There’s an underlying myth plaguing the African-American community that wearing one’s natural tresses is an impediment to success. In the case of Vanessa VanDyke, a 12-year-old girl threatened to be expelled due to her voluminous mane, many people deemed her natural hair to be “unprofessional.” But is the issue much deeper than this?
For centuries, the unique characteristics of Black women have been undermined by Eurocentric standards of beauty and we’ve all been wired to believe that somehow our hair — in its purest, natural state — affects our skills, abilities, and competence in the workplace. Check out some of the ladies who challenged these erroneous notions and grabbed success by the horns — coils, kinks, curls and all.
Source: WENN
Solange
Once the sultry songstress stepped out with her big, unapologetic afro, the spotlight on Solange — which was once dim — grew brighter! Being recognized not only for her wondrous round ‘fro, but her funky, quirky style, Puma applauded Solange’s new presence and named her their new creative consultant and art director.
Issa Rae
Issa Rae, the creator behind the workplace comedy The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, poked fun at the frivolous stigmas against natural hair in a professional setting. While rocking a twa (teeny weeny afro), Rae’s YouTube series reeled in more than a million viewers — and even caught Pharrell Williams’ eye. Rae is now on the road to launching an Awkward Black Girl movie and a new TV show I Hate L.A. Dudes with Scandal’s Shonda Rhimes could be on the horizon someday. You go, girl!
Franchesca Ramsey
This comedienne also shot to fame through her engagement on YouTube. Her “Sh** White Girls Say” video nabbed five million viewers in just five days! While showing off her gorgeous locs, Ramsey’s comedy channel resonated nationwide — the almost-30 vlogger grabbed the attention of MTV, The New York Times, NPR, Ebony, and much more!
WENN
Ursula Burns
Like Issa Rae, Burns — the head honcho of Xerox — is not ashamed to strut around with her teeny weeny afro. As the first black woman to ever secure a chief executive position in a Fortune 500 company, Burns has never let her afro-textured coif deter her from the pinnacle of success. We’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Burns in the past. Check it out here.
WENN
Danai Gurira
While spotting a natural-haired actress on scripted television is super rare, Danai Gurira sports locs as she kicks some zombie butt on The Walking Dead — the most popular show on TV! She was also the star of Mother of George, a favorite here in the MN office. The Zimbabwean-American actress also unabashedly rocks her twa on many publicity events and red carpet interviews.
Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi is known for doing her own thang without any regard to society’s pressures. Choosing comfort over compliance, Whoopi stars in The View with cozy clothing and comfy jeans to match — despite her stylist’s pleas for a more presentable wardrobe. Goldberg may exude a relaxed attitude, but her hair surely isn’t. Whoopi’s locs prove that altering one’s natural curl pattern is not a vital element of success.
via @RepKarenBass
Karen Bass
While African-American hair is often politicized, Rep. Karen Bass trumped these barriers and became a politician herself. Bass, a Democrat, is a U.S. Representative that currently serves California’s 37th congressional district. And most impressively, she’s the first Black woman to ever hold office as a Speaker in any state assembly — all while wearing her pixie-cut afro.
Esperanza Spalding arriving at the Grammys. Credit: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com
Esperanza Spalding
Back in 2011, Esperanza Spalding earned herself a Grammy for Best New Artist. She proudly accepted the award as she graced the Grammy stage with the most exquisite ‘fro. Around the nation, people wanted to know who this confident, ‘fro-wearing diva was. In a world of Beyonces, Rihannas, and Nicki Minajs, Spalding was able to break the mold with her daring mane and win herself one of the most prestigious awards in the music world.
Source: wcpo.com
Rhonda Lee
While naturalista Rhonda Lee secured a job at ABC’s affiliate, KTBS-TV in Shreveport, Louisiana, she lost her position when she defended herself against Facebookers who attacked her natural hair. She lamented about how she always had to explain her short natural tresses — something so trivial and irrelevant to her meteorology skills. When we covered Lee earlier this year, she was deemed the “Rosa Parks of natural hair.”
via YouTube
Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey
With hair as ample as Vanessa VanDyke’s, Nina received her PhD and is now a psychology professor at Stephen F. Austin State University. She’s also very well-known throughout the natural hair community as “BeautifulBrwnBabyDol.” As a YouTube vlogger, Nina has been recognized by People magazine and the Huffington Post. She’s appeared on Inside Edition, The Doctors, Dr. Oz, The Jeff Probst Show, and Extra and naturalistas around the nation crowned her as “The Next Oprah.”
Alberto Reyes/WENN.com
Thelma Golden
Thelma Golden is the director and chief curator of one of New York’s cultural institutions, The Studio Museum in Harlem. This museum uplifts the core of the city’s African-American artistry and puts amazing Black talent on display. Since 2005, Golden — while fearlessly showcasing her afro — is considered to be “one of the most powerful women in the high culture sphere,” The Grio says.
Lupita Nyong’o
The spotlight is shining on Lupita Nyong’o these days because of her role in the sure-to-be-nominated-for-an-Oscar film 12 Years a Slave. But her stylish looks, edgy makeup, and, yes, that hair, are making her a red carpet fave as well. You can learn more about Nyong’o in the latest issue of DuJour magazine. Oh yeah, and she’s on the cover (above).
