They talk about "Kylie Jenner" lips and Kim Kardashian "Boxer Braids" when they should be saying THICK LIPS and CORNROWS, *insert eye-rolling emoji here*.
Disclaimer: Let me start by saying, I have no hatred toward the Kardashian-Jenner clan. They are probably great people, I just don't care for them, and they are just as irrelevant to me as I am to them. So, no, I do not keep up with the Kardashians.
Really, it's nothing special; nothing that has never been seen before. So why is it then, that people on social media have been reacting to these things as if they are the latest fashion crazes? These reactions are mind-boggling to people of color, especially us black females. All I will say about Kylie's lips is that they have been around for years, worn by the black woman. They are nothing new, and they are not real. Moving on.
"Boxer Braids", also nothing new, are simply cornrows. They've Been around forever and a day, but when Kim Kardashian does it, it causes an internet craze and suddenly everyone is doing it. Foolishness.
The question is, why did it have to take a Kardashian and a Jenner to cause beauty to be seen in things that were already around? Is it because these things have been worn by minorities? Why was Kylie not accused of having "DSL" (if you don't know what that is, urban dictionary it) but instead had had her lips imitated and fawned over to the point of the invention of "The Kylie Jenner Challenge"?
Well it is all irrelevant because, if there was ever a time to be a black female in America, the time is definitely now. Why? Because we are loving ourselves and we are loving each other. These days, there are so many more free, big, healthy afros thank there have been in years past. Black women are saying no to skin bleaching, now more than ever and are rejecting that creamy crack (simply a relaxer - no illegal substances here) to proudly show off the beauty of their natural tresses. Never was there a time before now where, #CatchThatMelanin, #BlackGirlMagic and #MelaninOnFleek were popular hashtags on social media. Black girls are beginning to love themselves more and are now accepting and walking in their truth. We are embracing our thick lips and rejecting idiotic notions that to have thick lips is to have "DSL".
Side note: I do wonder if Kylie Jenner has ever been accused of having DSL or if they just find hers attractive, I'm honestly leaning toward the latter.
Beyoncé, Gabrielle Union, Oprah, Viola Davis and even the FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, along with some others are some good examples of #BlackGirlMagic; they are black women doing positive things.
Being a black female puts us at the lowest end of the hierarchy pyramid for two reasons; for being black (duh!) and for being female. Yet we push through. No more excuses, we are just doing what we have to do, and we are being successful. Thank heavens that we are finally beginning to know our worth.
We are allowing other races to say, "But you're not like the black people on tv," and that's great. It is unfortunate because black women are twice as likely to be portrayed negatively in the media. However, one by one, we are breaking these stereotypes, we are breaking these barriers. We are showing the world that we are strong, classy, intelligent, women. So, no we are not like the ones on TV, because majority of the black roles presented to us on television are purposely crafted to be ghetto, We are not making excuses for ourselves, but rather we are fighting twice as hard to get to where we want to be!
Black love is growing and is spreading like wild fire and I am so proud to be apart of a time such as this.
So to all my independent, black beauties, let's keep standing strong; If there was ever a time to be a black woman, the time is definitely now!
