Shay Reily of BookerRising comments on Essence Magazine’s decision to hire a White man (Michael Bullerdick) to serve as the managing editor~
“If he’s the most qualified candidate for the job, then fine by me. Black folks work at white-oriented magazines, so I don’t see why the reverse can’t happen. When Andre Leon Talley was Vogue’s editor-at-large (he remains a contributing editor), black folks would’ve rightfully had a fit had Vogue or white female bloggers said, ‘A black man editing a white women’s magazine? Why should he get to ‘swing his manhood’ all over Vogue’s offices?’”
And let me add to this by asking the following:
Why is it that when a Black person gets hired in a position traditionally held by Whites, it’s called “progress”? But when it is the other way around, it is seen as a threat.
