This Is Us might have a majority white cast, but they show love to their African-American viewers like no other. I might only see a handful people on the show that look like me, but so far, they've made up for it when they saluted what it really means to be an Black woman with tresses that wouldn't traditionally be described as "good hair."
I've seen a plethora of predominantly Black shows where the woman would go to bed with her hair looking like she just left the salon. I would think to myself, So she's not gonna put on a bonnet?
Then you have moments on This Is Us where Kevin Pearson buys his African-American girlfriend a silk pillowcase and she has to break down why it was so important. Read on to check out how This Is Us embraced natural hair in more ways than one:
1.#SilkPillowCaseMagic
I know I'm not alone when I say Kevin's realization of what it really means to take care of natural hair was everything! This Is Us has been consistent in all of its seasons showing love to Black hair and this season is no different.
In Season 3, Episode 5, he was traveling with his girlfriend Zoe who was upset because she didn't have her silk pillowcase with her. While we know how a silk pillowcase can make or break what happens to our hair overnight, it's completely understandable that Kevin didn't have a clue. Still, being Kevin, he ordered her the best one he could find. His support made him deserve all the applause and then some.
2.Randall’s Coconut Oil And Scarf Declaration:
One of the first times I knew that I would be into all things This Is Us is when Randall Pearson gave an epic shoutout to his wife, Beth's, natural hair care routine. Yes, Randall was adopted by a white family, but it's safe to say that he's always intentional about showing love for the Black community. This particular moment happened in Season 2, Episode 7.
Shauna, the mother of Beth and Randall's now adopted daughter, Deja, tried to come for Randall and how woke he may or may not be when it came to raising her Black daughter. He made it clear he's as woke as they come when he said, "Don't get it twisted, sis. I wake up every day to a headscarf and coconut oil. I'm married to a Black queen, not that it's any of your business." From him calling her "sis" (not in a demeaning way), to calling his wife a queen and showing love for her headscarf and coconut oil in between, I'm here for every little bit of it.
3.Beth’s Natural Hairstyles:
Let's think about this for a second. This Is Us airs on a major network during primetime. Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) is one of the main characters. I wouldn't be giving the side-eye if she sported sew-ins and straight hair. But no. I can't even remember a time when Beth rocked anything other than what would resemble natural hair.
From braids to protective styles, I'm in love with her appearance. One of the things that I appreciate most about this, and even the other points in this article, is that This Is Us doesn't do these things to try and prove that it's for African-American viewers. It's so organic that I'm convinced their aim is to simply show the realness of never being afraid or ashamed to embrace our Blackness in a predominantly white environment.
4.Getting Real About Black Hair Care:
Speaking of Randall Pearson's family, this list definitely wouldn't be complete if I didn't point out the scenario with their adopted daughter Deja's hair. This one took place in Season 2, Episode 4. When she was first introduced to the family, Deja had no clue how to take care of her hair.
While they could have given her a more mainstream-friendly style when her hair was brought back to its healthy status (which they revealed took much more than a wash and a deep condition), they took another route. Plus, Beth and Deja had a tear-jerking bonding moment over their hair, that included Beth reassuring Deja that her struggle with alopecia wouldn't run her life. Fast-forward to now, to say Deja frequently wears her short and sassy natural coils is an understatement. 'Cause homegirl is always rockin em.
5.Pool Scene:
This Is Us/NBC
Before This Is Us showed love for anyone in Randall's family and their natural coils, it didn't take long to bring attention to the fact that his hair is unique too. I feel like the first time This Is Us addressed natural hair was in Season 1, Episode 4 when the old-school Pearson fam took a trip to the pool, in Randall, Kate, and Kevin's childhood days.
The matriarch, Rebecca Pearson, was honestly doing all she could to help Randall adjust to being raised by a white family. But it was a friendly woman at the pool (who ironically is the real-life wife of the actor who plays Randall) who let her know that Randall needed to see a barber who specialized in black hair so he wouldn't suffer from ringworms and hair bumps. It took a minute for Rebecca to come around but she finally did when she saw young Randall scratching his head. She also let him hang out with the woman's family so he could learn more about his own culture. I love how the guest star threw in that Rebecca needed to put lotion on Randall when he got out of the pool, 'cause we get ashy sis.
Do you have any favorite This Is Us moments or natural hair moments you've seen on TV/film? Let us know below!
Featured image by NBC.
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To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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