"Womanist is to feminist, as purple is to lavender." - Alice Walker
There is no doubt that aligning yourself with black women is a surest way to get sh*t done. Getting sh*t done is what we do, as we are wired to power through and make the impossible happen. This past year, it was shockingly apparent that black women continue to save lives without praise or incentive. A perfect example of that is the victory of Doug Jones over Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate election proved that African American women are the driving force of the Democratic party.
While we are so here for the unity that has been shown through movements like #metoo and Time's Up, there is a need to erase white feminism and make the revolution intersectional. Let's keep it all the way one hundred, as a society, we are inherently conditioned to hear the whimpers of white women and overlook the screams from women of color. The playing field has been unleveled for decades but it is reassuring to know that there are women who have been championing change for all the little black girls and women. Back in the day, we had queens like Bell Hooks and Alice Walker who were determined to push their conscious and unwavering narratives forward by any means.
In celebration of womanhood and intersectional feminism, go ahead and follow some badass women that forever give us hope and keep us woke.
1.Tamika D. Mallory
Tamika D. Mallory is one of the national co-chairs of the Women's March, so you know she is all about evoking change and the galvanization of women. Political organizing is in her blood, being that her parents helped create the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network. This year, Mallory and her girl gang focused on a national voter registration phenomenon, "Power to the Polls." By fighting voter suppression and electing progressive female candidates, the focus is redirected to women empowerment and not Number 45.
2.Alex Elle
I have no doubt that you have already used one of this dope poet's quotes as your most liked Facebook status in the past. Alex Elle is an amazing poet and author who is a vision of hope. In 2017, she released Neon Soul: A Collection of Poetry and Prose, where she promotes self-care and resilience as she shares her triumphs and adversities. Adding this beauty to your timeline is sure to brighten up your day and help you stand in your unapologetic truth as a woman cultivated from magic.
3.Angela Rye
Angela Rye is every woman. From her job at CNN as a Political commentator to being CEO of IMPACT Strategies, Angela is like your favorite homegirl who has all the knowledge and is completely unafraid to speak truth to power. Any woman that says, "Bye Felicia!" on national television is a woman you want on your team and your feed! To add more magic to the list, she hosts a podcast, On One with Angela Rye, spilling all of the pop culture, race relations, and political tea. Blavity also reported that our favorite homegirl is "set to host and executive produce a quarterly news show for BET, which is poised to dig deep into issues and stories affecting black America."
4.Gabrielle Richardson
Known on social by the alias Frida Cash Flow, Gabrielle's username alone should make you want to follow her. She is also the co-founder of ArtHoe Collective, a movement created by Queer People Of Color to provide a space for all creatives of color. You can expect straight positivity and encouragement from this dope woman because she is all about accepting your flaws.
5.Michelle Buteau
Full of sass and comedic brilliance, Michelle Buteau will fill your timeline with hilarious selfies and videos sure to have you crying laughing when you need it the most. Michelle has been giving us feminist vibes since she became a staple at VH1. We love her ability to highlight the woes and wins of being a black woman.
6.Jessamyn Stanley
You know that girl boss you've seen killing the yoga game in the U by Kotex commercials? It's Jessamyn Stanley and she is the queen of body positivity. Jessamyn nurtures yoga as a means for slaying mental and physical barriers. Her fearless photos will keep you from skipping the gym every Monday.
7.Amandla Stenberg
She's more than her character Rue from The Hunger Games. In high school, Amandla Stenberg created a song "Don't Cash Crop My Cornrows," highlighting the appropriation that has been an issue for black women for years. Not to mention, Beyonce told her while filming Lemonade that she wants Blue to be like her when she grows up. Any friend of Beyonce's is a friend of mine.
8.Patrisse Cullors-Brignac
Patrisse Cullors-Brignac is a proud queer activist on a mission to change the world. The co-founder of the Black Lives Matters movement is the epitome of a freedom fighter with her work in the civil rights movement. The recent release of her book, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, has been receiving lots of attention, as it should.
9.Marley Dias
Talk about a black girl who rocks, 12-year-old Marley Dias is the young woman even I strive to be. She kickstarted the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign after frustration with books that only gabbed about white boys and their dogs. By February 1st of 2017, she collected 1,000 books with African American heroines as the leads to show that black girls are not just minor characters.
10. Michaela Angela Davis
Black and blonde beauty, Michaela Angela Davis, is 1000% rooting for every black woman, whether she knows you or not. The owner of the MAD FREE conversation project is no stranger to pushing the envelope upheld by her activist work is centered around valuing black women. As you scroll down your Instagram feed, you will feel inclined to double tap all of her rousing posts of her astounding street style, picturesque travels, and straight up magic.
We know that the list goes on but let us know which woman is your favorite and which ladies you follow on your feed.
Featured image by Ray Tamarra/GC Images
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Now, when you go to the hair store you are inundated with all kinds of hair textures, colors, and more. That’s why it was so upsetting to read the latest report about synthetic braiding hair.
Delmaine Donson/ Getty Images
A Feb 27 Consumer Reports article revealed that most popular synthetic hair brands that are used for braiding have dangerous chemicals such as carcinogens, lead and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The report stated that 10 of the brands were tested and all 10 had these chemicals. These brands included Shake-N-Go, Sassy Collection, and Sensationnel.
These chemicals include benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been linked to acute myeloid leukemia and unsafe levels of lead, which can cause kidney damage, brain damage, and cardiovascular problems in adults.
In children, it can cause brain and nervous system damage, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and even developmental delays.
James E. Rogers, PhD, director and head of product safety testing led the testing for synthetic braiding hair. “Our exposure and risk analysis found all nine products could expose a regular user of any of these products to a level of lead that could be concerning over time,” he said.
As shocking as this is, it also brought some clarity around why I’ve had issues with wearing braiding hair as of late.
Not only have I dealt with scalp irritation, I’ve even had breakouts on my back from the hair touching. Since then, I’ve started rinsing the hair with apple cider vinegar, and haven’t had that many issues. However, the report stated that ACV isn’t a “cure-all” and can potentially release harmful chemicals when rinsing the hair.
@javonford16 Replying to @Julianna Rebundle vid: @Javon Ford Beauty #blackhairstyles #braidinghair #blackgirlhairstyles @Consumer Reports
While the report sparked some outrage, chemist Javon Ford has a different view. In a TikTok video, he shared that the report was tested for oral exposure and not dermal exposure.
He showed a screenshot of an email he allegedly sent Consumer Reports questioning their decision to test this way. The email said, “the best model to use, in our view, is the ingestion model for the reasons given in the article.”
“While I understand they went with that model, I don’t agree with it because you’re not intentionally ingesting braids,” Javon said. The chemist also said that the amount of chemicals found in the brands is “conservative” compared to other types of products.
So what does this mean for us braid-wearers? If you still want to wear braids, but have some concerns, you can limit how often you wear them. Another option is wearing non-toxic braiding hair or plant-based hair. The only downside is that it's pricier than synthetic hair.
The Consumer Report also suggested checking for recalls, reading labels carefully, and reporting adverse effects. Hair isn’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s best to do your research when making purchases.
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Feature image by AzmanL/ Getty Images