Black actors are using the hashtag #ActingWhileBlack to bring to the fore Hollywood’s racial inequalities when it comes to black natural hair and makeup for dark skin.
The hashtag has been used on Twitter since 2011 to express displeasure with the racist undertones actors receive in Hollywood after demanding equal treatment. It started trending on Monday after actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II reacted to model Olivia Anakwe’s frustration during the Paris Fashion Week where she took to Instagram to criticize hairstylists who can’t do black hair at fashion shows.
“100% of Black Actor/Actress I’ve spoken to on this topic face the same thing in film and television. Hair Stylists in our industry should have proper training, AND be able to show proof. Too often they begin to “figure it out” the second we sit in the chair,” he tweeted using the hashtag.
100% of Black Actor/Actress I've spoken to on this topic face the same thing in film and television. Hair Stylists in our industry should have proper training, AND be able to show proof. Too often they begin to "figure it out" the second we sit in the chair. https://t.co/qf662oqA8d
— Yahya Abdul-Mateen 2 (@yahya) March 9, 2019
Actor Malcolm Barrett also tweeted: “Most Black actors get their hair cut or styled outside of set, often at their own expense because Hollywood hairstylists are one size fit all and that ‘all’ does not include Black hair. This has been my experience for the last 20 years in the business & it hasn’t changed at all.”
Most Black actors get their hair cut or styled outside of set, often at their own expense because Hollywood hairstylists are one size fit all and that ‘all’ does not include Black hair. This has been my experience for the last 20 years in the business & it hasn’t changed at all. https://t.co/3kniFzAET5
— Verbal The Rapper (@malcolmbarrett) March 10, 2019
Actress Asia Jackson also added her voice saying: “One time I literally rolled out of bed and showed up to set and the hairstylist looked at my hair and said “it’s great the way it is!” and walked away. I literally appeared on camera with bed head. Since then I’ve been styling my own hair ?”
One time I literally rolled out of bed and showed up to set and the hairstylist looked at my hair and said “it’s great the way it is!” and walked away. I literally appeared on camera with bed head. Since then I’ve been styling my own hair ?
— Asia Jackson (@aasian) March 10, 2019
Actress Yvette Nicole Brown tweets: “Most black actresses come to a new set w/ their hair done (me) or bring their wigs & clip-ins w/them. It’s either that or take a chance that you will look crazy on screen. Many of us also bring our own foundation. One too many times seeing no shade that matches you will learn ya!”
Most black actresses come to a new set w/ their hair done (me) or bring their wigs & clip-ins w/them. It’s either that or take a chance that you will look crazy on screen. Many of us also bring our own foundation. One too many times seeing no shade that matches you will learn ya! https://t.co/mGAzpuoKtb
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) March 11, 2019
Actress Gabourey Sidibe said she resorts to box braids or Senegalese twists when there is no black haristylist for her.
If they don’t have the budget to hire a black hairstylist for me, or won’t, I just get the director to agree that my character should have box braids or senegalese twist.
— Gabby Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) March 11, 2019
Gabrielle Union didn’t mince words either: “The pressure to “just be happy they picked you & you got a job, don’t ask for the SAME things every other actor/model gets on GP…” Listen, if u stay quiet, u WILL have bald spots, hair damage, look NUTS (tho they will tell u its cuuuuuuuuute ?)”
The pressure to “just be happy they picked you & you got a job, don’t ask for the SAME things every other actor/model gets on GP…” Listen, if u stay quiet, u WILL have bald spots, hair damage, look NUTS (tho they will tell u its cuuuuuuuuute ?) https://t.co/vBMFla2cQ2
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) March 11, 2019
The whole frustration faced by actors was also extended to news anchors who also expressed their experiences including white media professionals who have curly hair.
Same goes for newsrooms! Worked somewhere where haircuts and some styling was covered for on-air reporters/anchors. Meanwhile we had to still find our own stylists who wouldn’t fry our hair at much greater costs. Learned the hard way being sent to one high-end salon 1/2
— Kafi Drexel Brown (@kafidrexel) March 11, 2019
INSISTING they could handle. Seemed ok a couple days then hair started breaking off like CRAZY until there was hardly any left! Raised this as parity issue. Station head said I was reaching and couldn’t see the discrimination. So glad @TeenVogue started this thread. 2/2
— Kafi Drexel Brown (@kafidrexel) March 11, 2019
Am I allowed to jump on this bandwagon? Because the natural hair movement (pushed forward by amazing black women) has made a big difference in my life and helped me accept my unruly, curly, kinky hair. However, nobody can ever style it and I almost always end up doing it myself.
