My browser crashed before I managed to post my entry, so here we go again for take two:
LG SOTD Jun 18 2024 - Shaving Privilege Off
photocontest
Theme: Humor
An ironic depiction of a member of the white herd being (Rebell-iously) shaved off of its socioeconomic privilege, while taking instructive doses of Armonia, Rumble and Beloved.
- Brush: Aurora Grooming - LG24 multicolor LE with Oumo 26mm synthetic knot #SUBBROOSH
- Razor: Muhle Hexagon - DE89
- Blade: Gillette Silver Blue [1]
- Lather: Wholly Kaw - Rebelle - Siero base
- Post Shave: Chicago Grooming (& House of Mammoth) – Armonia AS
- Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Rumble
Additional on-theme Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Beloved
INTRO
I learned about Juneteenth thanks to these Lather Games.
I take today's entry as a challenge to try to contribute to the celebration and conversation.
As a non-American, I applaud the US government’s commitment to take a responsible look at their country’s past, and inspire us all to deal with inequality and its consequences.
As a European. I am mindful of the fact that the official narratives of most continental European states are still comparatively slower, with respect to the US and UK, in facing the uncomfortable truths about local exploitation of the slave trade. The fact that we abolished slavery before the US did does not mean we were not profiting from it, or that we were champions of democracy.
Not at all: between the 1700s and the 1800s, most European states were not democracies, and definitely not republican ones. Yes, France had its famous Revolution, and proposed the ideals of Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood. But just a few years after 1789, Napoleon was already deciding to reinstate slavery in the colony of Saint Domingue (modern Haiti), and then sending the Army to reconquer the colony, together with its precious plantations, after it had revolted and declared independence, becoming the first Black Republic in the Atlantic. Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood were not something to be shared with the colonies.
Other places, like Italy, were not even a unified country. As a country/state, Italy is younger than the US: our first run as an autonomous country was as a kingdom between 1861 and 1946 (1946 is the year we voted to become a Republic).
All this to recollect that over the last three centuries, different countries have had various shades of freedom and lack thereof.
Provided that some will always use it to find arguments to "prove" who is most blameful, history also gives the opportunity to understand responsibility and consequences.
To me, the fact that the United States revolution brought democracy and independence in 1776, but kept slavery on a large part of its own territory for almost another century, is a significant reminder of how the accumulation of wealth may fuel exploitative behaviors that may otherwise seem in contradiction with the professed values.
My SOTD here tries to reflect the three goals that I see (and according to Wikipedia have been summarized by historian Mitch Katchun) associated to the celebrations of the end of slavery: "to celebrate, to educate, and to agitate"
CELEBRATE
WK Rebelle is named after the French word for a she-rebel.
A fitting name to celebrate those who challenge conventions, and stand up for Freedom.
Freedom, the first of the three ideals of the French Revolution.
EDUCATE
As free adults, this is a responsibility that we carry on our shoulders throughout our lives.
The name of the AS, Armonia, comes from the Italian word for Harmony, a concept that evokes the other two ideals of the French Revolution: Equality and Brotherhood.
Chicago is the city used by Ta-Nehisi Coates in his 2014 article "The Case for Reparations", where he investigates how inequality perdured way after 1865. Thanks to its brotherly group approach, the Contract Buyers League was able to fight the oppressive methods that were used to undermine Black Americans' right to own homes.
AGITATE
House of Mammoth is the star here.
Rumble evokes the idea of a turbolence.
With his pledge to donate to RestoreNYC for their work to make freedom real for survivors of trafficking in the United States, u/mammotben reminds us of the lack of freedom that can still happen in Western democracies:
As a bonus fragrance I also picked Beloved, because it's also the title of the powerful book by Toni Morrison that deals with the long lasting effects of trauma, with deep repercussions in the protagonists' affective life.
Freedom is not only a right, but also a responsibility. To remain aware. To act.
Just like love is a doing word.
FRAGRANCES WRITEUP
In addition to the names, also the notes resonate to the themes of today's journey
Rebelle: Its contrasted Tobacco note is a reminder of the troubling history of the cultivation, transformation and marketing of tobacco in modern history.
Armonia: Again a Tobacco-forward fragrance. This time, no contrasts, only Harmony.
Rumble: Chocolate and Rum are products that for centuries have relied on exploitative practices.
Beloved is a symbolic departure, and was sprayed only on one wrist because it doesn't match with the profile of the previous fragrances. Lavender and bergamot mint evoke the intimacy that is always invested by any collective policy.
FOF
TODAY'S SPECIAL CHALLENGE
I don't care for most memes, as they rely on:
- common sense (that one shouldn't need to reiterate) and/or
- pet peeves (made more annoying by the meme's shallow obsessiveness)
For my challenge today, I tried to diligently comply to the judges' request by dedicating to them this meme that I believe fits both the above criteria.
ROTY