I find it racist and offensive. I cannot believe Lara Stone a DUTCH supermodels agent felt necessary to send this model for this booking? (they know damn well this would cause an uproar. I dont give a damn who is shooting. The fact that a jewish-american photographer who controls so much of the fashion industry and a jewish french editor in chief of VOGUE thought this was a genius idea is beyond the pale. The french people are known for their ideas of African people as minstrels and clowns. They continue to do so each time they enact an editorial of black people/women. They make them crawl and growl like an animal. Look at the all black girl issue of italian Vogue. Steven Klein just shot Rhianna editorial? Was she not crawling with boobs displayed and appearing as a freak? Lebron James at US VOGUE growling with Ms Lebowitz. What is the problem??? is their a problem?... Oh yeah in case your wondering This is not FUNNY! I am so sick of white folk explaining their asses with artistic expression. Can you imagine a german model wearing a nazi uniform as fashion in Vogue? They would flip the**** out@! So I would suggest Mr. Klein/Mrs Roitfield two culturally jewish folks learn some history. What surprises everyone that this is coming people of their culture. By the way making racist jokes and blackface is not funny. This by gone era is supposed to be left in the past. Lets figure how we as people of color can boycott magazines who hire him and mainstream advertisers who support Ms. Roitfeld and Mr Klein. Since they feel so enlighten to make NEGROS feel like shukin and JIVIN! Dont buy this propaganda anymore. I am so sick and tired of these fashionistas masking their inner fear as art.
I will keep everyone posted as to what advertisers are supporting Mr. Kleins career. I know Dolce& Gabanna is first. These people only understand MONEY!

After reading the article, I didn't think much of it until I actually clicked on the pictures. What a blow to see these pictures!! I don't understand if they wanted to showcase the outfits or not. In these pictures, one only sees the blackface. This is artistic expression? Of what may I ask? Why didn't you just use ethnic models if you wanted to showcase skin color? Oh, I know, controversy sells. Well, since I never read nor bought any of Vogue's mags, I will make sure I never do and will let people know about this racist illustration in the name of art.

I don't see what's so bad about it. People need to stop screaming racism everytime the most minimal thing happens. If you want racism to be in the past, stop making a big deal about nothing. That's why there still is racism, because people keep getting their feelings hurt over something that wasn't even intended on getting you all teary-eyed and flustered. I wouldn't have a problem if someone felt the need to emulate my race for art or fashion.

The same thing was also done in show America's Next Top Model (not sure which cycle). Dark skin was transformed into light, light into dark, one model of Irish decent was made Asian, etc. And who suggested the shoot, Tyra. They were beautiful pictures (like these are). "Black face" to me is a mocking coloration that was done only to the face, ending at the jaw line and skits were done to degrade.

I dont understand why they didnt just use negroes for the shoot, if thats what they wanted to depict. white people dont have the wide nose, and the nap to their hair, negroes do. furthermore, im tired of the whole "youve insulted me" thing. if you dont like it, then do something about it. it doesnt bother me either way, cause im not so lead by public opinion, or by what the large corporations try to sell people on. it's stupid anyway, just dont buy their stuff. why do people need to buy $200 or more jeans, etc?
are people so dumb that they cant tell when they are being lead to the slaughter fueled by the media anyway?

Bethdeath and Vig are the real reasons racisim still exist all over the world. Although they may not actually be racist themselves (which is giving them the benefit of the doubt), white insensitivity to race sensitive issues serves to perpetuate racist attitudes. Vic, do you know any 'Blue' skinned human beings? As a better example, what if every time lets say ... the Devil (ie. abject Evil) was depicted, he was depicted as being European American, would that offend your sense and sensibilities then? Get a clue white people. Degrading other human beings simple because they are not white (thank God) is never 'in Vogue' (tongue in cheek)!!!!!!

There are plenty of beautiful black models they could have used instead. I think it's very insensitive of Vogue knowing that black people have had such a hard time getting jobs anywhere because of rascism in every field. So instead of hiring the beautiful black models that work hard and are available, they paint white models black? How insulting to the black race!!!! And anyone who doesn't agree is definitly not black and maybe they should look inside themselves and face that they are also rascist. It's just another way to go around hiring black people for the job. They can just paint white girls black!!! Hopefully this won't be the trend!!! Art is not neccesarily beautiful, it can be ugly and I will never purchase a Vogue magazine again!!!
Sincerely Your White Sister!

The pics are somewhat offensive.

Not as much as the "negroes...nap to their hair" comment above, but offensive nonetheless.

Also not as much as the recent Australian TV show troupe dancing to a Michael Jackson in the actual black-colored "comic" blackface. That was the worst of the three.

The pics above are offensive more for the slap in the face to the beauty of ACTUAL dark-skinned women than for the historical reference -- since her full-body, dark coffee-colored makeup doesn't resemble the historical reference of comic, demeaning blackface like the Aussie TV show did.

To me it just looks like a presumably beautiful white woman mimicking a kind of beauty that is not her own. Tasteless.

@vig... this does not look like it was supposed to be black & white, so get outta here with that. and blackface has a terrible connotation, which is why people are outraged. if she were blue, no one would care because blue people arent associated with negative things.

@ charles carman... im not gonna say you insulted me, because you didnt. however, i will say that you are extremely inconsiderate and stereotypical as to say white people dont have big noses and nappy hair. not all black people have wide noses and nappy hair either.

think before you speak.. especially you carman