface, without more information. And, not least, a willingness to learn more.

Katy Perry’s criticized the shoes that have been suspended, this model is The Rue slip on loafer. Photo: Katy Perry collection