This Is Absolutely Not Fabulous
I barely know how to start this post, so I'll just write.
Natural hair has made the news the past two weeks. Last week the news was over the sweetest video from Sesame Street that made its way to YouTube called "I Love My Hair," where a little black girl muppet sings about her hair.
The video went viral and today I heard an NPR segment where the writer of the song was interviewed. His name is Joey Mazzarino and he wrote the song for his adopted black daughter. Such a feel good story.
Then today, I heard the news of the Ghetto Fab Wig being sold on Kohl's website. Really? Again? This is becoming all too common every Halloween. When I hear people talking about how racism no longer exists because we have a black president, I think of incidents like this and just shake my head.
It should be very obvious why the term is offensive. There is nothing positive about the word ghetto. And "ghetto fabulous" is an oxymoron. The ghetto is someplace that people try to get away from. Living in poverty with limited life options is not fabulous.
So why is the hair that naturally grows out of my head ghetto? This reminds me of the post that I wrote about Don Imus.
Several bloggers have written about the term "Ghetto Fab" being used to describe a wig that looks like a black woman's natural hair and is being sold as an accessory for a Halloween costume. Here are a few posts below.
Nikki, Curly Nikki: The 'Ghetto Fab' Wig? Really?!
Patrice, Afrobella: Kohls, We Need To Talk
L. Michelle, My Hair … Is Me: Calling Kohl’s Out! WTF?
Luvvie, Awesomely Luvvie: Whose Dumb Idea Is This? Kohl’s FAILED!
Kohl's responded on twitter after they were deluged with complaints. They've apologized and tweeted that they will be taking the offending wig down from their website.
Unfortunately, the wig is still being sold all over the Internet including Amazon. From what I can tell, the main supplier of the wigs is California Costume Collections, Inc. and they are sold as part of their "Disco Party" line.
The website states that their "innovative and talented design team is inspired by every facet of film, music, fashion and cultural diversity that this entertainment center has to offer and it resonates through our collections." Cultural diversity? Hmmm. I wonder about the diversity of that design team.
The website also has a contact page to call andgive them a piece of your mind, contact a sales representative for wholesale inquiries at 323-262-8383 for a catalog or additional information.
I recently wrote an article about some of the legal issues involved with Halloween Costumes. I hate to think about the Halloween parties where people are wearing these wigs. Especially if they're at work. Not fabulous at all.
Anali's First Amendment © 2006-2010. All rights reserved.
This Post’s Link
Subscribe to blog posts. Follow me on Twitter.
Shopping on Amazon today? Please consider starting here and help this blog.
Natural hair has made the news the past two weeks. Last week the news was over the sweetest video from Sesame Street that made its way to YouTube called "I Love My Hair," where a little black girl muppet sings about her hair.
The video went viral and today I heard an NPR segment where the writer of the song was interviewed. His name is Joey Mazzarino and he wrote the song for his adopted black daughter. Such a feel good story.
Then today, I heard the news of the Ghetto Fab Wig being sold on Kohl's website. Really? Again? This is becoming all too common every Halloween. When I hear people talking about how racism no longer exists because we have a black president, I think of incidents like this and just shake my head.
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| Picture from California Costume Collections, Inc. |
So why is the hair that naturally grows out of my head ghetto? This reminds me of the post that I wrote about Don Imus.
Several bloggers have written about the term "Ghetto Fab" being used to describe a wig that looks like a black woman's natural hair and is being sold as an accessory for a Halloween costume. Here are a few posts below.
Nikki, Curly Nikki: The 'Ghetto Fab' Wig? Really?!
Patrice, Afrobella: Kohls, We Need To Talk
L. Michelle, My Hair … Is Me: Calling Kohl’s Out! WTF?
Luvvie, Awesomely Luvvie: Whose Dumb Idea Is This? Kohl’s FAILED!
Kohl's responded on twitter after they were deluged with complaints. They've apologized and tweeted that they will be taking the offending wig down from their website.
Unfortunately, the wig is still being sold all over the Internet including Amazon. From what I can tell, the main supplier of the wigs is California Costume Collections, Inc. and they are sold as part of their "Disco Party" line.
The website states that their "innovative and talented design team is inspired by every facet of film, music, fashion and cultural diversity that this entertainment center has to offer and it resonates through our collections." Cultural diversity? Hmmm. I wonder about the diversity of that design team.
The website also has a contact page to call and
I recently wrote an article about some of the legal issues involved with Halloween Costumes. I hate to think about the Halloween parties where people are wearing these wigs. Especially if they're at work. Not fabulous at all.
Anali's First Amendment © 2006-2010. All rights reserved.
This Post’s Link
Subscribe to blog posts. Follow me on Twitter.
Shopping on Amazon today? Please consider starting here and help this blog.
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