Controversy over ‘ Black ‘ Kate Moss

Kate Moss appeared on the front cover of The Independent's special Red Campaign issue with her skin made up to look black.

Italian designer Giorgio Armani guest edited the issue last Thursday for the African edition despite the face that Moss is white.

Next to the picture was the slogan: ‘Not a Fashion Statement’. The Independent donated half the revenues from the sales of the edition to help fight AIDS in Africa.

The choice of Moss , who is neither black nor African, provoked some debate when the issue was dedicated to the hardships that African women deal with on a daily basis.

Fashion industry blog My Fashion Life said :” Surely an African model such as Alek Wek, Liya Keybede or Iman would have had more significance."

Guardian journalist Hannah Pool called the picture :’ a cheap, old-fashioned blacking-up trick, and the fact that it is being used to highlight the battle against Aids in Africa is a disgrace.’

She added:” What does it say about the fight against HIV/Aids if that is the only way to make us care? And, as a black woman (born that way), what does this trick say about me?”

Patricia Johnson