Aja Barber

Aja Barber

Bio

Aja Barber is a TV producer who really loves fashion, writing, social justice, art, ballet, and reading. Sometimes she shops for people. She is still figuring out how to pack that all into the perfect job. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact her and she will treat you to a fancy coffee. 

Aja Barber Articles

image credit: Marc Jacobs instagram

Marc Jacobs Doesn't "See Color;" I Call BS

Marc Jacobs claims he doesn't "see" color, but people of color beg to differ. Whether he recognizes it or not, Jacobs is part of the cultural appropriation problem, turning black natural hair into his own "trend."

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I loved Marimekko before I even knew what it was. Image: The Key To Chic.

Why I Chose To Shop Marimekko x Target After Swearing Off Fast Fashion

I've been really trying to think about every purchase I make and its overall impact on the world. However, I recently broke code and indulged in the Marimekko for Target collection.

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When I blocked the conversation on Facebook, that person continued to send me text messages.

The Entitled Things White People Do When I Unfriend Them Over Racism

Recently I went through another round of unfriending on Facebook. It keeps things tidy, the arguments thoughtful and my head from exploding. This time around I just got rid of any white person that felt passionate about "certain political topics," but wasn't showing up for people of color, as we watch the meteoric rise of fascism in America and police violence. I’m not obligated to educate anyone for free, especially if they don’t appear to be absorbing what I’m saying or having the tough conversations on their wall with their peers.

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Photo by Luke Ford - http://www.lukeford.net/Images/photos4/071214/88.htm, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4338292

Hugh Hefner: Abuser And Civil Rights Advocate (They Can Coexist)

Hugh Hefner - people either love him or hate him, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room for middle ground. He was an abuser and civil rights advocate.

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Let's talk about transparency in finance.

What I Learned From Women Last Week: Transparency In Finance

Can women have it all? Just kidding! I hate that question!

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I can’t with Lena Dunham anymore. (By David Shankbone - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19316876)

Why Women Of Color, Including Me, Are Officially Done With Lena Dunham

If Lena Dunham wants to be a part of the movement in a constructive way, I’d recommend stepping down and quietly supporting women of color with dollars.

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I have found that with age, I have become much more practical about what suits me and what doesn’t, while still attempting to keep an open mind.

6 Summer Shoes That Are Sensible AND Stylish

In fashion, the mantra is “never say never.” Never claim that you’ll never wear it, because that's the easiest way to end up eating your words, prancing about in a style you once referred to as “unsuitable.”

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Image via Instagram (@huffpostpol)

"Your People," Donald Trump, And Today's Hot Mess Of A Press Conference

I watched again and again, as reporters asked President Trump news related questions, and repeatedly rephrased their questions, in hopes of receiving anything close to a credible answer. As he continued to discredit the press by telling them their questions weren’t “nice,” I felt more and more as if I was living in some bizarro universe where the President is actually a huge baby.

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The Me of four years ago is shocked by this and doesn’t quite recognize the person she is staring at. Image: Thinkstock.

This Election Is Making Me Defend Hillary — And I Hate That

I may not be thrilled to vote for her, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the misogyny and toxic masculinity we fight so hard against control the campaign narrative of the first major woman presidential candidate.

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Photo of Stoke Newington (North East London) by Aja Barber

When Gentrification Happens To Places We Love

If gentrification bothers you, the first thing you have to ask yourself is “Am I part of the problem?” The world is better when it’s more diverse

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