Darius Dupins/Staff writer
The first two-and-half-weeks of 2016 has been wild! Ricky Gervais kept his promise and insulted every celebrity in attendance at the Golden Globes, David Bowie transcended into the afterlife, days after the release of his final studio album, “Blackstar,” and Beyonce continued to snatch everyone bald when she made a surprise appearance on Spike TVs television show, “Lip Sync Battle.”All of these events have impacted pop-culture in some shape or form; but nothing has impacted our culture and made us think as much as Jaden Smith’s being featured as the face of Louis Vuitton’s 2016 spring-summer collection.
First and foremost, I am here for every ounce of this! The son of Hollywood royalty, Smith, has exceeded gender boundaries by wearing a t-shirt dress to Coachella. He also sported a black blazer over a long, black and cream color block over-the-knee shift dress, black skinny pants, sneakers and white and gold fingerless gloves to prom with actress and activist, Amanda Stenberg. Smith is expressing himself by wearing other garments that don’t conform gender norms.
A man or boy wearing a skirt or anything slightly feminine in the black community gets ostracized and wearing a black hoodie in a gated community causes us to get shot. Seems as if this is a lose-lose situation. This confuses me because white men have been wearing their girlfriend’s jeans, nail polish and Covergirl eyeliner since the ‘70s and the majority has barely batted their clump free eye-lashes.
Meanwhile, Smith is serving major high fashion looks and making more money than any of us while internet users are in his comment section being disrespectful! I wish Louis Vuitton would ask me to be the face of their petwear collection. Give me the pitbull collar, now!
With Will Smith’s son being the face of Vuitton’s latest womenswear collection, it has caused lesser individuals to question Smith’s masculinity. Instead of questioning this seventeen-year-old boy’s masculinity, what needs to be brought forth and even applauded is this young man’s ability to think for himself and be comfortable in his body and identity.
Smith, alongside his super successful sister, Willow Smith, has displayed nothing but exceptional behavior. It’s amazing how their parents have let them express themselves in a community that hasn’t been the best for child and teenage stars. The most anyone can say about the Smith’s teenagers is that they’re “weird.” At least you can’t say they’re felons, crackheads, incarcerated; or even worse, six feet under.
I’m enjoying the wave of black men showing vulnerability and being everything that isn’t the mold of what a black man is “supposed to be” and sometimes even desired by consumers. John Boyega’s portrayal as Finn, a reformed Stormtrooper in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is a perfect example.
Finn’s open expression of fear is powerful. It’s expected of the black man to “man up” and never display vulnerability. It was refreshing seeing Finn be open with himself about his feelings throughout the film. When my stud of a President, Barack Obama, shed those tears that were probably made out of sugar, spice and everything nice as he remembered the children of Sandy Hook and announced his gun control plans, those trolls over at Fox News questioned the authenticity of his tears.
Smith may or may not know this, but his impact will reach well beyond the fashion industry and infiltrate cultures, inspiring men and boys around the world to have the courage to push through their fears by facing them head on. $3,000 skirt not included.
Image from Flickr
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