I find the image discomforting. Of all people, the editors of Vogue and Annie Lebowitz should be intimately familiar with the history of images documenting men of color and white women.

Here again is another picture that alludes to the King Kong poster and many, many, other images of similar composition. Either Vogue was trying to be provocative, in which case they were definitely aware of the statement they were making (one heavily influenced by racial stereotypes), or it was unintentional and therefore ignorant.

I just don't see the point in mass producing this photo. It may not be racist, but it is lazy and unimaginative. Look at the other photos in the gallery. All of those have some aspect of originality. They seemed all to be trying, if failing, at something new.

I simply think better choices could have been made. Why, when given the opportunity to advance the public discourse on an issue, to help further the comfort everyone should feel with showing a man of color and a lighter skinned woman, did Vogue play so close to the margins? I tend to think they absolutely knew it would generate publicity and if that is the case, it is quite plain their intentions were very much in line with the stereotypes some of us think they are trying to exploit.