Afros Aren't A Trend, They're What Make Black Girls Beautiful
This year’s Black History Month has many of us in formation, with fists up and ‘fros out thanks entirely to Bey, but unfortunately, February couldn’t go by without its share of daily racism.
Earlier this month, a group of young women were suspended from school for rocking their natural hair at C.R. Walker Senior High School in the Bahamas. Similar to the story of Vanessa VanDyke, the principal of the school said the students violated school rules by not donning straight hair, but “untidy and unkempt” natural afros. By not straightening their hair, the girls would be faced with suspension and expulsion, something the principal stands by.
“All I’m trying to accomplish is to get students to respect the rules, but it’s getting more and more challenging every year. It’s almost as if the principals and administrators have no right these days to enforce the school rules and regulations.”
Her mother exposed the root of her daughter’s suspension on Facebook, which later went viral and later spoke out on local news to say the principal has continued to justified her reasoning by stating the need for girls to “maintain” their hair will help them with careers later on in life.
Read: Natural vs. Relaxed: Why We Should Rid Ourselves of the Hurt About Our Hair
“You’re preparing them for the job market, so you’re pretty much telling my Black child that her kinky hair isn’t good enough for a top paying job or any job for that fact.”
Her daughter, Tayjha Deleveaux, spoke on the history of her hair and her feelings on the consequences of her choice to go natural.
“I’ve had my hair permed and texturized since I was about three of four-years-old and I went natural when I was 13. I went to the doctor one day for what I thought was a dandruff problem, but I was told that I needed to stop perming my hair because not only was it burning my scalp, but it was also burning my face as well. The areas are my nose and eyes would peel so badly when I permed my hair. The doctor told me I had to cut it out, so I had no choice but to go natural. I was humiliated because the whole class heard her tell me that I looked untidy and unprofessional...I was embarrassed, I was humiliated, and I didn’t know how to feel about myself anymore after she said that. She made me feel ugly, she made me feel less than beautiful because of my natural hair.”
What would ensue thereafter was worldwide support of Deleveaux and her classmates with the spark of the hashtag #SupportThePuff. Beyoncé’s one liner “I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros” would manifest itself in grown women of color from around the world who would take to their Instagram in solidarity with the Bahamian students.
And if social media solidarity via photos isn’t enough, someone created an online petition “in support of those students” encouraging “the potential voter to consider the damaging effects of telling our precious darlings that in the year 2016, their hair is not good enough to be worn naturally.”Read: I Am Proof That You Shouldn’t Sleep On The Drybar For Natural Hair
With the release of various natural-haired dolls and campaigns that cater to breaking the stigma surrounding hair in the Black community, it’s detrimental to tell young girls around the globe that the very things they’re born with are some sort of flaw or deformity. Supporting the puff of any size isn’t just a political statement formed decades ago by women of the Black Panther Party, it’s creating a new wave of self-acceptance, spawning a generation of women who are shattering stereotypes and feeling liberated in doing so, with the subject of diversity a hot button topic in mainstream media. However, it’s evident that the world isn’t quite ready for women embracing who they are in their natural state. Conversations on afros bring out the worst in people.
However, the hashtag is acknowledging the beauty that is associated with being a Black woman through the hundreds of photos being shared. Our beauty has yet to be socially accepted–although our features and culture seem to be up for grabs and passed off as “new and trendy” here and there–but what makes our Black beautiful is more than just how we look, but how we act when we’re unified as a collective.
[Tweet "Our beauty has yet to be socially accepted."]
While the ignorance and blatant racism is hard to overlook, the unity amongst women of color sends a bigger message that cannot be ignored. #SupportThePuff matters.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage
