Fire or Resign Alexi McCammond at Teen Vogue
Fire or Resign Alexi McCammond at Teen Vogue
The Issue
We are concerned teenagers and Teen Vogue readers from all backgrounds and walks of life.
We are concerned with Teen Vogue's appointment of Alexi McCammond at magazine's highest position, Editor in Chief.
A series of racist and homophobic statements on social media, scattered from 2011 and 2012, was brought to our attention. During the time of those statements, McCammond was attending the University of Chicago as a Sociology and Spanish major.
McCammond tweeted about earning a failing mark of 2/10 on a Chemistry assignment. As an excuse for her academic shortcomings and refusal to bear responsibility for the grade, McCammond targets the race of the Teaching Assistant as a "stupid Asian T.A."
Later, McCammond mocked the physicality of the Chemistry T.A. on the basis of being Asian. In a separate tweet, McCammond said she googled "how to not wake up with swollen, asian eyes..." as a way to suggest people of Asian descent look undesirable.
These are alarming statements. Furthermore, these types of thoughts, sentiments and statements are not widely held with teenagers from recent generations or today. It is beyond unacceptable. But what about the teenagers of tomorrow?
As Editor in Chief of Teen Vogue, Alexi McCammond will shape the way teenagers perceive themselves and the world. McCammond made it clear that she does not see beauty in all people. McCammond made it clear that she lacks personal accountability for her academic failings and turned to racism for scapegoating.
By giving McCammond a "pass" or not holding her accountable as some adults suggest, then Teen Vogue is telling teenagers that racist thoughts, words and actions are ok at some point in life. This reasoning enables racist thoughts, words and actions to continue its legacy in the world.
The resurfacing of McCammond's tweets come at a time when hate crimes against people of Asian descent are spiking around the world. In the United States, people of Asian descent are scapegoated or portrayed as an ominous threat in seemingly all facets of American life. McCammond's tweets echo the very same sentiment that inflamed a loud and powerful voice from 2017 to 2020 in the US. Now it is 2021 and the old scars of racial trauma are reopening alongside new stinging wounds. There is a deep disconnect and misunderstanding between people who have the power of visibility and people who have their visibility taken away. #WhatsNew is that the teenagers of today are looking for meaningful change and genuine accountability for the teens of tomorrow. Alexi McCammond's thoughts and words were not acceptable for teenagers of yesterday, today or tomorrow.
As teenagers of Generation Z, we believe in restorative justice and meaningful change. We do not believe Alexi McCammond is right for the role as a leader of our generation. We do not believe Alexi McCammond is fit to be Editor in Chief at Teen Vogue in 2021.
The Issue
We are concerned teenagers and Teen Vogue readers from all backgrounds and walks of life.
We are concerned with Teen Vogue's appointment of Alexi McCammond at magazine's highest position, Editor in Chief.
A series of racist and homophobic statements on social media, scattered from 2011 and 2012, was brought to our attention. During the time of those statements, McCammond was attending the University of Chicago as a Sociology and Spanish major.
McCammond tweeted about earning a failing mark of 2/10 on a Chemistry assignment. As an excuse for her academic shortcomings and refusal to bear responsibility for the grade, McCammond targets the race of the Teaching Assistant as a "stupid Asian T.A."
Later, McCammond mocked the physicality of the Chemistry T.A. on the basis of being Asian. In a separate tweet, McCammond said she googled "how to not wake up with swollen, asian eyes..." as a way to suggest people of Asian descent look undesirable.
These are alarming statements. Furthermore, these types of thoughts, sentiments and statements are not widely held with teenagers from recent generations or today. It is beyond unacceptable. But what about the teenagers of tomorrow?
As Editor in Chief of Teen Vogue, Alexi McCammond will shape the way teenagers perceive themselves and the world. McCammond made it clear that she does not see beauty in all people. McCammond made it clear that she lacks personal accountability for her academic failings and turned to racism for scapegoating.
By giving McCammond a "pass" or not holding her accountable as some adults suggest, then Teen Vogue is telling teenagers that racist thoughts, words and actions are ok at some point in life. This reasoning enables racist thoughts, words and actions to continue its legacy in the world.
The resurfacing of McCammond's tweets come at a time when hate crimes against people of Asian descent are spiking around the world. In the United States, people of Asian descent are scapegoated or portrayed as an ominous threat in seemingly all facets of American life. McCammond's tweets echo the very same sentiment that inflamed a loud and powerful voice from 2017 to 2020 in the US. Now it is 2021 and the old scars of racial trauma are reopening alongside new stinging wounds. There is a deep disconnect and misunderstanding between people who have the power of visibility and people who have their visibility taken away. #WhatsNew is that the teenagers of today are looking for meaningful change and genuine accountability for the teens of tomorrow. Alexi McCammond's thoughts and words were not acceptable for teenagers of yesterday, today or tomorrow.
As teenagers of Generation Z, we believe in restorative justice and meaningful change. We do not believe Alexi McCammond is right for the role as a leader of our generation. We do not believe Alexi McCammond is fit to be Editor in Chief at Teen Vogue in 2021.
Victory
Share this petition
Petition created on March 10, 2021