Tracee Ellis Ross Is The Face Of ELLE’s Inaugural ‘State Of Black Beauty’ Issue, Viral Response Creates Discussion About Hair Privilege

Tracee Ellis Ross covers ELLE magazine’s inaugural “State of Black Beauty” issue and responses to the cover have gone viral, which in turn sparked a discussion about WHO should lead/represent the "politics of black hair" discussion. Share your thoughts inside…

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Braids are not new. Cornrows are not new. Twists are not new. Bantu knots are not new. If our hair could talk, it would tell you of our legacy.” For our inaugural State of Black Beauty cover, @traceeellisross shares her personal journey in reframing the narrative of Black beauty for herself and for the world. Her photoshoot—led by an all-Black team and guided by the creative direction and brilliance of the star herself—pays homage to the history, resilience, and artistry of Black hair. Ross’s one mandate: That the resulting art be the vision of the team, together. For her full conversation with friend and fellow Emmy nominee @kerrywashington see link in bio. #ELLESOBB Credits: Photographer: @djenebaaduayom Stylist: @shionat Hair: @iamaraxilindsey Makeup: @traceeellisross Nails: @nailsandmax ELLE.com: @hallchloe, @girlnamednee, @angellenise Design: @miappp

A post shared by ELLE Magazine (@elleusa) on Aug 27, 2020 at 5:42am PDT

When you think of Tracee Ellis Ross, one of the first things that come to mind is hair! The “black-ish” star was blessed with a head full of luscious locs and she doesn’t stray away from letting her ‘fro shine. During the last few years, the 47-year-old has started incorporating more protective styles – like cornrows – on the red carpet and when she attends big events.

Now, she’s seemingly been coined “the face” of black beauty and hair. And everyone isn't on board.

The former “Girlfriends” starlet graces two covers of ELLE magazine’s inaugural “State of Black Beauty” issue where she was interviewed by actress Kerry Washington.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“From Girlfriends until now, what I see out in the world gives me courage to be myself. Seeing the way @saintrecords wears her hair, I'm like, ‘This is so beautiful.’ Back in the day, Black girls on TV who were wearing their hair in its natural texture were like five. @realraedawnchong was the first one I ever saw. My mom @dianaross, yes, but Rae Dawn Chong, @officiallisabonet, @iamcreesummer, Lisa Nicole Carson, that's all I saw.” For @traceeellisross, being a TV star has always come with a sense of responsibility—a single hairstyle choice has the power to shift public perception and personal narratives. It’s a sentiment she shares with @kerrywashington who adds, “I'm really grateful that we, actresses and hair stylists and artists, have all been revealing more of our authentic, natural beauty. That we've made those choices on red carpets and on covers and TV shows. When I see you do it, it makes me want to do it more.” For their full conversation, head to the link in bio. #ELLESOBB Credits: Photographer: @djenebaaduayom⁣⁣ Stylist: @shionat⁣⁣ Hair: @iamaraxilindsey⁣⁣ Makeup: @traceeellisross⁣⁣ Nails: @nailsandmax ELLE.com: @hallchloe, @girlnamednee, @angellenise Design: @miappp

A post shared by ELLE Magazine (@elleusa) on Aug 27, 2020 at 6:30am PDT

In the cover story, Tracee dished on beauty, the politics of Black natural hair, and her haircare line Pattern Beauty that she released last year.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the State of Black Beauty, starring icon and @patternbeauty founder @traceeellisross. Spearheaded by digital beauty director @hallchloe along with @girlnamednee and @angellenise, ELLE.com’s State of Black Beauty was conceived in January 2020 as a framework for spotlighting the complexity and splendor of Blackness. As Tracee explains, for too long, “Our beauty was not a part of the standard or culture of beauty. There was no frame to hold. And if there's no frame to hold the facts, it's very difficult to hold the facts.” Fact: Black beauty is infinite and cannot be contained to a single issue or month. There is no limit to the stories to be told. We are just getting started. Click the link in bio for Tracee’s full interview with her friend @kerrywashington, alongside a few of our first features that celebrate the joy of Black beauty. #ELLESOBB Credits: Photographer: @djenebaaduayom⁣ Stylist: @shionat⁣ Hair: @iamaraxilindsey⁣ Makeup: @traceeellisross⁣ Nails: @nailsandmax