— Christina Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) March 12, 2019
Me too. I suffered with my curly, frizzy hair for years and years because hair stylists were clueless and every product they recommended was for straight hair. It was only until I found the natural hair community in my late 20s that I learned how to style my own hair
— ˚✧₊⁎❝᷀ົཽ≀ˍ̮ ❝᷀ົཽ⁎⁺˳✧༚ (@_c_u_n_t) March 12, 2019
Model Olivia Anakwe who inspired the trending hashtag after she expressed her frustration in an Instagram post over discrimination of not getting the attention of hairstylists due to her afro hair said:
“This is not okay. This will never be okay. This needs to change. No matter how small your team is, make sure you have one person that is competent at doing afro texture hair care OR just hire a black hairstylist!”
Here are some more reactions from #ActingWhileBlack detailing experiences of black actors in Hollywood.
Same in theatrical arts. AND…the lighting designers that openly get frustrated that they aren’t/can’t light the dark person properly…as if it’s the performers fault. How racist & unprofessional & ppl silently let’s those comments fly as to not cause further disturbance…
— Azucena DiBiscaglia (@LilyofBiscay) March 11, 2019
Thank God for my on set hairstylist. They’re out there, Hollywood simply had to care enough to hire them. #LawandaPierreHair ?? pic.twitter.com/7i3TtYnVO5
— De’Adre Aziza (@DeadreAziza) March 11, 2019
1 reason black cosmetology students get pissed off is bcs they’re forced to attend expensive schools that treat white hair as the default curriculum & black hair is an afterthought. Most of what they learn there won’t be used later & they learn what they need on their own.+
— Better Self Care in 2019 (@AbbieHollowDays) March 11, 2019
that’s messed up. i know lighting and makeup has always been optimized for white skin and not many cinematographers know how to make dark skin look good…but i can’t believe they don’t bother bringing in hair stylists for black hair. hollywood is rly by white for whites ?
— ben baldman (@spacebeets) March 10, 2019
I learned about this from Chris Rock! I’m a dork and listened to the DVD commentary for Head if State and he talked about how important it was for him to find a lighting director who knew how to light black people. It really opened my eyes.
— Kona (@Kona99) March 12, 2019
I know of two black actresses who are SERIES REGULARS on network shows who have to DO THEIR OWN HAIR. Not ok! ??
— De’Adre Aziza (@DeadreAziza) March 11, 2019
Hollywood Needs more black hair and makeup artist and for people to stop hiring thier friends or cousins ( nepotism is real )
— Denise Hunee (@knottyhead) March 10, 2019
@victoriarowell was fighting #Sony and #YR @YandR_CBS about this over 10 years ago. It happens in all levels of entertainment. Black hairstylists / cosmetologist are trained to do all types of hair. White stylists are only trained to do European hair but they get hired. Wrong
— Renee (@ReneeRevelation) March 10, 2019
Girl I’ve been called just to do the ONE black girl on set hair so many times. Like why didn’t you just hire me to do everyone’s hair since the stylist you hired can’t?
— the sun is still out (@tiabbea) March 11, 2019
I did a French film and they hired a black stylist to do just my hair. The white French hair stylist just looked at my hair in disgust while the black stylist did it. I am thankful they budgeted me my own stylist tho. God only knows what that white woman would have done to me.
— Shauna Pinkett (@myafrochronicle) March 11, 2019
Agencies don’t always hire black stylists but when they need someone to handle a black hair we get a call to do the work but no credit ?
— the sun is still out (@tiabbea) March 11, 2019
I’ve come to set hair ready. I’m talking sleeping uncomfy in Bantu knots ready to GO and STILL. ? STILL had a stylist destroy my hair in .5 seconds. Why? Out of ego and ignorance. pic.twitter.com/rmbtEIuaNy
— Lιȥ Jҽɳƙιɳʂ (@ej11lizzie) March 11, 2019
I should say NEVER on Black-ish. Of course I leave with my hair in better shape than when I arrived on that set. #blackish hair & make up don’t mess around pic.twitter.com/wU5BEVQ2Uh
— Lιȥ Jҽɳƙιɳʂ (@ej11lizzie) March 11, 2019
