British Vogue editor Edward Enninful says he’s ‘always aware of increased personal danger’ when leaving his home because of his skin colour, as he reflects on the killing of George Floyd
- Editor-in-chief of the British magazine addressed the death of George Floyd in an article for Vogue magazine on Monday
- The 48-year-old said killing of Floyd, who died in Minneapolis a week ago after a police officer knelt on his neck while in custody, made him feel ‘intense sadness’
- Enninful reflected on ‘systematic’ racism in the UK and globally and said he was aware he had to ‘watch himself’ because of his skin colour
The editor-in-chief of British Vogue has revealed how he’s ‘always aware of his increased personal danger’ when leaving his home, because of the colour of his skin.
Edward Enninful, 48, wrote an emotive piece on the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25th after having his neck crushed by US police officer Derek Chauvin.
Reflecting on the global protests that have followed after a video surfacing of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck, Enninful said he felt ‘intense sadness’ at the killing.
The editor of the British fashion bible said that racism is an issue entrenched in all societies, and not just prevalent in the United States.
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British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful (pictured) says he is ‘always aware of his increased personal danger’ when leaving his home, because of his skin colour
The editor reflected on the death of 46-year-old George Floyd (pictured), after a video surfaced of a police officer crushing the man’s neck with his knee in Minneapolis on May 25th
Enniful said he has been taught from childhood to ‘watch himself’ when leaving his home, and witnessed police persecuting and abusing black people from a young age.
He wrote: ‘When I step out of my door in the morning, to take a walk or to wander alone, I am always aware of increased personal danger because of the colour of my skin.’
Edward told that while he has privilege as an esteemed fashion editor, his life could still ‘feel worthless’ as a black and gay man.
Reflecting on the death of Floyd, Edward told that his emotions have ranged between ‘rage and sadness and fear’ and said the killing has shone a light on the amount of work globally that there still needs to be done to tackle racism.
The fashion guru was born in Ghana, but moved to Ladbroke Grove, West London, as a young boy, with his parents and five siblings.
Edward, pictured at a BAFTA party this year, told that while he has privilege as an esteemed fashion editor, he felt his life could still ‘feel worthless’ as a black and gay man
It was at school that Enninful says he began noticing name-calling because of the colour of his skin, and reveals he noticed ethnic minorities being treated unfairly by police.
His mother, who worked as a seamstress, warned him to ‘watch himself’ whenever he left his home and her says that, years on, nothing has changed to stop his ‘sense of anxiety’ in public.
Edward’s comments come just over a week after Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25.
After he was arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a deli, white officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Floyd became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at hospital.
Stars, including Enninful, today came together in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter campaign following Floyd’s death to observe a ‘Black Out Tuesday’ on social media
On Friday, ex-police officer Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Today, music industry giants and celebrities – including Edward – are coming together in solidarity with the black community following Floyd’s death to observe a ‘Black Out Tuesday’ today.
Universal Music Group, Sony, Atlantic, and Capitol were just a few of the record labels that have all committed to halting business activity for the day.
The announcement of solidarity comes amid days of nationwide protests across both the US and the UK after the unarmed man was murdered.
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