Hello Meltingpot Community,
Ever since I wrote the book Hair Story, almost 20 years ago, I have been obsessed with all things Black hair. No joke, I can connect almost any conversation about pop culture in America with Black hair. Seriously, throw something at me and I can bring it back to Black hair. But that’s not just a silly party trick, there really is so much to untangle when it comes to Black hair. It’s no wonder Black hair is always making headlines. And not only in the United States, but globally as well.
Sadly, when Black hair makes it into mainstream headlines, it’s usually for negative reasons. “Woman Fired from her Job Because of Her Hair.” Or, “Natural Hairstyles Deemed Unacceptable in the Classroom.” You get the idea. Well, how about some positive Black hair headlines? You know I’m all about sharing good news. So, here’s the latest from the world of Black hair.
Positive Black Hair Headlines
Black-ish Makes Black Hair the Star of the Show:
Earlier this week, the ABC sitcom Black-ish debuted its new season with an episode dedicated to the nuances, culture and beauty of Black hair. Yes, it was only a 22-minute episode. Yes, there were cartoon interludes and a full-on music and dance number staring Jill Scott, but given the context and the time constraints, I’d say it was a fabulous celebration of our crowning glory. Check out this video clip of the big Black Hair dance number from the show.
The NAACP Likes Books About Black Hair:
Yesterday, the NAACP announced their 2020 Image Award nominees and not one, but two books about Black hair made the list. The “I’m not crying you’re crying” book based on the short film, Hair Love was nominated in the Outstanding Literary Work for Children Category. And the graphic novel, Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers was nominated in the category of Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens. Congrats to the authors and hopefully they’ll be winners on the big night.
Afro-Sheen Makes a Comeback:
The iconic Black hair care brand, Afro-Sheen is about to be relaunched with a whole new line of products for today’s naturalistas. If my reporting is correct, Afro-Sheen is still a Black-owned brand, but it is no longer owned by the Johnson Family, the royal family of hairtrepreneurs. Still, I’m just happy to see this historic brand updated and back on the shelves. If you want to see why Afro-Sheen is more than just a good jar of grease in the African-American community, check out this article that explains why Afro Sheen is so beloved.
Madam CJ Walker Biopic Soon to Come:
We still have a few more weeks to wait, but Netflix has set a release date – March 20 – for their original series, Self Made, about the amazing life of Black hair entrepreneur, Madam CJ Walker, one of the first self-made female millionaires in the United States. The lovely Octavia Spencer is playing Madam Walker and Tiffany Haddish will play her daughter, the socialite A’Lelia Walker. The series is based on the incredibly detailed biography of Madam Walker, On Her Own Ground, written by her great, great granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles.
