
During a year when there was an abundance of new African Americans gracing the big screen (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe led the pack by landing an Academy Award nomination for best actress for 'Precious'), one of the country's leading magazines, Vanity Fair, chose to ignore her as well as other talented blacks in its latest Hollywood issue.
Taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, the photos include this year's young Hollywood talent, including 2010 Oscar nominees Carey Mulligan ('An Education') and Anna Kendrick ('Up in the Air'), Kristen Stewart (Twilight'), Amanda Seyfried ('Mamma Mia'), Abbie Cornish ('Bright Star'), Emma Stone ('Zombieland'), Rebecca Hall ('Vicky Christina Barcelona'), Evan Rachel Wood ('Across the Universe') and Mia Wasikowska, who's starring in Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland.'

While Latina actresses Zoe Saldana, America Ferrarra and Alicia Braga made the 2008 list, no female African American has been selected since 2005, when Kerry Washington and Rosario Dawson made the list. Dawson also made the cover in 2002.

The magazine's official statement on the selection is: "Vanity Fair's Hollywood cover has always been a reflection of Hollywood and the industry. Generally, as is the case this year, it¹s made up of young actresses who already have a few films to their credit and will be appearing in more movies in the coming months."
All of the actresses chosen this year are under the age of 30, and some of their profiles include upcoming and past films. If this is the case, consideration should have been given for Sidibe, who is 26, or Naturi Naughton, who, at 25, shined in last year's 'Notorious' and 'Fame.' Naughton also has two films in 2010. Let's not forget Nicole Beharie, who carried 'American Violet' and will be seen this year opposite Jill Scott in Lifetime's 'Sins of the Mother.' Freida Pinto, who was amazing in 'Slumdog Millionaire,' will be in Julian Schnabel's 'Miral.' Meagan Good, who started her acting career at age 4 and is only 28, is also a contender.

It's been 15 years since Vanity Fair started putting out an annual Hollywood Issue, and previous female African Americans selected include Angela Bassett, who made the first list in 1995, and Jada Pinkett Smith, who was featured in 1997. The other African American "newcomers" featured on the Hollywood cover was in 1999, when Thandie Newton and Omar Epps made the list under the theme "New Kids on the Block." The all-men issues have been done in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2009.
Zoe Kravitz made the list in 2008's August issue, titled "Hollywood's New Wave," which also featured Kristin Stewart and Amanda Seyfried again.
Actresses who could have been selected in the past are Paula Patton, whose credits include 'Idlewild,' 'Deja Vu,' and this year's Oscar Best Picture 'Precious,' or Danai Gurira, who was featured in 2007's 'The Visitor' and has a role in the upcoming Wes Craven film 'My Soul to Take.


Comments: (27)
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By: Ray on 2/04/2010 10:18PM
Vanity Fair chose NOT to include women of color in this cover - NOT because there aren't women of color that "fit the bill" - as the article clearly point out. Please stop making excuses for Vanity Fair! - as they won't argue they are a "white culture" magazine - but more American culture, and that includes ALL of us!...therefore, fair game for critism.
Ebony, JET, Miss Black America,College Fund, etc. are African American culture based enterprises. Just as an Italian, Scandanavian, Chinese, German or Native American magazine, festival, beauty contest, etc. is culturally based. It's not likely that there would be controversy, for e.g.,if the article was about up and coming "Norwegian actresses" in Hollywood and they were all beautiful blondes ;)
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By: shera on 2/03/2010 1:56AM
The people on here that don't get it and are tired of hearing about it never will because it doesn't affect them and that's why there's still so much racism and prejudice in America and the world for that matter. JET and EBONY magazines are not racist and only exist because of the racist WHITE ONLY and NO BLACKS rules that existed. Now that these are successful enterprises we can't just fold these companies because the big boys let us sit at the table with them and evidently by this article we barely are! Get real on that!
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By: freddie p on 2/03/2010 10:51AM
that cover is outrageous, but... it usually is. just pray for them, and hopefully they'll see the light. and that light is in color.
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By: Uriah Jordan on 2/03/2010 12:44PM
Why should we care? Just don't buy the rag. Purchase magazine directed towards us that advertise and respect us and stop beggin racist publications to put us on their covers. They have the right to ignore us just as we have the right to boycott their magazines and advertisers. This is Black History Month and one of our greatest weapons was and still is choosing where we shop.
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By: TJ on 2/03/2010 4:41PM
I couldnt have put it better myself.
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By: shirley on 2/03/2010 11:55PM
Who cares? Vanity Fair does not dictate what beauty is, you do. I'm so annoyed by these type of articles. If you don't value the actresses on the front of the mag, read another one. There are plenty out there. On to more important things.
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By: Lanette on 2/06/2010 2:17PM
WE do not need Vanity Fair to validate us. Stop worrying about THEIR picks.
Stop expecting THEM to elevate US. I don't need them to---We don't need them to.WE DON'T NEED THEM TO.
makes me sick to see people debate the comments that Bill O'reilly or Rush makes about people of color. They don't care about us and they don't have to. I sleep like a baby..
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