Dear Marc Jacobs,

First off, I want to say that I think you are an incredible designer; I used to dream of wearing your clothes when I grew up. However, I am deeply saddened by your response to the criticism of having White women wear faux dreadlocks in your fashion show. Mr. Jacobs, I implore you to understand that your response was extremely problematic and disrespectful. I’d like to break down your recent Instagram response piece by piece.

“@radical.lizeth @emmelephant all who cry “cultural appropriation” or whatever nonsense about any race or skin color in any particular style or manner-funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair. I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don’t see color or race-I see people. I’m sorry to read that so many people are so narrow minded…Love is the answer. Appreciation of all and inspiration from anywhere is a beautiful thing. Think about it.”

“All who cry “cultural appropriation” or whatever nonsense about any race or skin color in any particular style or manner”

I don’t think you know what cultural appropriation means so I’ll try and make it simple for you. Cultural Appropriation is basically taking something particular to a race’s culture that is not your own and acting as though you have invented or discovered it. No one is saying that you can’t appreciate another culture, but you should do your research on whatever cultural custom you are inspired by. Know and understand WHY this particular thing is important to that culture. Consult someone before you wear/do said cultural custom. Based on your response, it shows that you did not consult with someone who is of African/Caribbean/Black culture to understand why dreads are so important.

“Funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair”

Actually, women of color face harsh criticisms from within our own communities for wearing weaves and straightening our hair. I’d like to give you a history lesson: the straightening comb was invented by, Madame C.J. Walker a BLACK woman. Also, I’d like to tell you WHY women of color, particularly Black women, straighten their hair. I don’t know if you knew this or not, but not all Black people have the same type of hair. Our hair varies from being very fine and silky to very think and very kinky (In the Black community, we call that ‘nappy’ hair). In the Black community, hair is your crown and glory and everyone wants to have ‘good hair’.

The concept of ‘Good Hair’ came from the slave master’s idea of pitting light skinned and dark skinned slaves against one another. Black women often pride themselves on having ‘good hair’. To have ‘nappy’ hair in the Black community is often like the plague. Also, some Black women straighten their hair to make them look ‘white’, due to America presenting European standards of beauty. Other Black women straighten their hair because well, when you have thick, curly hair or thick ‘nappy’ hair, it’s much easier to manage when it’s straight. It’s also why we as Black women wear weaves or hairstyles like cornrows, braids, and oh yes, dreadlocks. These types of hair styles are much easier to manage.

Also, there is the convenience of straightening your hair for employment purposes. Did you know that hairstyles like dreads, braids, and cornrows worn by people of color, are deemed as ‘unkempt’ ‘unnatural’ ‘unprofessional’, ‘ugly’ and ‘ghetto’? I don’t know how up to date on current events you are, but, there are places that have banned ‘natural hairstyles’. In fact, a recent court ruling stated that not hiring a person with dreads is not a form of discrimination.

Isn’t that crazy, people being punished for the way their hair grows out of their head? Can you imagine if people started banning all the hairstyles White people wore? It’s absurd, right?

This is a daily reality for People of Color.

“I don’t see color-I see people”

I understand that you want to do like Dr. King said and look at a person for “ the content of their character”, but how can you not see race when you meet a six foot tall Black man, or when you meet an Asian, a Latino, a Native American, or a person from Middle Eastern? I’m curious as to how you do casting calls for your models. You have to have a specific type of model you are looking for. When you say, “I don’t see race,” you are essentially erasing the experiences that people of color go through. By ‘not seeing race’ you are essentially wiping away the essence of what makes that person unique.

If God wanted us to all look the same, he would’ve done so when he made us. Unfortunately, we don’t all look the same; when you see me, I want you to see my Blackness. I want you to see my full lips, my thick, curly, wavy, kinky hair. I want you to see my little pug/wide nose. I want you to see my luscious curves, my thighs, my great ass (because my ass is big and plump and amazing!). By ‘not seeing my race’, you are essentially looking through me. Personality can be altered and adapted to fit whatever it needs to over time; your genetic makeup and all of the cultural significance it encompasses cannot.

I won’t bother with the rest of your response, because I find nothing wrong with admiring other cultures and I agree that love is the answer. Yes, ALL people are beautiful; I agree with you 100 percent on those points. However, I have to speak to you in a loving and kind manner and intelligently explain to you why you making the fashion choice you did upset many people. I also had to address your condescending response to those who called you out on your decision. You cannot use the thing that women of color, particularly Black women, are degraded about and then turn the question around to make us seem like the villain.

I know you’ll probably never read this, but please think about those who your art could possibly hurt or offend with your art.

Sincerely Yours,

A Fan