Connecting cinema with African American consumers through their unique relationship with the urban salon experience.
Only we have the right to control how our culture is presented andexploited. Social media has made it easier than ever to see the ubiquity of cultural appropriation, the act of a person or group of one culture adopting the style, mannerisms, or anything of unique cultural value from another group without context or understanding. … Continue reading Black Barbershops and Beauty Shops Matter
Many Black men and women who choose to follow their dreams inside of large corporations still find their hopes shoplifted by a rigged system. I’ve always been a big fan of boxing. I appreciate the subtleties of how prize fighters balance brute strength with finesse and endurance. I love watching old footage of Mike Tyson … Continue reading Some African American Executives Make a Silent Agreement with White Corporate Hierarchy
Black barbershops and salons provide a window into our nation’s complicated racial dynamics. Historically, these venues have acted as a Black townhall, providing an inspiring example for how communities can come together to create positive change. According to Straight Razors and Social Justice: The Empowering Evolution of Black Barbershops, for many African Americans, getting a haircut … Continue reading African American Salons and Barbershops Offer a Blueprint for How America Should Be
Current movements are asking corporations to show the diversity and inclusion statistics within their own ranks—especially in leadership and C-suite roles. Now Hollywood is being asked to give African Americans a deserved seat at their table. Regardless of whether or not they do, the curtain has opened, and our show will go on.
Black Lives Matter protests have now occurred in at least 1,700 locations across the United States since George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in May of 2020. In response, brands—including giants like Target, Ben and Jerry’s and NIKE—have made statements offering their support. But is their solidarity solid? Now a new non-profit Pull … Continue reading Corporations That Say They Stand in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter Must Be Ready for a 150-Point Inspection
Blacks have to be twice as good for half the rewards; we must prepare our young people, or they will settle for what’s been prepared for them. George Floyd’s murder by a white policeman during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesotasparked more than outrage. It also sparked a resurgence of support for Black Lives Matter (BLM) and … Continue reading How Corporations Continuously Raise the Bar to Heights They Know African American’s Can’t Clear!
We must always wear a mask in public that can only be removed at home, in church or in segregated spaces such as salons and barbershops. Salons and barbershops provide a safe space for combing through the tangled emotions of being black in America. George Floyd’s recent murder has brought much needed attention to … Continue reading Black Men and Women Have for Centuries Put Themselves in Social Quarantine
As restrictions lift, beauty businesses must figure out how to protect their legacy as a center of the black community. African-American salon and barbershop owners and stylists Saved a Seat for their customers during the shutdown even as it threatened their livelihood, because they knew it was the right thing to do. Now that shops in many … Continue reading How African-American Salons and Barbershop Owners Are Balancing Their Culture With COVID-19
Many studios are finding that African-American salons and barbershops offer a unique platform for reaching black communities—even when they can’t open for business. You might not think that Hollywood and black beauty venues have much in common, but these days businesses of every size all share the same threat—social distancing. It is just as difficult … Continue reading Coronavirus Is Changing the Film Industry and How It Markets Entertainment to African-American Consumers
As black business owners weight the risks and rewards, their reputations lie in the balance. Few industries have felt the effects of COVID-19 as acutely the salon, nail and barbershop industry. Currently, there are 147,406 barbershops, 50,000 nail salons, and a staggering 289,277 beauty salons in the U.S. That doesn’t include shops that operate without a … Continue reading African-American Salons and Barbershops Are Told Its Time to Open Up. Many Are Saving a Seat for Their Customers Instead.
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