*India Arie continues to champion the natural hair movement, responding to recent remarks made by Michelle Obama about the pressures Black women face to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards, USA Today reports.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, the singer took to Threads to join the conversation sparked by Obama’s comments on the podcast series “The Look.” During a live episode moderated by Tracee Ellis Ross, the former first lady addressed the societal expectations placed on Black women to straighten their hair. “Let me explain something to white people. Our hair comes out of our head naturally in a curly pattern. So when we’re straightening it to follow your beauty standards, we are trapped by the straightness,” she said.
Obama continued, “That’s why so many of us can’t swim. And we run away from the water. People won’t go to the gym because we’re trying to keep our hair straight for y’all. Braids are for y’all so we can work harder and focus on the work.” Obama also referenced the CROWN Act, saying, “So why do we need an act, an act of law to tell white folks to get out of our hair? Don’t tell me how to wear my hair. Don’t wonder about it. Don’t touch it.”
The comments ignited debate online, with Threads user @chanelxocofive criticizing Obama for promoting the idea that Black women “do anything for the white beauty standard.” She wrote: “Dear Michelle Obama, newsflash black women do not straighten their hair because of white peoples beauty standards. As a Curly natural myself most black women straighten their hair because they choose to and it’s easier to manage for them. Let’s drop this narrative that we do anything for the white beauty standard, black women are the true beauty standard. Why get on stage and say that nonsense?”
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India Arie replied to the woman, emphasizing the years of work she and others have put into shifting perceptions of Black hair. “There LITERALLY IS no ‘curl specialist’ job with out the path we laid for you,” she wrote in one reply. The songstress added, “Ive been walking this walk – Publicly- for a long time,” and later reflected, “I did my 25 year bid of trying to help people awaken. Maybe the path we layed made it too easy to walk down.”
In response to the post, one Threads user wrote, “Lord, they dragged The India Arie out of her peace to address peasants. She made a whole song, probably before this girl was a twinkle in anyone’s eyes.” Another added, “Black women built the natural hair movement from the ground UP. These new curl influencers acting brand new need to realize they walkin’ on a path WE paved.” A third person commented, “Imagine arguing with the queen that helped me love my own Natural hair 20 something years ago. The audacity!”
India Arie’s commitment to hair empowerment has been evident in her music for a long time. “I Am Not My Hair,” a track from her 2006 album “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship,” explores themes of identity and self-worth, asserting that a person’s value is not defined by their hairstyle or appearance.
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