Is Black Face Black Skin?

When America’s Next Top Model aired Episode 9 of Cycle 13, about biracial cultures, Tyra Banks faced heavy criticism for using poor taste in portraying race.

Tyra’s photo shoot meant to capture the beauty of biracial or mixed peoples of different cultures. Each of the six models was assigned two different nationalities, then makeup and clothes worked their magic. Innocent, right? Nope. The charge? Blackface.

Blackface was theatrical makeup used by whites in the 19 ^thcentury to portray blacks. Whites used burnt corn or black shoe polish to darken their faces and exaggerate their lips, depicting blacks in demeaning and humiliating stereotypes like “happy go-luck” darky and “coon.” That was Blackface’s context. That was never Tyra’s.

Her shoot celebrated the beauty of brown skin, mixed heritage and diverse cultures. Tyra showed the world how unique, how intriguing, how diverse black skin really is. Blackface? I don’t think so.

Thanks Tyra.

Birthday Spotlight

FlairTV would like to pay homage to Josephine Baker and Curtis Mayfield on their birthday's today; two African American pionners in entertainment.



Best known for his contributions to the R&B trio, The Impressions, and his soundtrack for the the famed Super Fly film, Curtis Mayfield created music for the soul. The Chicago native was regarded as a funk singer, songwriter and record producer. He was politically conscious and a true master of his craft. Mayfield would have been 67 today!!



Josephine Baker was an incomparable entertainer. She is most noted as a singer, but in her early career was a celebrated dancer. Known as the "Black Pearl", Baker became a French citizen in 1937. Two years before her death she recieved a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall. Baker was the first African American female to star in a major motion picture, to integrate an American concert hall, and to become a world-famous entertainer.

Both Baker and Mayfield made great contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. They used their talent to get messages of equality to the masses. Their legacy lives on!