The Influence of Law Roach: Redefining Celebrity Styling and Fashion
The danger of becoming the oppressor you once fought against
Following Law Roach’s interview
While I understand Law Roach's perspective, I cannot endorse him due to his association with SHEIN.
I find selective outrage to be extremely irritating and cannot respect individuals who leverage their blackness and activism to defend their work while neglecting the fight against oppression that affect other minorities.
Law Roach is a well-known and respected figure in the fashion industry with over a decade of experience under his belt, he has established himself as one of the most influential and renowned stylists in the industry.
The insights provided by his interview are not new, but rather a continuation of the ongoing battle for racial equality that has been fought by many black writers. politicians, athletes... throughout history.
Roach not getting paid what he deserves is a surprise to who? Well, if you're surprised you must have been living under a rock for at least 500 years! Unless you're intentionally not paying attention, in which case you might need to come out of your cave and join the rest of us in the modern world.
The struggle for racial equality is far from over, and selective outrage or complacency within minority communities only hinders progress toward achieving true equity.
Cause while many individuals express their outrage on social media regarding issues such as racism, sexism, and other -ism, the truth is that many of them still desire to be a part of the same system that oppresses us. It is crucial to acknowledge that complicity extends beyond just people like Law Roach and to understand how entire minority communities have played a role in sustaining oppressive structures.
Remember the quote from “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES” :
‘You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain…”
This quote was spoken by the character Harvey Dent, also known as Two-Face.
It reminds us that we are all capable of being complicit in inequity and oppression and that we must constantly fight to remain true to our values and principles, especially in a society that perpetuates inequality.
Also that sometimes people who start with good intentions and are considered heroes have difficulties maintaining integrity and morality over a long period of time because of corruption or circumstances.
In essence, it's a warning about the dangers of staying in power for too long and the need to remain vigilant about one's actions and decisions.
My take from this quote is :
“Live long enough to see you become the oppressor you were fighting against, let alone fighting alongside with him”
Let’s recognise that some once victims or oppressed individuals became the oppressor when they have gained power or influence. This is a common theme in history, where revolutionaries who overthrow oppressive regimes themselves become tyrannical leaders, and freedom fighters become corrupt politicians.
Through this quote, I am trying to highlight the need for constant self-reflection, accountability, checks and balances in systems of power to prevent individuals from succumbing to the same tendencies they once fought against.
Every day, we all make a choice - including Roach - about what we wear, support, uplift.
For example, Fashion. Why are we choosing luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermes, and keep making the rich richer ? Why are we not supporting black-owned brands on Red carpet and help uplift our community ? Tell me Roach ? It's time to make a conscientious decision and put your money where your mouth is!
Why are we not conscious that our choices have an impact ? By choosing to support black-owned brands, we can contribute to the growth and success of black-owned businesses, which in turn strengthens our community and promotes diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry ( God knows I hate those terms). Allowing us to use our purchasing power to support brands that align with our values and beliefs, and make a statement about the kind of world we want to live in.
But NO, every days God made we are choosing to follow the path of OUR oppressor(S) and flIrting with The Danger of Becoming the Oppressor we Once Fought Against.
To get back to the interview what shocked me the most it's people's reaction, seeing them reposting it while still working with the very people who have oppressed Roach or others like them, highlights the problem of complicity in our oppression and the need to examine our loyalties and actions in perpetuating systemic racism and discrimination.Only when, we can hope to break down the systems of oppression .
We cannot simply repost an interview or share our outrage on social media without examining how we may be contributing to this system through our actions and/OR inactionS.
Accountability and self-reflection are essential to address the root of systemic racism and discrimination.
Racism is deeply rooted in society and cannot be solved by money, fame or status.
While these things may offer some level of protection or privilege, they do not erase the reality of racism and its impact on Black people.
“The oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom.”