“Spaces of decolonizing the imagination”
– Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III (Pastor & Morehouse College Class of ‘92 | Oak Bluff and HBCU’s
Polo by Ralph Lauren and Spelhouse did it again! In association with Oak Bluffs, Morehouse College and my 2nd home, Spelman College (‘22), Ralph Lauren merged the three successfully. By highlighting the “The American Dream” in the reflection of elegance within the Black community.
For those who don’t know, Oak Bluffs is a town in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Additionally, Spelman College and Morehouse College are renowned HBCUs in Atlanta, Georgia. What I admire about this campaign is its reflection of community. It is no conspiracy that the media plays a role in shaping a person’s worldview. For instance, the lack of partnership and the highlights of struggle are prominent in Black storytelling. This does not disregard its truth but it is prevalent and it can impact a person’s sense of self. However, Ralph Lauren shared something different, which isn’t often displayed in the media. That is Black people living comfortably with a hint of peace and sophistication.
When those elements are displayed, they aren’t usually shown with people who have deep complexions. It’s like when people discover that Africa has modern agriculture (cities) and it’s not just a jungle with starving children.
So, what can this perspective adhere to?:
- Limiting Beliefs | Many do not know the possibilities of another way of living. For example, some have been so ingrained in believing that peace comes after hustle or you have to wait for a door to open rather than opening one for yourself. Therefore, when they see Ralph’s Lauren campaign, it may come across as unattinable, make-believe, or there’s a hidden agenda.
Especially when it comes to the “American Dream”. Maybe it’s not about the “white picket fence”, rather, it’s about “Acceptance & Belonging”. One of the same yet two different meanings. In other words, you can be accepted somewhere for your skills, gifts, interest but feel like you don’t belong. It is a dream to have both and clearly HBCUs and Oak Bluffs are receptive to that type of world. Look at it like this, you can have the whole pie, not just a piece of it. Not even the smallest slice, the biggest piece if you would like. But how can you know that, if you don’t see it often or hear it from those closest to you?
Now that I am turning 25 this week, I’ve come to realize the importance of:
- Paving a way for my own blessings | That can look in the form of opportunities, bonds, expression, or anything that tailors to my sense of being. However, it helps to have a community that sees me, my effort, and that makes the impossible seem possible.
- Flipping the coin | Our belief systems are often in the reflection of the world around us (family, school, etc.), but, that doesn’t mean it’s set in stone. Exposure to other spaces allows the mind to be open to different possibilities.
Ralph Lauren did a great job at showcasing what one’s world can look like. Despite the garments we wear, I am grateful to have been given the chance to question my own dreams and perspectives.