What is up with the big 'fro on every black woman? I'm not saying that it's a bad look by any means, but is that the only way to portray a group of people? That's like showing Asians only wearing bowl haircuts or Indians only wearing turbans with dots on their foreheads– if that's the only way to show a minority, then it's offensive, however cumulatively.
As the executive editor at Sophisticate's Black Hair, I am deeply troubled by this lack of African American hairstyle diversity. Advertisers need only look to our "Clip & Snip" section to find a plethora of alternates to the big afro: the dip, the close crop, the shivery bang, the Mannassas Hangdown, the wheelbarrow, and the asymetrical swoop, to name a few. All of these are perfectly acceptable alternate hairstyles to the overused afro.
Advertisers, please take this into consideration when you cast for the next JC Penney, Orbit Gum or McDonald's commercial and try to forget that awesome drummer in that one Lenny Kravitz music video. Thanks.
Now, watch. Every time you see a black woman in an ad from now on, YOU are going to notice that most of the time, they'll be sporting a gigantic afro. Mark my words, reader!
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