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www.themaroontiger.com
February 29 - March 6,2012
10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lesser-Known Black Figures in the Fashion Realm
Kenneth Kyrell McKoy
Staff Writer
kennethkyrell@gmail.com
Andre Leon Talley
Talley introduced the
First Lady to Jason Wu,
and has a special place
in the heart of the “Ice
Queen” herself, Anna
Wintour. Talley is the
former editor at large for
Vogue Magazine. Talley
an undergraduate de
gree from North Carolina
Central University and a
Master’s degree in French
from Brown University.
While at Brown, Talley
took weekend trips to New
York City with friends
from nearby Rhode Island
School of Design. His first
job was assisting Andy
Warhol where he earned
$50 a week. Talley has
power to promote and ad
vance young tastemakers
within the world of fash
ion today.
Willi Smith
Smith has been named
one of the most successful
black mainstream design
ers ever. This designer
launched WilliWear in
1976, a sportswear line
made of natural fiber,
tion.
He later moved to
New York to attend the
highly competitive Par
sons School of Design.
Smith became the sec
ond African-American
to be awarded the Coty
American Fashion Critics’
award in 1983. In 1987,
Smith designed clothes
for Spike Lee’s movie,
“School Daze.” His legacy
spect and confidence as
the main reasons why
she is indeed a business
woman, and a powerful
force within the fashion
industry. Reese spent her
younger days living in
Detroit making clothes
alongside her mother. Af
ter moving to New York
and graduating with an
accelerated degree from
Parsons, Reese worked
specializes in “Ready To
Wear” and “Resort Wear.”
In addition to clothing,
Reese designs home fash
ions that can be purchased
in Bloomingdale’s, Berg-
dorf Goodman, and An-
thropologie. In 2007, she
became a board member
of the Council of Fash
ion Designers of America
(CFDA), and to this day
she has not slowed down.
was born in Durham, N.C.
and raised by his grand
mother, Bennie Davis,
a domestic maid whom
he says introduced him
to luxury. Talley earned
been seen front row at the
premiere fashion shows
in New York, Paris, Lon
don, and Milan over the
past 25 years. Talley uses
his influence and fashion
which has grossed more
than $25 million annu
ally. Smith was born in
Philadelphia and attended
Philadelphia College of
Art for Fashion Illustra-
and contribution to the
fashion industry shall live
on and never be forgotten.
Tracy Reese
Reese considers re-
for various fashion houses
and soon became head of
the Women’s Portfolio for
Perry Ellis.
Reese launched her own
brand in 1998 where she
With store openings all
over the world, and cli
ents like Michelle Obama,
Reese is here to make her
mark in more ways than
one.
Black History Month: How Do
You Celebrate It?
Lakin Starling
Contributing Writer
lakinstarling@gmail.com
I t is indeed the shortest month of the
year, but for 28 days, and 29 on a leap
year, February is dedicated to paying
homage to our black history. In recog
nizing our rich ancestral roots it is im
portant to remember the diversity within
celebrating. As time has passed, it seems
our cultural awareness has slightly di
minished and the month has lost its val
ue due to lack of support and promotion
from the community.
Indeed, black history goes beyond
the limits of February and it is without
a doubt a fact that black people have in
fluenced the progression and shaping of
a multitude of events throughout time.
However during the month of February,
we must not let this time of black appre
ciation go unacknowledged, and there
are several ways to do so.
One of the biggest hurdles in regards to
Black History Month is; how does one ac
tually celebrate? Ihere are plenty of ways!
One of the most important elements of
the celebratory festivities is the presence
of some sort of educational component.
There are a great number of professional
black storytellers who revolve their craft
around the rich oral traditions of the Af
rican culture.
Through most of these performanc
es, a fact or lesson is taught and there is
usually a musical component as well. If
you aren’t too thrilled about story time,
sharing your own talents or going to
an open-mic environment, museum,
watching a black film, or even going
to see a play is also a great way to cel
ebrate. Black art is one of the most es
sential pieces to society, and has been
the template for creative cultivation for
centuries.
Black expression is timeless. Whether
artistic, spiritual, or in a general sense of
conversation, it is one of the most dis
tinct aspects of our culture. It is also very
important to celebrate black history by
maintaining the bonds that exists within
our communities. Taking the time out to
develop and nurture our relationships
with one another is an intimate and often
undermined aspect of acknowledging
our lineage and culture.
You can celebrate by simply spending
time with loved ones or extending your
self to another brother or sister and start
ing a new friendship. We all know how
essential good food is to the black soul.
Bonding over a delicious cooked meal is
all in the celebratory spirit; after all it is in
the black tradition.
The cultural festivities of Black History
Month must go beyond February. All of
the celebrating will be in vain if we do
not continue to perpetuate black pride,
awareness and appreciation through
out the rest of the year. Indulge in your
blackness and share the love with anoth
er brother or sister.
If you don’t seem to be moved by any
of the black history events in your nearby
community, create your own! We have
been innovating since the beginnings of
humanity, so there is no reason why you
aren’t able. Carry on tradition and legacy
beautiful black people. Let us always re
member to celebrate our greatness.
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