This episode is a journey inside my mind as I try to juxtapose five decades of incredible work with one (as far as we know) racist image. I'm talking about Grace Coddington; former Creative Director at US Vogue for almost three decades, known for her imagination and brilliant attention to detail and for creating memorable imagery that has inspired many around the world and impacted every single advert and billboard.
But it's that attention to detail that raised alarm bells back in 2019, when Grace was photographed at home, and in one of the images, she's standing in front of a collection of mammy jars. Many wondered why she had the jars - racist propaganda created to paint African Americans as ugly caricatures - while others wondered why they were on display.
Unfortunately I didn't know about the jars when I made this TikTok all about Grace's impact on the fashion industry.
So in this episode I have a lot of questions - can you be not racist but make a racist mistake; what is 'little old white lady' racism? Plus many others... I also throw makeup artist and brand founder Isamaya Ffrench into the mix, because she's been sailing very close to the wind lately, and her recent trip to Malawi has had some in the beauty community referring to her as 'cringe'.
I'd love to know your thoughts as always, so feel free to get in touch over @beautymepodcast on Twitter or Instagram, or find me on TikTok @charissekenion. Don't forget I also have a newsletter and you can read it for free at beautymenotes.substack.com. Finally, if you could take a moment to review the show and follow or subscribe, it would really help the podcast be seen more by people who might like it.
Links
Elisha Brown article in New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/arts/mammy-jars-black-history-month.html
Genna Rivieccio in Culled Culture on 'old white lady racism': https://www.culledculture.com/grace-coddington-mammy-jars/
Kackie Does Beauty; We Need To Talk About Isamaya Ffrench: https://youtu.be/COIVWDo5IKs
Do Mo Draper 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' on TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYUNtB1s/
BeautyMe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beautymepodcast
BeautyMe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautymepodcast/
BeautyMe newsletter: https://beautymenotes.substack.com
BeautyMe on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charissekenion
BeautyMe on ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/beautyme
Ep. 225: The first Hair Talks event - IRL!
Ep. 224: Meditation, quality, self-reliance and questioning beauty with hair artist Cyndia Harvey
Ep. 223: Let's review Prada Beauty Monochrome Hyper Matte Lipstick
Ep: 222: Behind the scenes of Sofia Coppola’s new Priscilla Presley biopic, with heads of hair and makeup Cliona Furey and Jo-Ann MacNeil.
Ep. 221: Growing up with Tumblr, code-switching as a mixed race woman and skincare for eczema with writer and curator Jasmine Pierre
Ep. 220: Let's review Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
Ep. 219: Feeling burnt out and co-hosting The Black Beauty Club in London
Ep. 218: Australia-based Makeup artist and creator Tatiana Rose talks showgirls, nostalgia, comparison and performing as an introvert
Ep. 217: London Fashion Week backstage hair and beauty highlights plus makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes first product launch
Ep. 216: Meet the Founder with Zanna Roberts Rassi, co-founder of Milk Makeup. Talking makeup, the Manchester indie scene, relationships and more
Ep. 215: Supermodels Naomi, Linda, Cindy and Christy retouched with AI for the covers of British and American Vogue September issues - is this the end of the model?
Ep. 214: Let's review Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil
Ep. 213: Session stylist and brand founder Danielle Igor talks hair texture, fashion and Mary J Blige
Ep. 212: Let's review Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Ep. 211: The difference between hot and pretty and why makeup artist Bea Sweet can't be put in a box
Ep. 210: The problem with Latte Makeup
Ep. 209: Let’s review Glossier G Suit Soft Touch Lip Créme
Ep. 208: The complexities and beauty of textured hair; why tech and data is so important with Texture Gap creator and Carra founder Winnie Awa
Ep. 207: Ableism, empathy and creating a higher quality of life while living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS - Able zine founder Claudia Walder
Ep. 206: PSA: Someone else's weight is none of your business
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