Burberry. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
High-end luxury fashion brand Burberry featured a hoodie featuring a noose around the collar as part of its autumn/winter collection.
It is astounding to see Burberry showcase and profit from conduct that dehumanizes African Americans and makes light of our nation’s dark history of lynchings.
From 1882 to 1968, there are 4,743 recorded lynchings that have occurred in the United States and the majority of victims were black. At a time when we are witnessing a spike in racial violence and hate crimes both here and abroad, it is irresponsible and reckless for Burberry to make light of this dark period of history.
Normalizing racism is dangerous and corporations like Burberry that seek to profit off of racist symbols must be condemned.
Burberry joins a long and growing list of corporate actors such as Gucci, Prada and Katy Perry that appear to be profiting off of racism. One can only wonder whether this pattern of corporate racism is part of an intentional ploy by companies seeking to create controversy and public outrage as a part of their overall marketing strategy.
Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination.
