Racist or not?

[claw3]

At our local train station at the weekend with ds 12, he was looking at news stand, while i was getting train tickets.

Anyhow at news stand there was a section which had black magazines ie black hair, black beauty, black music etc, etc. Ds asked me why do black people have their own mags and would it be racist if white people had their own magazines ie white hair, white beauty etc etc.

Your thoughts, would it??

Those made up titles would definitely be racist, Klaw.

Pingping, you could buy it worldwide (I bought it in Australia) but yes, it caused a sensation worldwide because it was the first time a major fashion magazine featured just 'black' models. However, it was noted that only Vogue Italia,known for being more 'arty' and less commerically driven than its sister publications, would get away with it.
There was a real contrast between the editorial (black models) and the advertisements (almost all 'white' models)

Claw3 YABU What was the magizine called?

LOL FKC

If we were in a culture where white products were underrepresented in the media I would not object or be at all surprised; we are not in that culture.

Magazines represent a vast array of small areas of interest: I would not be at all suprised to see a copy of Meerkat Roaster and Barbecue Weekly' in Asda next week ! The comanies specifically narrow down tiny areas at which they can taget advertising absed newsletters: you only have to flick through a copy of Your Wedding, Mini World, Campervan, PC Gamer to see where the real interests lie. Advertising revenue.

So if we can find enough people intrested in minnow management (OK am taking the piss now. Probably) why on earth wouldn't there be enough people interested in products aimed at the black community? Or vice versa in a country with a black majority, the white community?

Well, if there was a Hello or a Vogue in this country which stated that it was aimed just at white people then yes, that would be offensive because there is no need for such a publication since the white majority is understandably well catered-for in terms of publications so the only reason to create such a magazine would be to cause racial upset.

'white pride' sounds like it would be something to do with the BNP so I would probably object, yes!
white hello would be plain weird-mind you hello is pretty weird anyway and I have no idea who it's aimed at in the first place...

Black Hair on the other hand is pretty specific
I can't find it in my heart to get worked up about referring directly to Black Hair in a magazine title! As Kew pointed out the alternative would be slightly impractical

Megami I looked everywhere for it in the UK someone said it was only available in Italy I will try get a copy of Ebay.

Really shouldnt get involved in this discussion, as actually people have pretty much covered this .. BUT hey ho, I am on maternity leave and bored...

Claw3... White does not need to be explicitly referred to because that is the privilege of 'whiteness' as the dominant, mainstream culture. Refer to WilfSell's post on Mon 26-Jan-09 12:38:24, which summarises the issues pretty succinctly.

The black magazines fill a gap in the market, and can be read by anyone who is interested..

I wonder how the OP would feel if suddenly her monthly mag doubled in price and size and had large sections aimed at black/asian hair and beauty care. Is that your ideal outcome ?

You do realise Claw3 that blackhair is produced by the same company as hairstyles magazines. Why do you care so much about a magizines. Its clearly not racist you don't open the mag and see racial remarks about white people.

read this Claw3

Well put Nkweto

I would object strongly to "White Pride" because it exists outside the magazine as a Neo-Nazi concept.

I would just find the name "White Hello" bizarre and would think it had been translated from Japanese.

Saadia - So 'white whatever' has a racial overtone to it, but 'black whatever' doesnt?

You can see where a 12 year old boy is coming from. Unfortunately there are lots of 12 year old boys in this Country who wouldnt ask their mums why and reach their own conclusions.

So why not just drop the 'black' title?

exactly, you have to take into account the context. And I would hope that 12yr old kids would know this and if they didn't then their parents should explain it to them.

Because its blackhair products its products styles makeup only suitable for black hair why would a white person want to use pink cream for instance it would make there hair all oily. It also has a large range of weave and other products that white people just wouldn't use.

If it said hairstyles alot of white people would buy it for no reason its pointing out what group of people its aimed at.

Gosh you really are arrogant.

so what did you to say to your son when he asked?

If someone is going to be racist then having "Black" in a magazine title is not the reason. Equally, removing "black" from a magazine title is not going to stop anyone from being racist if they happen to hold those views..

That's and odd comment really as has already been said the other magazines rarely have anyone of any colour on the front of them never mind inside. However, I do think the title of the black magazines limits their readership and that's a shame. Now with Obama in charge how long do you think it might be before the mags merge which they don't really have to do just have a mixture is all that's needed.

Claw3 - you are very lucky to have a son who does ask his mother these things.

So tell him the answer.

This is that there are significant minority groups in this country, both white and non-white (which is why, in parts of the country, the Jewish Chrtonicle and Irish Times are big sellers, not to mention non-English titles) and that the mainstream press does not cater to some of their social and cultural wants adequately.

To help them find what they are looking for, as well as to help newsagents display their stock, some, but not all, of these periodicals mention the target audience in their names.

Tell him, too, that if he can think of an example of a white-targeted magazine where using the word "white" would help the reader or the newsagent, then no, that wouldn't be racist in itself, though the content might be (eg "White Supremacist Monthly, inc. Bigot Times").

He sounds a bright boy, he should be able to understand that, eh?

pingpong - If thats the case, no one would object to 'white' hair then, you wouldnt want a 'black' person buying it by mistake?

claw did you miss the 27 posts that pointed out that adding "white" is pointless - we are a majority we assume everything is "white" unless stated otherwise.

Obviously you did...

Claw3 you are a joker and spoiling for an arguement you know your wrong get over it.

Your question stated its asked if its racist of course its not racist look up what racism is seriously.

Friar - No i didnt miss the point that adding white was pointless. I also think that adding black is pointless.

Stating that black people need to have 'black' including in the title to realise that a magazine is aimed at them, is ridiculous

So claw3 why is it so wrong for the mag to be called blackhair?

You're not really serious are you?@claw3