Before and After

There's nothing like watching some good television at the end of a long day. Last night I tuned in to "A Different World" a favorite of mine. It was an episode from a later season and I took notice to Freddie's appearance. Freddie is the campus hippie, always fighting for a cause and on her way to a law degree.

The college co-ed has this head of big, curly hair as an accessory to her eccentric style. But as her character develops through the seasons, her hair becomes more "tame" and she takes on a seemingly conservative appearance. In one episode, Ron doesn't become attracted to her until her hair is straightened. I shared Freddie's sentiment; check it out.

Outside of this episode, this character continues this balancing act of staying true to herself and complying with the rules of the corporate world. Why does she have to change her natural hair to fit the different aspects of her life? 

'Til the next mane event,

Miss Emme

No Curls in the Newsroom

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