Tag: Natural Hair
Shea Moisture: They're Not Tone Deaf, They're Assholes, Pt 2
Shea Moisture put out an ad this week called Hair Hate and then sat back and enjoyed their own Pepsi moment. Here's the ad below:
SheaMoisture is CANCELLED pic.twitter.com/T4Dru1JgAq
— NANA JIBRIL 🌙🏳️‍🌈 (@girlswithtoys) April 24, 2017
For a company that is built by, for and literally on black women, expanding their customer base by equating the hair challenges of naturals with the bad hair days of gingers and blondes wasn't an overreach, it was a betrayal. Shortly after Shea Moisture's dragging began, so did the comparisons to the Pepsi ad. Both seemed tone deaf, trivializing important aspect of black culture to sell product. But I said it about Pepsi and now I'll say it about Shea Moisture–they're not tone deaf, they're assholes; they're not silly, they're sell outs.
Shea Moisture's built its brand on black women and their hard earned cash. Even the label tells the homey story of the brand's founder's grandmother Sofi Tucker selling product in Sierra Leon. Last year the brand shouted its allegiance to ethnic hair by proudly proclaiming it was going to desegregate the beauty isle–the implication being that Shea Moisture's move to shelf space in the non-ethinc hair care section (called the regular hair section by most people) was about making hair care inclusive of black beauty, not leaving it behind. This ad clearly positions Shea Moisture as here for black women. Turns outs they were just getting ready to sell out in the rush to gentrify haircare and expand their own customer base and bottom line.
This is not a tone deaf company. This is a company that has carefully–and with great success–made it big by catering to black women. Looking back, it seems the brand, like an NBA player, wasn't trying to rock with the sisters once it started making it big time (please don't write me letters, my woke NBA brothers). The move to the regular hair isle is now followed up with an ad that is shifting the brand to one that serves "regular hair" The new ad is the shampoo equivalent of all hair matters, compete with Becky with the good hair. (Did they not listen to Lemonade?!)
Hair is an important marker of identity, especially for women, and especially for black women. The natural hair movement has grown along with the movement for black lives. Like the rallying cry, 'Black is Beautiful' in the 70's, the natural hair movement cannot be separated from the politics and social change of our time.
Shea Moisture seeks to equate the hate of different kinds of hair without acknowledging that some hair hate comes with real consequences. The hate towards natural hair in schools, business, and social situations is about more than hair, it is reinforcing white supremacy. To act like hair hate is about hair and not hate means that Shea Moisture just doesn't understand us anymore. Maybe they never really loved us, they just loved our hair style. Something tells me they're about to find out if Becky with the good hair can love them like we did.
Author Susan X JanePosted on April 25, 2017 January 9, 2018 Categories What's HotTags advertising, As I Am, assholes, bad ads, black hair, capitalism, Natural Hair, Pepsi, Shea MoistureLeave a comment on Shea Moisture: They're Not Tone Deaf, They're Assholes, Pt 2
You Can't Handle the Twist
The Army wants you–as long as you don't have a natural. Even though the calendar reads 2014, and natural hair for black women is more popular than ever, here are the army's updated hair rules.
This undated image provided by the US Army shows new Army grooming regulations for females. New Army regulations meant to help standardized and professionalize soldiers' appearance is now coming under criticism by some black military women, who say changes in the requirement for their hair are racially biased. The Army earlier this week issued new appearance standards, which included bans on most twists, dreadlocks and large cornrows, all styles used predominantly by African-American women with natural hairstyles. More than 11,000 people have signed a White House petition asking President Barack Obama, the commander-in-chief, to have the military review the regulations to allow for "neat and maintained natural hairstyles." (AP Photo/US Army)
Author Susan X JanePosted on April 6, 2014 April 6, 2014 Format ImageCategories Yup, They Made ThatTags Black people, black women, locs, Natural Hair, The Army, US ArmyLeave a comment on You Can't Handle the Twist
The Grammys They Missed
Well, the 56th annual Grammy awards are all done but the hangover. In case you couldn't stay up to catch them all, you may have missed a few awkward moments, some aging rockers and a truly touching wedding a-la Moonies. You also may have missed these award-worthy standouts. Ladies and gentlemen, the first ever smntks celebration of the Grammys–the Sammy's!
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Award
Pharrell and Daft Punk…or and angel with a thank you note from heaven
This year's Hand That rocks the Cradle award goes to Pharrell Williams. He hit the stage so much you might have thought he was escorting the guests…but no, he is stirring the pot of pop music behind such hits as "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines" as well as his own "Happy".
Thong of The Year
Putting to rest the argument about Beyonce being the face of black feminism, Queen B tore open the Grammys with her Drunk in Love Duet with hubby Jay Z. She may not have taken song of the year, but this shot shows she may in fact break all laws of physics…or she has some spanxs like you wouldn't believe.
Most Awkward Unscripted Tribute
Steven Tyler belts out a few bars of Smokey Robinson's You Really Got a Hold On Me as Smokey looks on. Maybe it's that smooth skin you could bounce a quarter off, but Smokey looks less than impressed.
The Kanye Award
And the guy behind her? Oh, he is crushed!
Sure she's a winner…but not last night for album of the year. Taylor Swift had to check herself to not jump up when Daft Punk scooped up for best Album. She would have gotten extra points for actually storming the stage and telling Daft punk that she deserved it.
Best Natural (?)
Look real…and real nice
Beyonce takes a second Sammy for going yaki-free and sporting what looks to be her own natural hair. Now she had a pixie not too long ago as my buddy T pointed out, but until we know otherwise we thank the Queen for showing up with hair that looked real and elegant
Hat of the Night
The winning hat
The second place hat…womp womp
Hands down this award goes to Pharrell for his signature 2013 Vivian Westwood Hat. Madonna tried to make a play for this award at the end of the night, but to no avail. You can hate Pharrell's hat–or make a funny meme out of it–but you cannot deny that it took a lot of confidence to rock that bad boy all year night.
Did we miss an award? Hit the comments with your best Sammy.
Author Susan X JanePosted on January 28, 2014 January 29, 2014 Categories What's HotTags Awkward, beyonce, Daft Punk, Grammy's, Jay Z, Madonna, Natural Hair, Pharrell, Pharrell Williams, Smokey Robinson, Steven Tyler, Taylor Swift, twitter, Vivian WestwoodLeave a comment on The Grammys They Missed