by
Christina Patrice
Viral blogger and BFF in everyone’s head Luvvie Ajayi bowed out of June and came into July swinging with a series of tweets aka “Twitter Rant” on the silence of Black Beauty Bloggers in the wake of recent unrest and terrorism against black churches and communities.
Some read the tweets and got all in their feelings, likely out of a sense of guilt or personal conviction. Others grabbed some popcorn, pulled up a seat, and watched Luvvie come for edges in 140 characters or less.
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616094347600068609
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616094475593461761
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616094678576816128
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616095123084939264
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616095302299160576
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616095592716984320
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616095708953776128
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616096149238210560
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616096547177009152
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616096689984647168
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616096815750885376
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616096995590078466
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616097185915109376
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616097314357161984
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616097432099663872
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616097845599297536
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616098340976001025
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616098583876538368
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616098758384730112
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616099138183102464
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616099474025218048
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616099634486743040
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616099903622623233
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616100443005956096
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/616101215181471744
Phew!! There’s a lot more, but we’re including just the beginning of the rant, which went on for some time. You can see the whole thing here.
What do you ladies think? Was Luvvie being unrealistic in her expectations of Black Beauty Bloggers, or is her rant justified? Sound off in the comments!
26 Responses
I understand why people say silent. A lot of times; you cant freely express your opinion without the Black community going HAM if you don’t meet the criteria for black respectability politics. Look at Kendrick Lamar; people went HAM on what he said about Black violence in a magazine. He answered a question from HIS personal perspective; but Black people seem to think Black Celebs speak for the entire Black community. That’s a lot of pressure; to not “mess up”. Who wants to deal with that? You’re damned if you do damned if you don’t. At least if you don’t say anything; people can’t throw it back in your face.
This comment sounds like a load of stupidity. Even if beauty bloggers are just beauty bloggers, the black ones in particular should show support for the readers that helped to build them up. On top of that, we as blacks need to start making noise in the most effective manner possible to show people that we matter. Our silence is no better than us saying it is okay to kill us off or that we do not care at the very least.
On a side note, why should it take a paycheck for anyone to stand up for themselves? The depth of stupidity could probably justify that comment.
First off, respect me. Idgaf what you think, I’m for my people. I’m defending beauty bloggers. Second, hop off my comment. Take several seats, have you ever talked to any of these beauty bloggers? I have. A lot say that they aren’t saying anything because they aren’t gonna do what people like you want them to do. A lot are doing things to help, but just because they don’t wanna post about it you’re upset? Bye
Get your own comment
Yes! This also reminds me of the Dominican beauty bloggers who were surprisingly silent during the whole ‘ethnic cleansing’ of dark Blacks (Haitians, Dominicans etc) from DR. I noticed that some simply chose to vacate their site for a few days after, whilst some, brazenly, continued to gram or tweet their new latest curly do, or their latest lipstick colour. Nice. I pretty much stopped following all those ladies who refused to say a damn thing about anything when they clearly have a platform. And please don’t suggest they’re beauty bloggers and nothing else. Escapism? Please! I mean, not even a tweet, or a quote, or anything. Really?! Scared, bought and paid for, and tragic, with selective amnesia, is not someone I can even begin to respect. May need to get that seen to, sweetheart!
As I have just said on the Wall Street photographs .sisters have been standing up with their black man since beginning of time. we have the Crips and bloods we should have them for protection. they should be protecting their people .I’m a 62year-old black male .back in the day it be going down behind all this bullshit. you see what we did with sticks and stones if we had the guns y’all got today .no telling what would happen. love you sis making a noise like Angela Davis did back in the day . And for all of us older black people we need to start doing like the Palestinians sis do you know when you get close to that day if you’re able you going to die anyway blow up some shit just a thought for the struggle that’s the only thing he understand .they know don’t be making no cartoons about Mohammed. its going to be consequences
Luvvie is one of THE MOST successful black bloggers out there. Why? Because she has maintained her INTEGRITY despite of whom she has worked for or with. Alot of these beauty bloggers need to be sitting at her feet and taking notes. She is showing you how it’s done!
