u/AcanthocephalaFun851

Black Americans have set the style for decades! Yet, we have never had popular or famous fashion houses. We don't have famous Black fashion designers that are known around the world.

We have celebrities that flirted with fashion lines (Nelly, Sean Combs, Beyonce, and many more) but nothing they ever did became HUGE.

Why is there no Black American equivalent of Chanel, Prada, or Gucci? We support the Italian and French fashion houses but we don't have anything to call our own after over 50 years of being the cornerstone of fashion.

We set the trends but we don't profit from it.

Where are our famous designers like Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Gianni Versace, or Diane von Furstenberg?

We have had these designers: Ann Lowe, Stephen Burrows, Willi Smith, and even a bit more contemporary was Dapper Dan. Yet, none of them OWN a fashion house that has been around for 30+ years and generating money.

Why do you think we have been locked out and why is this still true in 2026?

Hi Everyone!

I have some new information to share regarding the sub.

This is now a PUBLIC sub. This sub is about being respectful and honest. We will not tolerate spamming, trolling, racism, or misogyny. If the posts and/or comments break the rules they will be removed automatically. I want to keep this sub positive and not allow negative energy into this space. I very much encourage people to join this sub and post. I love fair and balanced conversations.

You can post whatever you want as long as it is PG-13 related material and stays on the topic of Black History.

It is OK to post about recent events or topics ONLY if it is still connected to an historical event, situation, or issue. This is very important to remember. Therefore, we will not be discussing contemporary issues or gossip just for the fun of it. This is NOT what this space is.

An example of what is allowed: there is alot of talk about mental health these days. That's a broad topic and not stuck to any generation. You can talk about the mental health of a historical figure if you come with some facts. It's OK to use modern day scientific information that exists today and discuss what you think could have impacted the behavior and thought process of a historical figure. That's a great conversation to have. Yet, it's not to GOSSIP and you still have to share SOME facts to go along with your hypothesis.

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This sub is for people who love Black History. They love Black American History. They love history in general that is connected to the empowerment of Black people. I want this sub to be informative and educational. This sub will focus on Blacks who moved the needle in education, writing, politics, art, music, and entertainment. This sub is to connect people to the past. We do discuss contemporary issues ONLY if they are connected to historical issues/events.

This is a not a gossip site but it can still be fun.

There are many Black historical figures that get discussed during Black History Month. Many are NOT discussed because they were deemed controversial. They were either deemed controversial by the mainstream or even in the Black community. Who are the ones you would love to hear about that were controversial for their time? Do you think they would been talked about differently in 2026?

As a note: for the point of this discussion - let's keep "historical figures" to people that were actively speaking out on issues prior to 1970.

Have you read or seen the movie Beloved ? The book was written by Toni Morrison. The book was adapted into a screenplay. It was a haunting gothic tale. It was a story of black motherhood and mental health. I wanted to make this connection since in May there is both Mother's Day and it's Mental Health Awareness Month.

The story was loosely based on a real story of a woman who was enslaved in Kentucky. I'm from Kentucky so this story has always haunted me.

Margaret Garner was an enslaved women living in Kentucky. In January 1856, she and her husband Robert took their children and escaped Kentucky. She was trying to escape the brutality of slavery especially for her children.

They were able to cross the frozen Ohio River into Cincinnati. Unfortunately, because of the Fugitive Slave Act, their owners came to find them. They wanted to take them back over into Kentucky. Ohio was a free state so that's why so many enslaved people were always trying get over there.

In the middle of the abduction back into Kentucky, frightened Margaret killed the youngest daughter. She attempted to kill the other children but was not able to do it. She admitted she just wanted to get away. She never wanted her children to endure what she endured and she became desperate. She felt death was better than what they would have to do go through in slavery.

The owners were horrified. They didn't understand how she could commit such a crime. They were also horrified due to not understanding Black motherhood and mental health. Margaret had a mental break. She was NOT going back to Kentucky under the same conditions. Her and her husband had tried to fight off their owners but just could not do it. She was devastated for the state of her surviving children.

Her owner didn't understand they were HER CHILDREN! They came from HER BODY! She wasn't a slave - she was a MOTHER who tried protecting her children by escaping but then got desperate.

The owner didn't care. He took everyone back to Kentucky. Technically, they should have been been considered free since they were already in Ohio. Yet, her owner knew there was no one who would fight him on anything. He could kidnap them and take them back into slavery in Kentucky.

Robert was sold when they returned to Kentucky. Margaret was put on trial for the murder and kidnapping of her owner's PROPERTY - not HER CHILDREN - but HIS PROPERTY! The slave master didn't care about those kids at all. It was all about his LOSS of PROPERTY.

Margaret was found not guilty of murder but was found guilty for escaping in the first place. Margaret and Robert were separated and eventually sold off into different plantations in Arkansas and Mississippi.

This story haunts me because it STILL happens today. There is no slavery in the United States anymore but Black women are still not believed and untreated fairly when it comes to OUR BODIES, OUR CHILDREN, and OUR MENTAL HEALTH. Many non-Black physicians STILL deny OUR PAIN. They deny our love for OUR CHILDREN. They pretend we can't have mental health challenges because they are used to us having to be strong all the time. We don't complain about our hurt, frustrations, and sadness the way others do so they deny that we have any issues.

It happens SO OFTEN in healthcare even in 2026 - Black women are consistently ignored. I want to address this more this month to tie into Mental Health Awareness Month.