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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

User post: "Sexiest Man Alive:" A whites only club?

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Apparently so, according to People magazine. Surely I cannot be the only one who has noticed this. Save for one (Denzel Washington), there has never been a man of color on the cover of the annual "Sexiest Man Alive" issue. Seriously? You mean Nick Nolte actually once "graced" the cover of People as the "Sexiest Man Alive" and the likes of Benjamin Bratt, Taye Diggs, Blair Underwood, Boris Kodjoe, Will Smith, Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order), Terrence Howard, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Edris Elba, Eddie Murphy, Welsley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes), Tyson Beckford, Rodrigo Santoro (The 300), Esai Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, um, President-elect Barack Obama, somehow don't measure up? Seriously? Isn't the adage or standard of masculine beauty "tall, dark and handsome?" So can someone please explain to me why People magazine religiously voids that on their cover, every single year? I'm not saying the Matthew McConaugheys, Hugh Jackmans or the Brad Pitts of the world aren't cover worthy (personally, I very much believe they are), but, I find it strange that we live in a country this diverse, with a plethora of options, and all, but once has the cover ever featured a man of color. There is a rich and deep pool of diversity, perhaps People magazine might want to look into using it. If not, you should just be honest as to whom your magazine is designed to address. That way I don't have to hear another misinformed white person make an Elisabeth Hassleback like statement such as: " what do you people need with Ebony magazine or BET? What if we had WET or Ivory magazine?" Seriously, they should just rename the magazine to address the People they are actually targeting, because it is abundantly clear People is not addressing all People. For goodness sakes, Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise have been on multiple covers as the "Sexiest Man Alive," so obviously there aren't that many of you (more on that later). Matt Damon, Harrison Ford and NICK NOLTE?!! For real?! I have a hard time believing if most women had to choose between that lot and the likes of any of the aforementioned men of color, that it would even be close...and no there would be no Bradley effect:-)

Related: will smith, welsley snipes, user post, tyson beckford, terrence howard, taye diggs, sendhil ramamurthy, rodrigo santoro, president-elect barack obama, people's sexiest man alive, oscar de la hoya, jesse l. martin, esai morales, edris elba, eddie murphy, dwayne "the rock" johnson, boris kodjoe, blair underwood, benjamin bratt, antonio banderas

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 100
  • blackcat's Avatar
    Posted by blackcat Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:18pm PST

    Amen!!

    I agree Hugh Jackman is very sexy, but like you said so are Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard and a whole bunch of other incredibly sexy drool worthy guys who are not white!! I tend to favor those tall, dark and impossibly handsome Latinos!! *drool*

    I have to agree with you completely on this!!!! (except for the Eddie Murphy part, that just grosses me out...) but yes, some of the "Sexiest Men Alive" they've had on their cover were easily surpassed by other men of color.

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  • hm...'s Avatar
    Posted by hm... Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:55pm PST

    wow sorry so i didnt read the entire article but terrence howard is gorgeous...just sayin... :)

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  • KharaK's Avatar
    Posted by KharaK Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:09pm PST

    I saw a dude the other day at the grocery store that should be on this list. If I had a decent camera phone...

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  • KharaK's Avatar
    Posted by KharaK Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:20pm PST

    and LL! don't forget him. that's my other husband. Cuba Gooding Jr. looks good too! Especialy in that Shadowboxer movie.

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  • dennis's Avatar
    Posted by dennis Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:32pm PST

    Did anyone see the pics of Oscar De la Hoya when he was all made up - now damn that was cute. Those fishnet stockings just sent me over the top. lol.

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  • Louise's Avatar
    Posted by Louise Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:56pm PST

    You're all missing the point.Just close your eyes and imangine those claws.

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  • WilliamM's Avatar
    Posted by WilliamM Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:44am PST

    I must have missed the clause in the EEOC laws which extended quotas to meaningless magazine choices...

    And come on! Eddie Murphy? Really?

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  • Aody's Avatar
    Posted by Aody Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:33am PST

    i am ned pactur sex

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  • MochaMama42's Avatar
    Posted by MochaMama42 Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:43am PST

    Sure, People Magazine's sexiest man alive is mainly a whites only club. Think about it , our society is a whites only club; the thing is, publications, tv, radio, etc don't really keep up with the actual people.

    There are plenty of sexy, attractive men of color, however, People Magazine just doesn't rock the boat, so to speak. Just like one of the earlier posters mentioned, you have a black President , isn't that enough? See, and what does electing Barack Obama have to do with the so-called sexiest man alive? Nothing.

    Even publications, like Ebony or Jet, the BET channel don't represent every black person's interest - - I'm black, and don't watch BET, and I'm not a big fan of the lack of depth of articles in Ebony. However, it serves a purpose. Just like People Magazine does - - they inform, entertain yet definitely should NOT be the last word as to how you view your world.

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  • Lovie's Avatar
    Posted by Lovie Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:24am PST

    Well that souds about right to me but they all are sexy!!

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