Last week Vogue Italia posted an article revealing that the exciting new trend for this season is… "Slave Earrings”, yes you heard correct. Uproar commenced as once again ignorance and arrogance reared its ugly head. Adding further insult, Tuesday 23rd August was and is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This date is significant as it was this day in 1791 that an uprising in Haiti took place, which eventually led to the end of the transatlantic slave trade. 12 million people were transported and well over 2 million died, this was and is one of the most inhumane “enterprises” in history. The 23rd of August each year is seen as a tribute to the slaves who fought so hard for their freedom.
Using the term "slave" to sell a product is not trendy, clever or chic, it is however highly offensive and insensitive.
Editor Franca Sozzani issued a statement to apologise and claimed that "slave" was a mis-translation from "Ethnic" she said
"We apologise for the inconvenience. It is a matter of really bad translation from Italian into English...The Italian word, which defines those kind of earrings, should instead be translated into 'ethnical style earrings'. Again, we are sorry about this mistake which we have just amended in the website”.
And so “slave' earrings have now become 'ethnic earrings'. 'Ethnic' is no better and although I didn't study Italian I know that her “lost in translation” excuse holds no weight at all.
Below are the English and Italian words, either way is it not clear what it is ?
slave =schiavo
ethnic =etnico
Also can someone please explain to me how earrings that are round in shape equate to “slave” or "ethnic"?
"I didn't like it. Slave does not make it ethnic. Mind you, it’s not lost in translation–the word slave, we know what it is. They might as well have called them 'n***** earrings.' For somebody like Franca Sozzani, who did that whole black issue for Vogue, somebody should have said something".
I personally believe this is a sackable offence but something tells me she is not going anywhere. This is not right and it is definitely not okay and people need to be held accountable. Below the new name, the site says…
WE'VE DECIDED TO REMOVE THE ARTICLE FROM THE SITE TO PROVE OUR GOOD FAITH AND TO SHOW IT WASN'T OUR INTENTION TO INSULT ANYONE
So it wasn’t their intention to insult anyone. Really? So what was their intention? The attempt to glamorise an atrocious event in history? Cause controversy to highlight and sell a product? No matter what avenue of understanding I try to take, it always leads to a dead end. The only thing to understand is that ignorance is not bliss though it is certainly rife.
I am personally tired of people with such influence having what seems to be a severe lack of cultural awareness and arrogance disguised as naivety. If these earrings are African in design or inspired by Africans, then what is wrong with using the word African? If this was really about acknowledging and celebrating the “decorative traditions of the women of colour” then celebrate it properly in the appropriate manner.
Give me history. Give me the roots. Show me the influences. I have posted a few examples below however as I do not understand what they meant, I acknowledge the pictures below still may not capture the "essence" of what the editor of Vogue was trying to say. The women below are not slaves, they are African tribal women whose jewellery symbolises various cultural meanings.
Africa, Kenya, A young from the Pokot tribe. Her married status is denoted by her large brass earrings and broad beaded collars and necklaces.
© John Warburton-Lee / DanitaDelimont.com
Africa, Kenya, Kapenguria, Chepararia. Pokot woman's earrings, hairstyle and beaded ornaments
Women adorned with Gambian Gold, indicative of her wealth.
I typed in Slave earrings into Google and surprise, surprise the only images that came up were of Vogue Italia's interpretation. There is no such thing as Slave earrings. Type African hooped earrings and you will be presented with an array of designs .
Slavery may have been abolished but it still exists today. Therefore the word "slave" will have different associations with many people across the world. Whichever way you look at it there is no justification for the use of this word in selling a product at all.
© Lisa Bent 2011
