According to recent reports, actress Gabrielle Union was allegedly told by “America’s Got Talent” producers that her hairstyles were “too black” and changed too often. While the matter is currently under investigation by SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), Black women and girls at every level face hair discrimination.
A 2015 article on NBCNews.com asked “If Big, Natural Hair is In, Why Don’t We See it On Television?” reflecting that “despite the trend toward natural hair, it is still rarely worn by characters on TV. Even actresses who have natural hair rarely get to show it on-air.” How true that rings, four years later.
Meanwhile, noted hairstylist Larry Sims — personal hair stylist to Union — responded to the idea that Union’s styles were “too black” with the following Instagram post, featuring her fabulous styles, saying “Too Black? Nah… She’s FLAWLESS!!!”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B5idAQnAN_5/?utm_source=ig_embed
Journalist and former Teen Vogue editor and “Project Runway” judge Elaine Welteroth recently said on the Tamron Hall Show, “I stand with Gabrielle Union…This is emblematic of the experience of a lot of black women, particularly in corporate environments where you are the only one who looks like you.”
Host Tamron Hall added: “Together we can make a sea change so that all women can have a seat at the table.”