With So Many Things Happening in the World, Why Is the Internet Concerned With Simone Biles' Hair?
What happened to protecting Black women?
Simone Biles has been trending the last few days post-wedding, but not for reasons one would assume — rather than celebrating her jumping the broom, the internet is obsessed with discussing the state of her hair.
This isn’t the first time the four-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast has been in the pop culture “news” about her hair. Many have been hellbent on the texture and styling of her tresses — making unnecessary space for texturism. The main focus should be on how glowing her skin was or the fact that she married the love of her life. Instead, on Beyonce‘s internet humanity is making yet another case as to why Queen Bey does not engage with the masses.
There seems to be a common theme of negatively expounding on Black women’s features. This was done with Rihanna when she rocked half-done braids and now again with Biles. European beauty standards, colorism, and all of the ‘ism’s tied to women factor into how Black women’s hair is a high and popular point of contention and criticism — especially within our respective communities.
i think they also forget i live in HOUSTON TEXAS & I sweat those out!! soon as we stepped outside for pics
but they can keep complaining idc idc idc
— Simone Biles Owens (@Simone_Biles) April 23, 2023
With the passing of the CROWN Act and many positive conversations finally around Black women’s hair, why Biles’s hair is the main focal point of discussion is confusingly beyond, but it needs to end. Hair discrimination has always been a problem in Western society and has been deeply ingrained into our culture — from when a girl is old enough to sit in the stylist’s chair at the salon. Black women have always been the target when it comes to hair representation, so much so that lawmakers who identify with the struggle have had to create laws to protect Black women since no one wanted to stand up for “her.”
As a Black man that was taught to celebrate women’s hair in all of its glory, my first thought when Biles dropped her ceremony photos was about celebrating her happiness and the Goddess glow she was exuding. Her hair was the last thing that was on my mind. It shocked me when I found that so many were enraged by her natural hair instead of the point of it all: The wedding.
The honest shade of it all is that her boo was happy and decided to put a ring on it. Many that had something to say about her hair can’t count on a text back from their “boo.” Let that sink.
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