Recently, MAC, a cosmetics company that caters to all skin colors, uploaded a picture on its Instagram account featuring Ugandan model Aamito Lagum’s lips with one of this season’s lipstick colors.
Many negative comments, most about the size of her lips, flooded the comments section on the photo and they were utterly disgusting.
I am ashamed to say I am a part of the human race who actually believes in commenting the horrible things that were said. But, I am mainly upset because if the skin color of Aamito Lagum was white, there wouldn’t be a drop of controversy.
In the last few years, Kylie Jenner has enhanced her lip size over the last few years. She even sparked the "Kyle Jenner challenge," where people suctioned their lips with a glass to achieve the plump look.
The level of controversy she experienced was miniscule compared to Aamito Lagum has experienced. Because Jenner is a white, mainstream celebrity — society believes it is okay.
I would also like to point out Aamito Lagum acquired her voluptuous lips naturally, while Jenner acquired her lips using fillers. But, you know, that’s okay because she is a mainstream celebrity. It goes to show how much farther we have to come.
Attribution comes into play with this situation. While it is okay to appreciate a culture, attribution to a trend within that culture is important. Give credit where credit is due.
African-American people tend to have bigger lips and have been criticized for years because they did not look like what the mainstream celebrities looked like. Now that “big lips” are popular among celebrities, achieving them is all the rave for white women.
It is important to note a white woman did not “come up” with the big lips trend. Kylie Jenner did not make “big lips” a thing. African-American women have naturally, and proudly, rocked big lips for centuries and white people are just now catching on.
I would be negligent if I didn’t mention the “boxer braids” trend seen on Kim Kardashian. The “boxer braids” trend is completely inappropriate and disrespectful to African-Americans. Braids are not some “cute” trend female boxers are doing nowadays.
During slavery, plaits were used as a symbol of culture and religion. They were also used to keep the hair neat and tidy while working in the fields. So, no, braids were not always the cutesy hairstyle society and prominent news sources are trying to make it today.
Appreciation for big lips and braids is welcomed but it is considered appropriation when no homage is paid to African-American people.
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