Is this image racist?

IT doesn't matter what context you put this image in tbh, you are a racist for thinking that it matters, the context does not change the disgusting image.

This image is, disturbingly perverted and demeaning to women and particularly black women, therefor it is a grossly anti-woman and racist at that.

But even if a few interpretations are racist, does that make it racist? It is only an image after all.



What better ways?

Surely it's doing its job - getting people to talk about it.



So actually in a supportive role, then.



I'm utterly staggered that so few people take what I think is such a simple interpretation of it. Perhaps it's a poor image, but I like it.

Of course. What does a chair do? It supports someone's weight and posture.

Lots of different reasons. Use your imagination. To symbolise a coming together of black and white feminism.

Or just to simply symbolise the relationship that does exist between the black woman, producing the goods needed to support the white woman.

Okay, ignore the overcoming racism part, I was just trying to think of an answer for if the picture is the other way round but I didn't say that black people were the only race to suffer from racism. It's what the picture demonstrated so it's what I chose to talk about. I spend a lot of time on tumblr and a lot of the time, whenever a PoC decides to talk about their experiences of racism, a white person decides to bring up their own experiences of 'reverse racism'. Just as one white person who was harassed by a PoC does not prove 'reverse racism', one black president does not prove the end of racism. A couple of incidences experienced is not the same as experiencing racism constantly. Even if you're a PoC and are not affected by racism, you at least know someone who has and know how it affects others who have it worse than you (especially those in some states in America). To claim 'reverse racism' does exist somewhat diminishes other experiences of racism, almost as if those who claim to have experienced 'reverse racism' want to join in on the fun. Interpersonal conflict does not threaten the power of whiteness or render the suffering of racism equal along lines of race.
"When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges. And while it may feel bad to realize your privilege is crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted can be taken away from you, it is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience reverse racism."

"Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching. It is the prevalence of racism within social structures and institutional norms, along with implicit and explicit enforcement by members of a group, that allows racism to run rampant and unchecked."
Just thought I'd insert those quotes to support my ideas. You don't have to agree with them but at least try to understand. Kinda stopped talking about the picture bur ueah, I felt this needed to be said. (http://feminspire.com/why-reverse-racism-isnt-real/).

Or rather

1. The black woman is supporting the white woman (she is not UNDER the chair, she IS the chair).
2. My original interpretation, that the black woman is subservient/being manipulated. But this is simply an observation of what is currently happening. Raising questions about racism and feminism, but not make any judgement.

Again, if I say "women across Africa and the Carribbean are being used to provide goods and luxuries to affluent white women" is this racist? So why is it any different if we put it as a picture, which has a far greater impact, instead of words?

Why are you picking on this user in particular? A lot of people on this thread have said they don't think the pic is racist!!

Context is important, however I would say it really isn't. The model happens to be black, but so what? If they were both white I doubt anybody would have any objections to that image. Should she have not chosen the model because she's black? That would be discriminatory.

People are way to sensitive, it's quite pathetic.

1. No, but on what grounds, at least in Western civilisation, can you say that black people experience racism "constantly"? You are overstating the severity of racism towards black people in the West. It happens, yes; but it happens to many races, in many forms.

2. No, it does not diminish the history of racism towards black people, but it does show that times have changed. As I said: this is not the 18th, 19th or even 20th century any more. The fact is slavery happened, and now it's over. To suggest that reverse racism cannot exist because one race previously suffered tougher hardships is very, very illogical.

3. No, they could be complaining about racial violence; unfair racial jokes made because it's politically correct to make racist jokes about white people, but not about black people; verbal abuse and being ostracised from their community because they have become the minority themselves.

4. As you'd expect, I disagree entirely with the source. It propounds an overall view which I feel is dangerous and also untrue to a large extent.

I genuinely do not understand the people who are saying that picture is racist. I would understand if their arguments were a hell of a lot more sophisticated than the arguments to the contrary, but they're not. They're genuinely just 'black woman is in a subordinate position, therefore racist'. Some people clearly need to gain some critical analysis skills/get out of the house more.

Some of their points are crudely put but, if we put aside the intentions of the photographer for a sec, you could see why this image is troubling to some. It's not just a black woman in a subordinate position, it is a black person in a subordinate position in an industry that rejects pretty much all types of beauty except for white beauty. The white woman is fully clothed and placed in an elegant yet empowering position whilst the black woman is bound up and reduced to one purpose only; providing comfort for the white woman. That coupled with the history of race relations between black and white people makes for an incredibly alienating image.

I'm struggling to find a positive interpretation of this image so if you have a different spin on it I'd be really interested to hear it.