French Magazine Does Blackface Spread

500x_officiel_3

Way to go, L'Officiel Hommes. You are breaking that racial barrier by putting white guys in an afro and a bunch of greasepaint for your couture spread. And so totally original to...it's almost as if French Vogue didn't do the exact same awful thing a couple months ago. We're just surprised John Mayer wasn't one of the models, the way you both are totally intellectualizing the concept of a minstrel show. Blurf. Harry Connick Jr. is crying in Australia somewhere right now, and the rest of the photos are after the jump.

500x_officiel_1

500x_officiel_2

500x_officiel_5

500x_officiel_4

(Via Jezebel)

Commentarium (18 Comments)

Feb 19 10 - 6:33pm
RWL

Oh the French...smooth move

Feb 19 10 - 8:21pm
Meh

That's just soot from all the cigarettes they smoke.

Feb 19 10 - 10:25pm
RevTen

Actually i kinda dig the concept. Its not a garrish Sambo blackface spread. It almost seems to show that, if you didnt know it, could you really know these guys were NOT black? it leaves little hints yes, but really the only thing i have to say negatively about these photos is how flat the skin tones are.

Feb 20 10 - 2:32pm
profrobert

This is what happens when the French can't find anyone to surrender to for a few years.

Feb 20 10 - 9:47pm
Karen

hmm I'm black but i don't really see an issue with this I remember a america's next top model espiode where they made the models look like different races it was kind of cool to see the transformation. I agrree with RevTen I think the french mag could've done a few different skin tones

Feb 21 10 - 12:38pm
Rebs

I don't have a problem with it to be honest...

Feb 21 10 - 5:42pm
Plinko

HA!! I like it

Feb 21 10 - 6:08pm
Orange

I don't see the purpose of it personally.

Feb 21 10 - 7:56pm
Jeff

black people need to get over themslves. they feel inferior which is why they're offended by everything.

Jun 04 11 - 3:46pm
dfdf

you're an over generalizing idiot.

Apr 23 12 - 10:59pm
Luci

@Jeff, what the hell are you talking about?? I am a black American and I find this to be very sophisticated and artistic. Shut your ass up! Don't generalize us you moron!!!

Feb 22 10 - 9:25pm
M

Why not just give a black model the job, though?

Feb 22 10 - 10:12pm
ZME

exactly. why paint white people black when you can have a real live naturally black person?? gasp!!

Feb 23 10 - 1:55pm

why not paint a black model white?

Apr 23 12 - 11:01pm
Luci

No thanks, I don't think none of us would try that. The world hates us for our skin color and physical appearance, so there must be something so good about us. So, why go the other way around?

Feb 24 10 - 12:12pm
VJ

In reference to Jeff and his ignorant comment. Black people don't feel inferior to anyone. In fact, we laugh at how hard other races try to be like us. As you can see from the ad, everyone wants to be us in one way or the other!

Jun 04 11 - 3:47pm
dfdf

yes!

Feb 24 10 - 4:40pm
zig

i can't seem to recall, but did the Black French nationals experience slavery?
Maybe, and i am just blabbering here, the fact that Blacks in France did not go through all of the Civil Rights denials as Blacks from the US of A did, allows for the use of Art... just plain ART! i wonder if it's possible for the US of A to ever move on from these taboos. Ever heard of another French concept, a cartoon character Tin-Tin or the Mexican one Memin Pinguin? In these comix's the Blacks were portrayed in black ink in the same way an obese character is drawn in larger dimensions than their skinny counterparts, and all the while, presented in such a way as to not attach the racial baggage that you load in this review.
Afterthought:... Sorry Drew, i just went ahead and assumed, that in fact, you are based in the so-called land of the free and home of the brave.