Ebony’s latest cover proves that body positivity isn’t just for white women
Photo courtesy Ebony magazine
Ebony magazine’s March 2016 cover is seriously good.
The stunning cover features “Orange Is The New Black”’s Danielle Brooks, singers Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michele and designer/blogger Gabi Gregg (who you might know as Gabi Fresh) – all slaying in military-inspired looks.
The cover stars also open up in the issue’s feature, “The Curvy Confessionals” – an eye-opening cover story that delves into the issue of how black women perceive their bodies – not to mention, how their bodies are perceived by the rest of the world.
“What would be evoked in you, readers, if I said said the women photographed here…and I were sitting around a steakhouse table selecting from family-style options including filet mignon, roasted chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, mashed potatoes, creamy spinach, salad and, eff it, cheesecake?,” writes Tomika Anderson. “Would you frown in disgust? Shake your head? Cheer us on? Think nothing of it?”
Instagram/Danielle Brooks
ALSO SEE: How the beauty industry has failed black women
“To be a ‘brick house’ or ‘thick’ has never been a sin in Black America, and not surprisingly, overweight Black women are also reported to be happier with their bodies than White women across the weight scale,” she continues. “The perceived White women’s coveted “skinny” status is not a universal goal for their Black counterparts; some of us who wear size 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and up actually like ourselves as we are.”
And as BuzzFeed adds, the story also touches on “Oprah’s thoroughly televised dieting, and the ripple effect when one of the most powerful women in the world struggles so publicly with her body image.”
“It’s the career-long personal war with weight the media powerhouse has waged against herself that best underscores why the topic of Black women and body image remains salient,” Anderson writes.
And so far, the response to Ebony’s latest issue has been overwhelmingly positive.
ALSO SEE: Ashley Graham is using Cheryl Tiegs’ comments to change the fashion industry
“By exploring fat acceptance and body image issues on its cover, Ebony is helping remove the notion that body positivity is for white women only,” writes Bustle’s Georgina Jones. “The amazing plus size role models on Ebony’s cover prove this wrong, but also remind us that issues of white washing are something we need to work together on as a community. By continuing to represent women of color as body positive role models, the movement will hopefully grow to be seen as more inclusive.”
