I really hope this magazine writer is looking for a new job because this is unacceptable! Nathalie Dolivo, a writer for Elle, a French publication, made a remark in her article titled “Black Fashion Power” (translated to English) that African Americans didn’t acquire style until the Obamas came into presidential office. She writes, “For the first time, the chic has become a plausible option for a community so far pegged [only] to its street wear codes.” Dolivo also stated that the Obamas’ fashion sense is so respected because it reflects “white codes” but also makes “a bourgeois ethnic reference (a batik-printed turban/robe, a shell necklace, a ‘créole de rappeur’) reminiscent [of] the roots,” which means they dress white while holding on to the essence of being black.

The article has been removed from the Elle website and only an ad with a pink makeup brush with the number 404 and the English translation for “oops” remain. The worst part is that the magazine has yet to apologize to its readers for the offensive content. This travesty has hit Facebook, has stirred other fashion writers across the globe, and has many readers boycotting the magazine. Claudio E. Cabrera, writer for The Root, says in his article “French Magazine Calls Obamas’ Style Black-geoisie,” that he wonders “if the racial insensitivity that many blacks encounter in Europe has something to do with these countries never having had a civil rights movement. We do have one suggestion for European publications as a first step: Try truly diversifying your staffs, followed by some intensive diversity training.” I couldn’t agree more.