Black hair on Broadway
“Black butterfly, sail across the waters, tell your sons and daughters what the struggle brings.”
Having black hair on Broadway is a challenge, but it shouldn’t be. Will you join me in doing the work to make having black hair in the entertainment industry a more positive and comfortable experience? This is work that we can all do no matter who we are and what we look like.
I have been in rooms where I’ve been made to feel like my hair is a problem that needs to be fixed. I have not booked jobs because the production didn’t wan’t to deal with my hair. I have shown up to jobs fearful & prepared to do my own hair because I know its going to be an issue. I have been the recipient of jeers, snide remarks, and flippant phrases in a professional setting because of my hair. I’ve been told how much better I look when my wig is on or my hair is straightened; “You should wear your hair like that all the time.”
I know that I’m not alone. This war on black hair in the entertainment industry needs to be addressed.
Being in a theatre community that is so accepting of our differences as human beings is a beautiful thing. But when it comes to black hair, we still have a ways to go.
If you find yourself in a space where your hair is being targeted because there is a lack of understanding, and education, speak up for yourself and call the grievance out. I encourage you to do this each and every time it happens. Addressing this egregious behavior and calling it out is the only way that we will get this industry to change and understand and make room for us and our beautiful, versatile glorious BLACK hair.
If this blog post stirred up feelings of past grievances, I invite you to email me personally at adrienne@adriennemwalker.com . We have to talk about how these issues make us feel and figure out a way to make sure that this behavior ends.
I share my personal sentiments on this topic in this video. I feel so strongly about the relationship between black hair and this industry that this will most likely not be the only time I write about it.
Cheers,
Adrienne