It’s February, Black History Month, and Vanity Fair dares to put nine young lily white up-and-coming actresses on its March (don’t ask) cover: Kristen Stewart, Abbie Cornish, Anna Kendrick, Rebecca Hall, Carey Mulligan, Mia Wasikowska, Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, and Evan Rachel Wood. Annie Leibovitz did the shoot. And some have been outraged. (Actually, only Cornish, Stewart, and Mulligan are seen on the cover. The others are in the fold-out.)

Personally, I think it’s silly to call the shoot, the photographer, or the magazine "racist." I think the nine women look great and the set up is striking. Having said that, I do wish they had included Gabourey Sidibe — and not because of the color of her skin. After all, she is an upcoming actress who received excellent reviews for her abused teen in Precious. In fact, Sidibe just got a best actress Academy Award nomination. How many others in the Vanity Fair photo shoot can boast that feat? One: Carey Mulligan. (Anna Kendrick was nominated in the supporting category.

Freida Pinto is another one who should have been included. I mean, how many of the Vanity Fair actresses have starred in a Best Picture Oscar winner? Answer: none. (Perhaps Pinto and Sidibe were unavailable? That I don’t know.) Avatar’s Zoe Saldana is 31. Perhaps too over-the-hill for Vanity Fair’s "young" concept. All of those over 30 should start protesting right now. Now, the photo shoot was called "A New Decade. A New Hollywood! Starring the Fresh Faces of 2010." Where is Taylor Lautner?