That really BOTHERS you? Hmm…



(origin)

 I am sick of seeing all those commercials with ethnic/nappy/natural hair!


I’m not gonna lie and say I remember WHERE I actually read this comment, I must also admit I am paraphrasing because I was only skimming a mag and my mind was actually somewhere else.  Later that day, when I slowed down for a minute, I was really shocked and wished I would have paid more attention to the comment.


After I let the thought sit and fester I started asking myself why someone would be offended or angry by African American women with Natural hair being used in commercials.  




Could it be some Permies are feeling the media thinks all Black women are Natural? 


Could it be some Naturals feel these are merely marketing ploys to get Naturals to buy their products? 


Are these just some African American woman who find the ‘ethnic’ or Natural look embarrassing?


Not a clue but I thought it would be interesting to give my take on them. 


When I really noticed Natural hair was being shown in commericals I was still relaxed.  I was shocked to see it but I found it cool, new and ground-breaking.  It was right up there with Aunt Jemima getting a perm.  Hey, don’t judge me but I was loving to see that woman without her head rag on that bottle any more. 


I also remember, after a while, that it was catching on and at first…AT FIRST… I felt it was a marketing ploy from the major corporations saying….’hey black folks, we see you and we want you to KNOW we see you.’  I didn’t care what their reasons were.  I was more happy with the fact we were out there and we weren’t all wearing weaves down to our asses.  So maybe they were trying to hook us into buying their product but isn’t that the whole purpose of commericals??



(origin)


If you are as old as me (or older) you remember when you didn’t hardly see ANY black women in commericals at all!  I mean our dollars weren’t considered and we were all but shut out in the media.  Now, if you watched Soul Train  you did see commericals geared specifically to us.  We were dancing and smiling to the counter of McDonald’s as well as us dancing and shaking our hair in the mirror for hair ads…..BLACK hair ads.  Ultra Sheen is one I remember but I know there were perm ads as well.  We were so damn proud of those ads weren’t we?


Well, now we’re out there selling everything from diapers to diamonds.  We’ve made it!  Now, can we stop critiquing what and why we are out there?  I’m personally very happy to see more Natural haired actors and actresses selling products and not just because I’m natural.  It’s because we are a very diverse people and the media should be expressing that.  Women with perms can purchase the same products women with locs can and why not show that?  Why would it offend anyone?  Hell, I’m just glad to be seeing more women with my hair on TV.  Is that EVEN wrong?


Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill or maybe you’ve seen or heard others saying the same thing.  I’d just love to know why the anger is there.  I’d also love to know what you think of all the Naturals in commericals and if you had a DIFFERENT take on them before you were Natural.


Take care Naturals,


Sabrina 


“As we grow we change and as we change we see the world around us through older and wiser eyes.” SRP