P.s. For those beauty bloggers who aren’t aware, black churches and black hair salons/barbershops have been safe havens for black progression/black thought/networking and leadership, from the Reconstruction era to the modern day. If you don’t know your own history, get to researching. Black beauty has always been political. ALWAYS.
-Camille E Reed
Owner, Noire Salon
http://www.noiredesignconcepts.com
I keep up with as much news events as possible. I felt everything the young lady was tweeting about only I would give the beauty bloggers a benefit of a doubt. Like Camille said they may not have the words or sentiments for current events affecting our community. Some may feel discouraged to the point of not responding. There are ‘ blogs (Joulezy’s Smart Brown Girl, Black Girl Long Hair-good work!, and Issa Rae’s channel on YouTube-Check out Leslie Tell It series) that include current events and other info that is vital for us to know, to be aware.
Honestly, I feel that we as a community are so behind. Other communities know how to mobilize and get stuff done. If we go back and look at history (we have endured so much and look at the Civil Rights demonstrations) and see how far we have come, I think we can stop being so divisive and change society’s views on us, make them know that we matter.
They are BEAUTY BLOGGERS. Okay, don’t matter if they are black & things are going on. Who is she to get upset? How about she mind her dang business. They are grown women, just because these women are providing an escape from the chaos don’t mean they aren’t hurt. Like dang y’all love to be in other folks business & judge because you think you’re right. Like I said, they’re grown & if I was grown, I’m not letting another grown woman who not providing me a check dictate me. Nu uh honey!
There have been soooooo many people of different races that have been silent about the church shooting and burnings. Imagine if this was a white church burned down by muslims or just nonwhites. Alot of black celebs who said not a word about police brutality, cop shootings, etc. were all up in Social media celebrating gay marriage being legalized. I see you.
Hell, black churches in the south are still dealing with domestic TERRORISM, churches are still burning but the media has BEEN SILENT. Like even though people were massacred just awhile ago, they still will not give the ongoing problem attention.
I’m telling you since Ferguson until now, this country, the media and so many people have been exposed for their true views on blacks. Post-racial society my ass. Black lives do NOT matter in this country, they don’t and it’s a travesty. I barely have the energy or interest to celebrate 4th of July. It’s just been too much.
I don’t agree. Fashion and beauty are more of an escapist type thing. We all know what happened, but we need to be reading the news or following more political bloggers. Not everyone has a talent for mixing the two, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care. My heart sinks a little every time I see those types of stories. I can only take so much news and murder at a time.
I agree. I think, because what Luvvie Ajayi does is largely political, even her comedy, she doesn’t understand that the BW who are these beauty bloggers bread and butter don’t want to be constantly reminded of what they already know. It may not even occur to her. Fashion and beauty are escapist activities for women, and we should be allowed that. Does she really think that we don’t know what is going on in our own country?? And why is it always up to BW to be at the forefront of racial/political issues, despite having far less political and social clout and support than BM?
Im feelin everything she said, I thought I was trippin too. The vast majority of people who follow black beauty bloggers are black themselves so for them the hand that feeds them are the very people who are being targeted. And dont get me started, cuz if any of these Silent Bobs did that Ice Bucket Challenge…Even those who have endorsements, I cant respect the silence. Your people built your brand but your people are being killed because of race and not even a fist pump, a moment of silence, a flag in the background, nothing, wow.
You better say it! Everyone was so quick to jump on the Ice Bucket Challenge yet this warrants silence? sigh….it goes to show they are really just about putting on a face and not keeping it real like a lot of them like to say.
I don’t agree with her…some people want to run separate lives. Mother and wife at home, chief at work, beauty blogger on social networks, activist in an association.
Beauty blogging at least for natural hair vloggers is already a form of activism as it restores curly and coily women true self and confidence.
