A Kick In The Teeth! Podcast E20: On Negativity Boners, The History of Black American Fashion, and RL (Patreon)

1. I feel like we have developed a knee jerk reaction of negativity to anything and EVERYTHING, and 2. people continue to demonstrate that they don’t understand Americana or American fashion, and the Black American influence on American fashion, popular culture, and history.

This is meant to showcase classic Americana which is the 1920s-1950s era, the point is to assist in reshaping our racial perspective of classic American fashion landscape from a great American designer. Many of the ‘classic’ American styles (think flappers, poodle skirts, saddle shoes) were trends that were set and popularized by Black Americans, who are left out of the fashion conversations on classic American fashion. A lot of people don’t even know what IS classic American fashion. So this is a collection that is meant to reshape the cultural zeitgeist of Americana by showcasing the cultural roots of what is considered the birth of American style (1920s-1950s) and how that relates to the Black American experience.

From the Vogue article and Ralph Lauren press release: 'Two summers ago, when companies across the country were urged to reexamine their approaches to race, representation, and inclusivity at every level of operation, Ralph Lauren made a series of commitments. Many related to the brand’s recruitment process and the makeup of its leadership teams, to fostering dialogue and facilitating understanding—but one particular action step had more philosophical underpinnings.

In keeping with those ideas, last year the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation made a $2 million pledge to support scholarships for students at 12 historically Black colleges and universities across the country—and now, in an unprecedented creative collaboration, the brand presents the Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection, due to arrive in stores and online later this month.

“This collection expresses the spirited history, deep sense of community, and legacy of timeless dressing at historically Black colleges and universities,” Lauren says. “It’s so much more than a portrayal of a collegiate design sensibility. It’s about sharing a more complete and authentic portrait of American style—ensuring stories of Black life and experiences are embedded in the inspiration and aspiration of our brand.”  (Numbered among Morehouse’s esteemed alumni are Martin Luther King, Jr. and Spike Lee; while Alice Walker and Stacey Abrams both attended Spelman.)

Imagery from the 1920s to 1950s informed the silhouettes—all rooted in Ralph Lauren’s classic tailoring—as did certain key pieces from both Atlanta schools: white patchwork eyelet and silk wrap dresses nod to Spelman’s annual white dress ceremony, while a wool flannel blazer riffs on the one that Morehouse men traditionally get as freshmen.'

A Kick In The Teeth! Podcast E19 - On 'Black Future Month' And Understanding History: https://www.patreon.com/posts/kick-in-teeth-on-62076228

On 'Americana' and Fashion History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLCfnZ9LTnU

On 'Integration:' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Pw0lR3_Xg

PSA - Black Joy Is Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=offEoC549tg&t=14s

Black Friday playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3YCr5ve8oqa50tamP6elR9bCBLIWLGXB

What is the Black Economic Revolution? | w/ Seren Sensei | Brut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGWa82a8TM&t=27s

NEW MERCH SHOP: https://the-bheezebake-project.creator-spring.com

******************

Merchandise! MAKE SURE U GETTA SHIRT!! https://www.teepublic.com/user/sssseren

https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/theblackamericans

https://www.shophouseof950.com/embroidery-tees/dacs?rq=d.a.c.s

Follow me on social media!

Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu

Personal Tumblr: http://sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com

Tumblr for my work: https://sssseren.tumblr.com

Snapchat: sssseren

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/tc5wh7q

******************

Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture'

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6

Digital download (e-book): https://gumroad.com/l/IkUa

******************

Links:

Who Owns American Fashion? Ralph Lauren Undertakes a Mission to Highlight the Black Contribution: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/who-owns-american-fashion-ralph-lauren-morehouse-spelman-capsule-collection-1235134119/

A New Collection From Ralph Lauren Salutes the Stylish Legacy of Two HBCUs: https://www.vogue.com/article/ralph-lauren-morehouse-spelman-collection

When Rumors Are Clothed as Truth: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-04-01-ls-44002-story.html

TOMMY HILFIGER ADDRESSES THOSE RACIST RUMORS FROM 1996 ONE MORE TIME: https://fashionista.com/2012/03/tommy-hilfiger-addresses-those-racist-rumors-from-1996-one-more-time