A post shared by ELLE Magazine (@elleusa) on Aug 27, 2020 at 5:23am PDT

 

“I think back to 10 years ago, I went to the Essence Music Festival and a woman was like, “Girl, you’re on TV. You need to get your hair done.” And I was like, “What do you mean?” She was like, “Put some heat on your hair! What are you doing?” Growing up, we all went through this experience, where straight hair was your dressed-up hair,” Tracee told the publication. “The blowout, silky-whatever meant you became more presentable, more appropriate. It was your dressy, sexy version of you. I see such an evolution on that narrative and I’m so grateful for it.”

For https://t.co/zCPaOBHQk5's inaugural State of Black Beauty cover, we invited actress and icon @TraceeEllisRoss to share how she reframed the Black hair narrative on her road to creating Pattern Beauty pic.twitter.com/Vlpmn5l5uO

— Nina Garcia (@ninagarcia) August 27, 2020

”This is not some new phenomenon,” she said. “Braids are not new. Cornrows are not new. Twists are not new. Bantu knots are not new. If our hair could talk, it would tell you of our legacy. Black beauty is timeless and holds such a story that I am so grateful to be a part of, and to continue allowing it to unfold through me. Black women and our hair have been at the center of social, cultural, political, and economic revolutions and movements through time. We hold so much power in our beauty.”

Very true.

While her products promise to let your hair flex in its natural glory, it doesn’t particularly mean your hair will look exactly like her hair after using her products since we all have different textures. Her haircare line caters to textures ranging from 3B to 4C, but a wash-and-go on 3B hair will not look the same as a wash-and-go on 4C hair. We know we're not the only ones who studied YouTube tutorials for a bomb wash-and-go only to end up hating every strand of your hair because it looks NOTHING like the YouTuber's hair. Yes, texture matters.

With Tracee Ellis Ross seemingly “leading the charge," some people don’t like the fact a biracial woman has been chosen to lead the conversation on black natural hair.

Facebook user Jukie Jones shared her thoughts on the Golden Globe winner representing black natural hair and it has gone viral. In the post, she talked about how biracial women are already considered the standard of beauty in society and how it’s frustrating that someone like Tracee is having this open dialogue about black natural hair for a majority white audience.

In a Facebook post with Tracee’s ELLE magazine cover attached, the FB user wrote:

Black women: Her father is white and because of those genetics, her hair is 3B at its absolute kinkiest and curliest.

For jobs NOT in the entertainment business, NOBODY would refuse to hire this woman, her hair is not discriminated against, it's actually preferred to MY Black Mama Black Daddy 4C hair. So why is Tracee Ellis Ross leading the conversation on natural hair, talking to (majority white readership) ELLE Magazine?

I SAID biracial Black women are the main representatives of Black femininity in the media and the face AND VOICE of the natural hair movement,

To the detriment and erasure of monoracial brownskin Black women.

I only need to hear from Black women, thanks.

There are conflicting responses in the comments section with some people saying they're overly exhausted over the "black natural hair conversation" and that nothing is wrong with Tracee representing black natural hair. Others, not so much. 

Award winning journalist Demetria L. Lucas chimed in on the discussion with a neutral take on the controversy:

Natural hair comes in all different textures, colors, density, lengths...everything. With that being said, we don't think the magazine was trying to crown Tracee as the sole "black natural hair" spokesperson, nor do we think Tracee was trying to BE that for the black community. However, we can agree with several comments made about biracial/light skinned women being more accepted and considered a more comfortable standard when it comes to black hair.  Industry executves do not hide this fact in their call sheets and hiring choices. 

So, wouldn't it be even more thorough of a discussion from Elle if hair types involving multiple parts of the diaspora - especially those that are most discriminated against - were discussed and put on front street in the same discussion with Tracee's take? Thoughts?

Photo: DFree/Shutterstock.com

source: theybf