everyone else seems to have overlooked that the photographer says "its a chance to make it extra black" and the first thought that comes to mind, and the final product, is a poorly themed remake of a photograph from 1863.
The elevation of the photographers race makes the whole situation pretty damned laughable.. If it had been about the skills of the person being on the cover, or the skills of the photographer, it MIGHT be worth a mention. But as it is, being black doesnt make a humdrum photograph in a style that truly was a rote portrait pose from the 1970-1990 magazine photo era..... does absolutely shit