S. Samuel
Harlem rap newcomer Azealia Banks may have regretted Twitter rants over the summer, however, she is back to her usual antics after attacking a renowned clothing line.
Banks hopped on her Twitter page and slammed Dolce & Gabanna (D&G) over its recent portrayal of African Americans in a spring 2013 campaign.
“Definitely boycotting Dolce & Gabanna.,” she tweeted October 20th.
“Whoever designed that racist a** Dolce and Gabanna collection needs a swift kick in the mouth and a big d*ck up the a**.”
“I really hate when people do corny, racist things then try to justify it as “art.””
“It’s all just really unnecessary. the clothes in the collection were fine without all the “black mammie” imagery.” (Azealia Banks’ Twitter)
According to reports, Banks’ problems stem from D&G using controversial African-themed images to promote their clothing.
The Italian designers sent down a very controversial Spring 2013 collection during Milan Fashion Week last month. Said to be inspired by their Sicilian roots, some of the models adorned the D&G catwalk wearing burlap dresses and earrings with images of black women wearing plantation-era cornucopias on their head. While the images were of the first African settlers in Sicily, many believed that the “mammy” images romanticized the American slave era. To add to the non-P.C. element of the show, not one black model walked the runway. (VIBE)
Some sites have questioned Banks’ assertions and accusations of racism.
Azealia Banks may have a point, however one must look at Sicily and Sicilian-Italians heritage to fully justify such statement. Unknown to most, a very high percentage of Sicilian Italians have African ancestry. According to historians, “Moors” or ‘black skinned people’, conquered various countries during ancient civilization periods. As any ancient empire, once gone, their DNA still remained thriving through the country’s future generations. In looking at the so-called African-Sicilian heritage fashion designs, one can see a possibility for relation to the ‘black mammy’ figure. However, the designs present the black woman fashioned in queen-like attire. The controversial figure used by Dolce & Gabanna is wearing luxury native headdress, adorned in precious stones. (CKHID Online)
Last summer, Banks admitted she invested too much time into Twitter tirades.
“Of course, because it’s e-thugging… Who wants to look like that? But how else am I gonna reach y’all? I don’t have a T.I. to get on a radio show and defend me; I’m the one behind me. Y’all expect me to agree like, “Oh yea, I’m wack. I only have one song.” That’s one song y’all n*ggas don’t f*cking have. You might win some, but you just lost one.” (VIBE)
