Positive Reaction to Ignorance: Why Zendaya’s Public Response is Important
Whenever we can correct negative stereotypes about our hair and also the look and culture of Black and Hispanic women, we’ve made progress. Whenever we can be sisters and get together and show our solidarity and love for each other in the eyes of the people who attempt to cast stereotypes—consciously or not– we’ve made progress. Why am I saying this? We’ve all read the story over social media in the last few days: Giuliana Ranic made comments about Zendaya Coleman’s Locs on “Fashion Police” stating: “I feel that she smells like patchouli oil…or weed…Yeah, maybe weed?” Although the comment was meant to be funny, it can equally be noted as a negative stereotype put out there into the atmosphere that sheds negativity on the culture of Locs and Natural Hair in general.
Plenty of times, when I am wearing my Natural Hair in its absolute fullness and glory, people make ‘Erykah Badu’ or ‘Macy Gray’ comments. I hear things along the line of ‘Black Power’ or ‘Angela Davis’. People make these comments to seem amusing, but what they fail to realize is that they are perpetuating a stereotype on hair that grows naturally from my scalp. Because I choose to wear my hair the way that I do does not mean that I have the same sentiments of the women that they compare me to. My hairstyle is an image of self and cultural love that displays a positive image of a Black woman who has self-esteem, self-worth and reverence of where she’s come from and where she is going.
The letter that Zendaya Coleman wrote in response to the comment made by Ranic was beautiful. It pulled on my heartstrings, it made me proud of her and proud to be a part of her company. She is a gorgeous young lady—with Locs or not; and I am equally proud that she can wear her hair in this style and defend herself when someone—harmless or not—perpetuates stereotypes about her hair that are not only false but offensive as well.
Of course, people are angry with Ranic, but I do not think we should waste our emotions on ignorance. The time that we take to be angry, we can use to plant positive images of Locs and Natural Hair into the psyche of those who do not know better. Maybe, then just maybe, our hair will not be one of wonderment where the ignorant take one image and apply it to everyone who chooses to wear their hair in any particular style. Maybe just maybe, our naturalness can be more accepted in the mainstream and not prodded, poked, made fun of, shunned, examined or touched.
Giuliana made an apology that was sincere and pointed out something very important that we all as humans should take note of…even if our comments seem harmless, we need to evaluate what we say because we can be offending someone or perpetuating negative falsities about people who are doing things to uplift themselves, their culture, and their progress.
Until Next Time…
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