More and more black women are shunning wigs, chemical straighteners and flat irons in favor of wearing and celebrating the hair they were born with—but you wouldn't know it from the hairstyles shown on television.
In primetime, nearly every black female character—from Kerry Washington's high-powered handler on "Scandal" to Taraji P. Henson's Cookie Lyon on Lee Daniel's new series "Empire," plus Nicole Beharie ("Sleepy Hollow"), Gabrielle Union ("Being Mary Jane") and Alfre Woodward (playing the president in "State of Affairs") —wears a wig or weave.
It is also nearly impossible to find real hair on reality television.
Lee's Article Highlights:
- The natural hair movement movement is so big that major corporations are taking notice, businesses like Target, which has shelves dedicated to natural hair products for black women.
- Fewer of today's shows are truly for us, by us, with black writers and producers and creators
- According to image activist, Michaela Angela Davis, many actresses still think that natural hair means they're making a statement or that they need to be playing a character who is political or some kind of bad girl. Most actresses want to appear neutral so that Hollywood sees them as a candidate for any role.