Some bloggers may not have spoken only because they think that their blog or YT channel is not the place to do so but may have signed a pétition, taught their children, protested in the streets. We don’t know it all. We shouldn’t judge. We can not all be heroes, leaders etc…I don’t think that it’s fair to say that bloggers are only drive by branding and money or am I too naïve ?
Throwing up a hashtag acknowledging that a tragedy happened doesn’t make you an “activist”, but it’s a hell of a lot better than sticking your head in the sand because you want to “run separate lives”.
Whether or not it’s affecting their content, it’s affecting THEM as black women. Wanting to have a place to yourself and a place to escape to is great, but there are some things you can’t escape.
You’re right. They could’ve done something outside of YT to show support that we don’t know about, but seeing as a lot of beauty bloggers are more than willing to talk about trivial topics that have nothing to do with their beauty content (celebrity gossip, mainly), they should be willing to at least give a hashtag acknowledgement for tragic crap that has happened and that is a DIRECT attack on THEM as black people.
…yes, you’re maybe being a bit so. This natural hair movement is a money-spinner for some.
Exactly! by her reasoning…every black person who works in corporate america..or any job should be taking the opportunity to “raise awareness”. Let us not judge..we all do what we can. Sure, some blogger use their platforms for those purposes, and I appreciate it , but for those who don’t..thats okay, so long as you doing something in unity.
I can’t say she doesn’t have a point cause she truly does.
Unfortunately the 20% of the black beauty bloggers on the net won’t hardly make an impact, but I get what she’s saying and see her point!
that’s funny cuz im one person with 0 followers and im makin an impact so…
She’s so right about this!
Well, I’m not going to knock anyone that has a platform that provides them with food and shelter and refuses to bite the hand that feeds them. However, I will say that, I too get annoyed by the silence, but remember self-preservation is a form of resistance too. I think its more important that these people are actually conscious of these issues and the systematic oppression that people of color face. I prefer silence from “woke” colored people than noise from uncle toms. In other words, I can understand where her frustrations are coming from, but I can also sympathize with the beauty bloggers. Not everyone has Balls to be bold and stand firm in their truth…and that’s okay..because there are people who are…Just saying.
I get what you’re saying but how socially conscious is someone if they are more concerned about alienating people/making a dollar than speaking truth?. Sometimes it can’t be all about an individual, it has to be about community.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” MLK Jr.
I agree with you for the most part. All I’m saying is that not every black person need use their professional platforms to advance their personal agendas. Frankly, not everyone who is “conscious” would make good public speakers on the issue and that’s okay. Speaking on controversial issues is not everyone’s strength. After all, they are Beauty bloggers, not civil activists.
The hand that feeds them are their own people because the majority of their followers are black and ones that are popular and have endorsements today can have all that ended in a matter of days if enough people stop following or unsubscribe etc. Endorsements only go to those who have a big enough following aka enough black hands to like and click. it is horrible because this silence allows people like Christian Scrivens to feel it is okay to be friends with a racist because he/she has not said anything to you. Even though you see what’s on his/her car and on their jackets. I for one and my brother/ssister’s keeper.
Well, the hands that feeds them are the sponsoring corporations who are cutting them a check–lets be clear about that. If the sponsors don’t like the girl, they don’t care if she has 100k subbies…there will always be other black bloggers who rather not use their platform for politics and mix their profession with their personal. Nonetheless, I get what you are saying, I’m merely saying that one cannot expect every black person with some influence to use it to advance their personal agendas. Not everyone is a Deray, Bree, or any other social activist. Additionally, just because someone is not doing something in the public eye, does not mean they are not making a difference. For example, people where critical of Beyonce for not “speaking up” against police brutality…but how many knew she was paying people’s bail in Bmore? Again, all I’m saying is that i think we, as people, should not be so critical of others who have to safeguard their livelihood…Self preservation is a form of resistance…we all have a part to play and so long as we do what we can or feel empowered to do…im here for it.