Black Newscasters Are Shifting The Norm By Rocking Natural Hairstyles On-Air
Ladies....Black hair and corporate America, let's talk about it. We know this subject all too well, often with just a simple look.
Immediately, I think back to a conversation I had with a guy friend. He's an attorney with a love for only black women, and he loves everything that uniquely makes up the black woman, namely cornrows or box braids. He would often go to his multi-million dollar office, and look out to his multi-million dollar view, and actually try to count the black women at his law firm who would rock either style--ultimately just to be discouraged when realizing that euro-capitalism dictated that decision for us. Needless to say, he never found any.
I would often say, "We can't wear braids!"--which in hindsight, disgusted me for subscribing to these ideologies. My attorney friend asked, "Well, why not?"
And, while fumbling over my own words in an effort to explain, it dawned on me, "Yeah, why not?!"
This newfound liberation has been translating across many industries for the past few years, (even forcing new laws to pass) with many going viral by those who work in media—an industry where black women are often minimized. And thankfully, newscasters are collectively showing off their best representation of the versatility of our hair, even catapulting the hashtag #NaturalHairOnAir (which we love to see).
Like, Samaria Terry, who uploaded this picture to Instagram, complete with a caption we all knew too well:
Terry, a weekend sports anchor in Memphis, captioned the photo, "Mustered up the courage to rock braids on air!" With it, she sent the world wide web in a frenzy. Mainly because we understood, without her having to say much at all.
Or Lena Pringle, who boldly went short, and had the last laugh:
Pringle, of Jacksonville, FL, has sported a short, natural hairstyle since 2018, but this is the shortest she has ever gone. She decided to try out the chic style to boost her mood.
Or Tashara Parker, who got America together when they came for her buns:
Parker, of Dallas, TX, has always unapologetically worn natural styles, and will get you together if you have any problems with it.
There's Candace Coleman, who proudly sports her sisterlocks:
Candace Coleman, of Jackson, MS, took her first work headshots with her new, natural style, complete with a beat face, and a money-manifesting green dress.
And Demetria Obilor, who has happily made the non-tolerant uncomfortable for years:
Demetria Obilor of Dallas, TX, who, when she was a newscaster (Tashara Parker is now in her place) brought her blacknesssss to. the. set, m'kay?! She's openly who she is in her skin, and hair, and she doesn't care that you don't like it. We stan.
More and more Black news anchors are pushing for hair diversity and rejecting the old rules of broadcast journalism by wearing their hair on their own terms. Here's to normalizing our hair, as is, and not giving af who doesn't like it.
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Featured image by Demetria Oblilor, Lena Pringle, Samaria Terry/Instagram
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
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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Tyler James Williams Explains Why His And Quinta Brunson 'Abbott Elementary' Characters Should Remain Friends
While Abbott Elementary fans are hoping that Janine and Gregory end up together, the show’s star has another take. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory on the Emmy award-winning sitcom, and he recently stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show to share his point of view on his storyline with Janine, which Quinta Brunson plays.
“I hate to say it. I know that everybody’s always mad at me for this. I don’t necessarily want to see them together,” he revealed. “It’s partially an actor’s choice, but also somebody who, like, I read a lot of scripts all the time. I watch a lot of TV, a lot of film. I don’t think that we see displays of platonic love between two people often. I think it’s really easy to go right to they have feelings for each other, therefore they should be together. I like this dynamic of exploring withholding that and just actively loving each other where they are. That I like to see more.”
If you recall, they were co-workers who became friends but were secretly crushing on each other. They’ve had many awkward run-ins during and after school, like the unforgettable club scene where they were dancing nervously with each other in season one, and in season two, they finally kiss. However, it only made things even more awkward, and they decided to just be friends. Tyler further explained why he thinks it’s important to showcase that type of relationship on screen.
“I think it’s time for that. I think TV allows people to see things that could be their lives for the first time, and I think seeing a healthy friendship that is deeply caring about one another in a work atmosphere needs to be shown more than the relationship,” he concluded.
Abbott Elementary comes on every Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST on ABC.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
