Jemblog

You thought slavery was dead? Try again. A new campaign by a fashion designer has people shrieking with disdain, since the designer seems determined to prove that slavery can be brought back into style. Pakistani designer Aamna Aqeel is being criticized for a new campaign called “Be My Slave,” with a shoot showing a white woman being waited on by a dark-skinned child.

The shoot is expected to appear in DIVA, a Pakistani fashion and lifestyle magazine. The images were placed on the designer’s Facebook page, leading fans to express their anger.

The images are described as being beyond tasteless, and it’s difficult to know what the designer was thinking. Experts speculate that it may have been thought that the edginess and controversy of the shoot would reap more rewards than losses. But while international attention has been placed on the publication, most fans do not find the shoot to be appealing. It also has branded both the designer and the fashion magazine to be racist. They’ve both been asked to apologize.

The designer says that the appearance of the child happened just by chance. She said that the boy “works in a garage and wanted some work.” But maybe she could have let him do a job behind the scenes instead of humiliating himself in front of the camera. At the same time, there may be a deeper explanation for why she chose to shoot this scene in this way.
In her defense, Aqeel says she is involved with a children’s charity and used the images to bring awareness to the use of child labor around the world. She also says that she wasn’t trying to build her brand with controversy and only meant to raise public awareness on this issue. Do you buy it?

Fans on her Facebook page don’t seem the least bit satisfied with what she said. But if she is telling the truth, maybe it does mean that child labor problems should be confronted more directly. Many of the most popular products sold in America are made by five year olds who can’t go to school. Awareness might be necessary.

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It’s now getting to the point that debtors prisons are growing. People are being put in jail for not being able to make payments on time or owing too much money. Two Atlanta women have a story that is a cautionary tale and nightmare for anyone who has ever borrowed anything on credit. It might also make you think twice about going to Aarons for anything.

A woman who doesn’t want to be identified, says that when she couldn’t make payments on a washer and dryer that she’d bought from Aarons, they had her arrested.

“They should think of the consequences it’s going to have on your life on your family,” the Loganville woman said, asking not to be identified.

The woman says that she knows she fell behind and accepts the responsibility. But one thing she says she didn’t deserve was to be taken to jail over something like a late payment. When she offered to give the appliances back, the company refused to take them. That’s when she was hauled off the jail.

Shantel Jackson has filed a civil suit against Aarons for false imprisonment. “It was traumatizing. I cried a lot. I spent most of my time crying,” Jackson said.

Jackson says that she was attacked by Aaron’s after she stopped making her payments on a television that was broken. She says that the company refused to replace the TV, but demanded high payments anyway. Aaron’s makes its money by charging high rates of interest on consumers who can’t afford credit. Many of these consumers are African American. The woman also called the company to tell them that the TV was stolen during a burglary.

“They told me I was lying. They know the TV was in my home,” Jackson said. Jackson’s attorney Cary Wiggins, said it’s a civil matter not criminal.

“You do not have them arrested. There is no debtor’s prison in this country. Hasn’t been that way since the 19th century,” Wiggins told Artz.

Aaron’s released a statement on the matter, “Aaron’s, Inc. cares about our customers and for 58 years has been building solid relationships with our customers and communities. Our culture is to work with each and every one of our customers to ensure that every effort is made to bring them to full lease-ownership of our products. We cannot comment on specific customer situations, but we do work diligently with all of our customers and undergo exceptional efforts, fostering communication with them to understand individual situations.”

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Every year, there are dozens of kids who turn down scholarship offers from the Michigan State football program. But most of them do it because they decide to attend a different school. Wide receiver Jay Harris from Downingtown East High School in Downingtown, Pa. just turned them down for a much different reason. Rather than accept a scholarship offer from the Spartans, Harris told an MSU assistant that he is going to pursue a rap career. That’s right. Despite being ranked 17th overall in the senior class in the state of Pennsylvania according to ESPN, Harris is trading in his football cleats for studio time.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this for a couple of years now,” says Harris, who goes by the rap name Jay DatBull. “I’ve always had this in the back of my head but never had the courage to tell my parents that this is what I want to do.”

Sigh. We can’t really hate on the kid for following his dreams. If he doesn’t really want to play football, then he shouldn’t do it. But we sincerely hope that he understands what he’s getting himself into and what he’s giving up to do it.

You can check out his latest music video for his song, “DatBull 4 Life,” below:

Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez arrive at the HelloBeautiful office at 8am sharp. Stretched out on the couch, the duo are geared up to tackle the promo trail for season two of VH1′s most popular series “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.” Joseline’s body is on display, in a pair of skin tight shorts and plunging top that leaves little to the imagination. Though it is particularly early, they are full of life! Despite frequent breakups, magnified by Twitter, their love is in overflowing abundance. Stevie and Joseline seem like soul mates.

The highly anticipated debut of “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” season two is around the corner and it’s picking up precisely where season one left off. For the first time, ever, we witnessed Stevie profess his love for Joseline. And, in doing it in our presence–we can assure you not everything in reality TV is scripted! Like all couples, Joseline and Stevie argue, fight and make hasty decisions that infuriates their mate. They’re learning.

When this happens, Stevie gives Joseline a slice of his beef cake. Joseline has to work a little harder. She stops at nothing to turn her man’s frown right side up, even if it involves sticking her tongue in between his toes! Yes. Joseline Hernandez likes to suck Stevie’s toes, and gives zero f**ks about it!

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Even Queen Bey needs a breather every now and then. Beyonce has canceled a planned Tuesday, May 14 concert in Antwerp, Belgium due to dehydration and exhaustion. The “Love on Top” singer’s rep told the Associated Press that Beyonce has been advised by doctors to rest — and may potentially be forced to call off a Wednesday concert at the same venue, Antwerp’s Sportpaleis.

“She is awaiting word from her doctors before making a decision,” the rep adds. The arduous Mrs. Carter World Tour kicked off in Serbia last month and is set to continue through August, with a grand finale at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center.

The concert cancellation comes just one day after the New York Post’s Page Six claimed that Beyonce was pregnant with her second child. The singer, 31, and husband Jay-Z are already parents to daughter Blue Ivy, 16 months.

Sources close to the superstar shot down the pregnancy talk to Us Weekly on Monday. “This rumor again?” one insider scoffed, “Don’t be silly.”

Still, Beyonce is not opposed to a second child — eventually. “I would like more children,” she said on Good Morning America last week. “I think my daughter needs company.”

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