Hello Loves,

I often ask myself why there never is any or a very small number of mainstream Black bloggers at major fashion events? Personally, I find it hard to believe in the fairness of blogging industry. When you are a Black blogger who rarely sees anyone or only one or two looking like you at those mainstream high fashion events, you know it is all about race. You’ll be surprised to know how many ”closet racists” we have in this World. ”Closet racists” are the most dangerous ones because they trick you into thinking that you are accepted, you are part of the game when you are simply not. Black women often feel erased, undermined, ignored, marginalized and disrespected. Why our society has the wrong idea that Black woman can’t sell and that, a Black woman can not be mainstream unless she is Beyonce or Rihanna? I truly believe that if Black Bloggers are supported by fashion brands or big shopping websites like the Asian and White bloggers are, we can sell any product just like them. If they can do it, we can too. For example, the movie “hidden figures” proved that Black women can sell to any audience. This movie was one of the highest grossing movies when it came out. I feel very proud of the movie because I suddenly believe again that a Black woman can be as pretty and most importantly as smart as any other woman. If we Black can relate to all the other races and follow them; better, show them love on social media, why can’t they can do the same too? It seems that the society expects Black women to always give in, to always undervalue themselves and to back down in order to be slightly noticed because we are never good enough to be fully accepted. 

Recently I was invited to a fashion event to which, I myself invited two White friends to join me. On the day of the event, my two white friends showed up before me and the people at the door let them in, even without them showing any invitation. I arrived after my friends and I was denied the entrance, even when I showed the invitation in my phone to the guy at the entrance. They put me on the side and let everyone who came after me in, even the people who weren’t properly dressed.  Meanwhile, I could see my two white friends from where I was standing, sipping on a champagne. Finally, without any explanation or an apology, they let me in.  Beside my housekeeper offering me a whitening cream, that is just a small example of many unfair situations related to race that is emotionally destructive. You never fully recover from a racist experience because it devalues you as a human. But again, unless you are Black, you have no idea what we have to go through as Black people in the World. I’m so tired of all of it that I can’t compromise or apologize for being Black anymore. I have to fight in order to keep that little self-love I have left. To me, your race doesn’t make you a better person unless you prove that you are a better human being.

The society knows that Black consumers follow all these bloggers who are White and Asian but once you are a Black blogger, it always feels like you don’t exist or only Back people can relate to you and be your audience. That’s a lie! Black bloggers can be mainstream too and they need the kind of opportunities that made the other bloggers become mainstream. The World needs to remember that Black people are not going anywhere, We are here on this earth forever, just like the White and the Asian people. We are all human. We need to change the way we think about race and diversity in the society as a whole and in the blogging industry as well. Matter of fact, the fashion industry is making an effort to show some diversity but this doesn’t seem to be the case in the blogging industry yet.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to leave your comments below.

Shirt: Kenzo, available here

Coat: Massimo Dutti

Jeans: Zara, similar here

Shoes: Gucci, available here

Sunnies: Prada, similar here

Belt: Gucci, try this here

Bag: Gucci, available here