Like most who witnessed this year’s Met Gala, I oohed and aahed at the beautiful pieces worn by A-list celebrities. But ironically, one that was not shown nearly as much as the over-the-top ensembles, was the one that represented American unity.
The Grio highlighted New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who remembered that this country has much more to worry about than just showing off.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended the 75th Met Gala for the first time dressed in a white gown designed by Brother Vellies with the phrase, “Tax the Rich,” splashed across the back.
The words of the mastermind behind her statement:
Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies and the founder of the 15 Percent Pledge — a promise from retailers to commit 15% of their retail space to Black-owned businesses — told Vogue, “We can never get too comfortable in our seats at the table once they’ve been given. We must always continue to push ourselves, push our colleagues, push the culture and push the country forward.”
“Fashion is changing, America is changing,” she noted. “And as far as this theme goes, I think Alexandria and I are a great embodiment of the language fashion needs to consider adding to the general lexicon as we work towards a more sustainable, inclusive and empowered future.”
Additionally, to never seeing the gown, I was unaware that just outside the doors was a Black Lives Matter protest. Their stand was not televised nor given encouragement, but many were arrested. Just like Alexandria, their fight was financial, a sign stating:
“The NYPD has a total financial allocation of $11 billion per year,” the flyer read. “This money goes towards racist policing that destroys Black and brown communities while people who are struggling do not get the resources they need. CARE, not COPS, is the answer.”
The Met Gala stands as a trophy event. There are many working class people who can’t afford to pay their bills and struggle to keep food on the table, and we must remember to represent them.
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