CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux was the guest speaker at the Links Inc. Empowering Leadership Brunch in Baltimore on Saturday and briefly touched the topic of natural hair.
I was lucky enough to be in attendance with the Leading Ladies of Morgan State University and hear Ms. Malveaux speak on her life and career as a journalist. Senior Class President elect, Rashida Ford, asked if she had ever encountered systematic racism. Ms. Malveaux said that she was rather fortunate that she hadn't but had received some judgement about wearing her hair in its naturally curly state and that there is still a call for conformity in the industry.
I was quite surprised. A few months ago, I asked a panel of Black women that worked in a corporate setting about acceptance of natural hair in the workplace. It was expressed to me that many types and styles of hair were adequate, so long as they were well maintained. Clearly, this is not the case in television.
Is natural hair avoided on-screen to create racial ambiguity? Is being racially ambiguous more audience-friendly? In contest, I can't help but to think of MSNBC's Alison Stewart and her curls or CNN's Amy Holmes. But the latter is a Republican, that neutralizes her rebellious hair.
Suzanne Malveaux & The Leading Ladies
'Til the next mane event,
Miss Emme
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