The internet has been buzzing with talk about Gabrielle Douglas’ hair …again. A few years back the same negativity and chatter was generated over the care or what some felt, “The lack thereof” of her hair. This is similar to the internet bullying that Blue, daughter of singer Beyonce’ and rapper /businessman Jay-Z, endured as well.
People get in their feelings and personally attach themselves to someone elses appearance and feels the need to impart their expectations on someone else. But it’s not your head. Or your life. And there are mirrors everywhere. So they know what they look like. Many comments are mean, rude and uncalled for. Some offer advice with a taste of shade.
But what comes from the debates is basically just more of what they are complaining about. Now if this was a single person or media entity I could see Black Twitter showing up in droves and dragging them to within an inch of their cyber lives. But instead we turn on each other. We start commenting on the edges, lackluster children and bank accounts of anyone who tells a celebrity to pick up a comb. Does that make it better? I mean we are out here trying not to be a hashtag and thats heavy enough. That requires a lot of thought by itself- trying to bob and weave a bullet or an arrest all day from doing absolutely nothing.
I saw the posts and I decided to not even comment but then an article was posted in a Natural Hair group I am in and I decided to add my thoughts.
“This won’t be popular but I actually don’t want to give her a hair pass. I mean she knew what was said last time. Being an athlete really has nothing to do with your hair looking rough-not in the sense that most people are speaking on-sure it will fall down, get lose whatever..the basic gym hair but the main thing and even that can be prevented if anyone cared–and I don’t have to shade anyone elses athletic ability or question their own edges or the success of their children like they have on the blogs in order to make this point–GABBY DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN WHAT ME, YOU OR LISA IN TEXAS THINKS *LOL Gabby does not need me to stick up for her because she saw her hair just like we did before she stepped in front of that camera. So she did not give a rats ass about what we would think. She was there to slay and backlash be damned. I don’t think she needs me to stand behind her fiending off those who commented because she clearly could care less. And yes she can do better but she isn’t representing the hair of black people she is ‘repping these United States to win that gold.”
Now, I must be honest. I didn’t even read the article before I replied. My answer was a neutral response in general but I did go read it afterwards when I saw other peoples responses put into question with responses like, “Did you even bother to read it?” Like I thought it didn’t change anything about my answer but I did want to be informed on what the statement was in the article.
One immediate reply that I assumed was directed to mine was:
“You should stick up for her.. but never mind. I CAN’T TODAY.”
My reply simply said:
“me either thats why I refuse to add hype to it by creating conflict about it. Her and Blue can live and do whatever they please because too many other issues need solutions right now.”
In other words, I don’ t have time to debate it all week and go back and forth online with people who care about her hair. Gabby does not care and is unbothered. She is minding her business and flipping her hair and her gold medals at her “haters” and keeping it moving . Now when Fox News comes for her call me. But seeing her own people battling it out on the internet is not what I want to see or get into. Just another area of division. And I’m tired. The news is draining. I just want to watch us win medals, slay and come back home without Zika or an infection from those horrid condition over there I have seen in photos. The last thing Gabby needs to worry about is her edges being straight. When she isn’t competing , all her focus should be on leaping over mosquitos.
So get in on the debate. Did you get into it this week with some Edge Control Protestors or did you just avoid the fray, check your own scalp and keep it moving? Let us know below!
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Julio Cortez/ AP Photo
