In 2017, women's voices came under the spotlight in a tremendous way. And thanks to movements like TIME'S UP, they continue to.
TIME'S UP is a movement created by a bunch of badass women in Hollywood that wanted to take action against the influx of sexual harassment cases and give voice to the women who were affected by the issues at hand by raising awareness for, and working to dismantle, the systemic inequality that is present in the workplace. Women involved with TIME'S UP, including Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, and Lena Waithe, plan to improve laws and policies in the workplace, increase the diversity of roles in boardrooms, and enable more access to the legal system. It's been a time of union for women to come together and raise awareness.
With the rise of TIME'S UP, women in Hollywood are taking a stand together and using fashion as their choice of rebellion. During tonight's Golden Globes Awards, women (and the men that support them) have chosen to wear black attire on the red carpet as a symbol of solidarity in the protest against sexual misconduct, gender inequality, and violence against women. Black creates visibility - and the nonverbal saying "I am with you."
Many people have made remarks about the amount of black on the runway to be looked at as a funeral parlor rather than a celebration of accomplishments. Actress Issa Rae feels that that's the point and the black symbolizes a death that has come, but is needed to move forward with the new. She said:
"In a good way, it just feels like the death of old Hollywood. Being an African American woman, I can't help but think about our funerals, which are kind of lit. Obviously, there are points of grieving, but afterwards it's like a celebration of life, and you kind of turn up, and I feel like that's what this will be. It's like a celebration."
The end of old ways, the death of a tragic and problematic issue at hand, is only an open door to bring in a celebration of new systems, perspectives, and ideas. Along with Issa Rae, Uzo Adoba and Kerry Washington have also solidified their participation in wearing black on the red carpet and their involvement with TIME'S UP. Uzo Adoba spoke on the beauty of the TIME'S UP movement as a community and its impact as a whole.
"I think that's what's really exciting about TIME'S UP is the connectedness of this community; that this opportunity has brought so many women from across not just our industry. We're seeing the alignment and the solidarity that exists between every industry be it this farmer's union, nurses, teachers, people in entertainment, lawyers."
TIME'S UP just launched but its power is exceptionally palpable. One of the collective's objectives was to raise money for their legal fund, which would extend its reach to women who are fighting a legal fight against sexual harassment allegations and need financial support. In little to no time, the collective reached its $15 million dollar goal with the support from over 300 award-winning actors, directors, and producers, including Ava DuVernay, Eva Longoria, Jessica Chastain and Shonda Rhimes.
The Golden Globes is the pin-pointed event where the support is evident and dressed elegantly; not only is it a funeral of old regimes but a celebration of the community, support, and revolution that is happening right before our eyes. Issa continued:
"There's a new resolve, and it feels like even with the action points that we have with the legal defense fund, and making agencies employ more women in positions of power, that it feels like this can actually get done. So it's more than just a color. It's more than just wearing black. We're about that action."
About that action, indeed. Issa, along with other strong women, have reminded us of the power in the color black. Here are a few photos of some of the women (and men) we love on the red carpet, dressed in black to show their solidarity:
Tracee Ellis Ross
Via ELLE:
"I wear black today as a 'we' not as an 'I,' as a celebration of our collective power as women, as an embodiment of sisterhood, solidarity and the work being done to create structural change. We wear black for equity, parity and inclusion across all industries. We wear black to join with the voices of ALL women, particularly women of color, LGBTQX women, disabled women and all other women who have been disproportionately affected by sexual violence. TIME'S UP on discrimination, harassment and abuse."
Ava DuVernay
Susan Kelechi Watson
Caleb McLaughlin
Common
Daniel Kaluuya
Kerry Washington
Lena Waithe
Naomi Campbell
Issa Rae
Samira Wiley
Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe
Octavia Spencer
Zoe Kravitz
Zuri Hall
Halle Berry
Mariah Carey
Who stole the show for you tonight? Let us know in the comments down below!
All images via Getty Images
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
