This all started when I posted the video, “DooRag or Doo Don’t: My Magazine Catches Heat for Cover Image.” This is a conversation I want to have on SistaSense because as entrepreneurs of color we need to realize our marketing, how we carry ourselves, and the brands we build are directly related to how we view ourselves and other people around us.
Documentary “Dark Girls” Examines How African American Women & Girls View Themselves
Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.
Jon Stewart Slams Fox News, Sean Hannity For Hypocritical ‘Common’ Outrage
This was about Common performing at the White house
I totally agree with you about loving the skin that you are in, many times we conform to the ways of what other people think we should look like, and then we can’t figure out why we feel so unsatisfied with ourselves, that’s because we are not being ourselves, and you can only be someone else for so long…… well said, LaShanda! And also don’t let anyone still your joy, sometimes you have people just waiting to say or do something to make you feel down, because its one thing to have an honest opinion about something, everyone may not agree with your brand, but its the way the try to present or express it that makes it insulting. Keep rocking sista sense!!! God Bless!
Its not unprofessional to look like a black person. I think that if you’re trying to sell an image or a product it is important to look the part. Having your son, who is a beautiful little boy by the way, on the cover with a doo rag might come across as a person who is not serious about their work. I would take the criticism with a grain of salt, please don’t see it as a personal attack. He’s obviously a baby. I would feel the same way if I saw a white woman holding her son on the cover and he has a mullet or a doo rag. You’re obviously an intelligent woman with a business degree so I know you’ll take this as advice, not a personal attack against somebody who is trying to “keep it real.” If more than one person has told you this then maybe you should look within. Especially if you want to reach professional women of color. Much love to you and I wish you much success in your wonderful blog.
Lashanda,
I too say kudos to you and your hard work, it is the content of one’s character and you represent very well. Like the old cliche, don’t judge a book by it’s cover??? We definitely have a lot to learn or shall I say relearn as an African american people. For so long we have allowed society at large to dictate what we should look like, act like, etc. The one thing I will say in regards to the letter writer is I don’t think the comment was a personal attack on your son but as a mother I definitely identify with the emotion it brought out, you had me teary as I watched your video. You are a strong black women who had a vision and made it happen, that’s courageous in and of itself. Keep up the good work.
God Bless
i think you’re great! perhaps an underachiever wouldn’t be accepted in a cap, but if people are impressed, they’re more accepting. but i hate conforming to others’ views too.
i think it’s very depressing to see the way black women are treated in media and thereby treated in reality. for instance, i would like to see (or contribute) article on my view of fact that black women who are married to powerful black men do not get sympathy or mention (and also cannot berate black cheating men) publically when they are mistreated; yet the white woman gets tremendous sympathy and is treated as victim. example; sandra bullock and many many more. i don’t think black women get any victim status.
I once read this quote: “Would you rather be a second class version of someone else or a first class version of yourself.”
Re-posting as previous post had typos. Hope you can delete previous one and post this instead.
Hi LaShanda,
Thanks for sharing this. I read the email that you were responding to and listened to your response (admittedly to about 60% so forgive me if I repeat some of your sentiments). Personally I don’t even think it’s worth wasting energy on matters such as these because it ultimately does deepen the divide. Sometimes we just have to press forward and let our actions speak for themselves.
I do see where the person who sent the email is coming from as far as training our children to be able to navigate the world we live in by knowing when it’s to their benefit to acquiesce to European culture, and when it’s not. However, I think the person was too quick in their judgement, not taking the time to look at the context. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that image on the cover of your magazine because, as you rightfully say, it represents what you are promoting. It’s a beautiful picture of you and your son in what appears to be a home environment radiating the success you have achieved in choosing a different path to career and family success. One that reconciles both instead of those two interests being in conflict, which is what professional women all over world face on a daily basis. Like yourself I’ve chosen a similar path of creating work from home while homeschooling my 7 yr old daughter. If I were to launch a magazine of a similar nature and look for an apt image it would probably be one of my daughter and I enjoying a genuine moment of happiness based on our daily experience of being at home. Chances are my daughter’s thick, beautiful, natural hair would be free-flowing and “un-groomed” because I am not preoccupied with having look like she just stepped out of a hair salon every single day. Would the criticism then be that I am preparing her for failure because her hair is un-kempt, natural, un-groomed, un-done, etc.? I would like to think that, like yourself, I can impart necessary lessons to my daughter, one of which is to understand what’s required of her if she ever needs to go to a job interview (God forbid since this 7 yr old already has a business and another on the way, but hey you never know), while at the same time celebrating our authentic selves, like you are clearly doing on the cover of your magazine.
Like I said, don’t waste your energy. Learn to assess criticism objectively and with little emotion and just keep moving forward with the good work you’re doing.
Hetep!