The Annie Leibovitz Black Bump

Annie Leibovitz has enjoyed a career as one of the most celebrated celebrity photographers of our time, responsible for countless shots that have included a who’s who of celebs, rock stars, and political figures. Recently, as in before all the Miley Cyrus bull shit, Leibovitz shot Giselle Bundchen and Lebron James for a cover of Vogue that had many in the fashion world and media question the photographers ulterior motives in many of her shoots.

In my opinion, Leibovitz career has been tarnished by her brazen attempt to objectify African-Americans as wild, King Kong-ish beasts, but photos from her over 14 years at Vanity Fair suggest that maybe the lack of love for brownies started a long, long time ago. Check out the photos below from some of Vanity Fair’s most famous Leibovitz cover shots. The first panel is the front page which is what the buying public sees. The second and third panel are usually tucked away from the viewers eye. It’s called the Annie Leibovitz Black Bump and it’s the perfect way to include a darker skinned person in a photoshoot (allowing Annie and Vanity Fair to maintain their “We Love Black People” stance) without giving them prime real estate on the front cover.

Angela Bassett gets the black bump

So does Will Smith

As does his wife Jada Pinkett Smith

Thandie Newton Gets the cover but darker skinned Omar Eps gets the bump

Too tan for Anne. Rosario Dawson gets pushed back

Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle get pushed to the back of the bus

Rosario Dawson and Kerry Washington get the bump

Zoe Salanda gets the bump (and the worst outfit) America Ferra barely makes the frame

Eight high profile covers, 12 top “brown” celebrities pushed to the side. Do you see a problem with this picture?