On November 4 Bill de Blasio was elected New York’s newest mayor by a landslide (73%), but throughout the campaign it was his lovely family that caught the public’s eye. Bill de Blasio has been married to Chirlane McCray, a Wellesley college alum and former political speechwriter, for 19 years. They have two children, Chiara, 18, and Dante, 16. Chirlane and Chiara both have locs, and Dante rocks an impressive fro. Chirlane and Chiara are the kind of black woman we see too little of on TV and in mainstream culture — intelligent, beautiful and fully comfortable in their natural beauty. There is something deeply encouraging about this family being visible on a national political stage.
Are there any New Yorkers out there? How do you feel about New York’s new first family?
97 Responses
Can’t stop smiling. I am happy for New York and America. Proud native New Yorker. A picture does speak a thousand words and all the negative comments in the world will not take all the positive thoughts away from this picture. Simply Beautiful!!!
Wasn’t she supposed to be a lesbian?lol
Why is this still being talked about?
Shes not the first black woman to say she is lesbian. I had a coworker in her 20s,dark skin,and wearing the same hair style as his wife here. Told me shes thinking about going lesbian! A dark skin coworker who she had a crush on was not looking at her slim dark natural sweet looking self, but the white girl with rolls,two chins and she caught this one day. Sad part was the white guys were trying to get her attention one was going to the army and was hurt she was off so he missed her. All this attention even from some Asians and these guys were in school! Yet the dark skin guy who is not in school, chasing after moby dick made her want to be a lesbian.
Lol “Moby Dick” lol well aside from the fat shaming part, I agree with your post, because a lot of black men often over look good looking black women, due to their own ignorance and insecurity. However I just don’t buy that she ” turned lesbian” over a man? As the coined phrase goes, “One does not just…turn lesbian”
Here we are in the 21st century and we are still stuck on this light skin/dark skin drama. Geez! Can’t we just accept the fact that regardless of our obvious differences of opinion on the subject, we are still beautiful regardless and stop it with the ‘he’s not all black, not black enough, too light, too dark, not dark enough, married a white woman, didn’t marry a black woman, blah, blah, blah, etc.? If a successful black man married a white/latino/Asian woman we criticize. If he does marry a black woman and she happens to look more white or other, we criticize that. If he marries a darker skinned sister, some of us question the motives behind that. If he’s bi-racial and marries a black woman they don’t count as a black couple because he’s bi-racial. If he’s bi-racial and marries a white woman then he’s saying we’re not good enough to marry. And the list goes on and on. The subject of the article was about the recently elected mayor of NYC and his family, and suddenly there’s a lot of back and forth about the light skin/dark skin thing. Why does all of this still matter to so many of us in 2013?
Thank you. I don’t think that it should matter. Fall in love with the person, not the skin color, and don’t worry about what anybody else is falling in love with.
They are a wonderful looking family!!
Why the hell is everything about race and color? What a beautiful family they are and yet so many comments are about their family racial makeup. Talking about if he were a black man he’d have a white woman,that the father is rubbing his son’s afro just for the cameras.Can it be possible that they love each other and are truly happy? Black women need to stop being so negative and angry and wonder what we can do to better ourselves.We can start by stop going out in public with sleep caps on our heads.Then maybe we can start worrying about other peoples business!!
Wow! Look, if black women need to stop worrying about race, then so do some black men. Why do women like you, always ignore the fact that black men can be just as racial as black women? Why do you only beat up black women for focusing on color? When you see black men focus on color just as much? You can wear blinders all you please, but facts remain, most successful black men nowadays marry non black women. Of course black women take notice, because we are conditioned to marry black, tend to be loyal to.black men. Why can’t we notice this white man married to a black woman his OWN age? What is good, is that many black women stop being angry about. Black men leaving for Becky, and explore their options too. Black men who are successful “arrive” and get with white,. So it is good to see a black woman not limit herself to one race. Duh what world are you living in? Dam denial is not just a river in Egypt! You mammies are all alike, always defending black men, when they generally can’t stand you? They would never defend you? So why defend them? At the end of the day it boils down to who you love.And we can see that the Mayor of New York is in love with his wife.
I wasn’t defending Black men in anyway. I was just saying saying that Black women need to stop being so angry about everything. As for me being a mammie, my husband of 29 years is Irish,from Ireland and we have five gorgeous daughters. I have lived all over Europe and I don’t worry about who loves who.
I think it’s time to move on. Being angry (and you are clearly very angry) does not make anyone seem a more attractive prospect. Take responsibility for yourself, your actions, and emotions. Date outside the race if you want to. Many people are “conditioned” to find natural hair unattractive, but you are breaking out of that cycle and that is great. Do the same with this and don’t let it consume you.
Well said.
I’m happy. We have a beautiful NY first family but De Blasio seems to have great concern for public school education. He said his son is in one.
Good for them, good for New York, Good for America. It is what it is folks! Race is the biggest myth perpetrated and accepted. Humans are drawn to people not a race. We should no longer be surprised that people with different skin tones, hair, and cultures marry one another. That is all it is people, skin, hair and cultures. We are more alike then different. And let’s face black and white Americans have a lot in common. I like to see the nuclear family together no matter what the skin tone.
Jesse that was perfect, lol. William read b4 u make comments
**CUE ‘THE JEFFERSON’S’ THEME MUSIC** So-called black people are always getting USED. Black people are so damn simple and easily manipulated. These are images! Even if this is his ‘family’, keep in mind that he just USED his beloved ‘family’ and their blackness for PR and a huge photo OPPORTUNITY. Simple azz women are proud of OTHER people’s families and simple niggaz are proud of white people’s families. SMH On a side note, WHO IN THE HELL DIGS INTO SOMEBODY’S AFRO LIKE THAT?? WHY would this father mess-up his son’s perfectly coiffed afro at an event as public as this? OH! For the cameras, I see. He is a politician. Don’t think for a moment he didn’t know exactly what he was doing — even if his ‘family’ is too dense to figure it out.
GET SOME THERAPY!
What the heck are you talking about? That is family of TWO DECADES!! Men and women hug people by the head all the time. Do you think that’s his first time doing that to HIS son?? And I’m sure there were many pictures of them hugging but the media (BGLH) chose to show this one — for a reason and that reason is to stir ignorant comments like yours. Dads, moms, grandparents and other family members are notorious for messing up their children’s hair while showing affection, no on is thinking about hair at such an exciting time ESPECIALLY NOT MEN (whether black, white or orange).
I do acknowledge that the unique diversity of his family has probably given him an advantage; the same way our BIRACIAL U.S. PRESIDENTS’ black family gave him an advantage with Blacks as well.
However I condemn your statements implying that this man married a black woman and had kids with her as a PR stunt. Why can’t he just love his Black woman?? Why can’t he touch his child’s fro??? It was his loins that made the little boy in the first place!
Wait, don’t y’all know? This is all a conspiracy going back to when Bill de Blasio was a single man more than twenty years ago. He thought to himself, “I want to be the mayor of NEW YORK!!” With this in mind, he sought out the nearest black woman so that he could hopefully have a son with an afro. “THEN,” he thought enthusiastically, “I will grab his afro. Yes, YES! It will make the PERFECT photo op. This will somehow make me win the election.” Yes, just ignore the fact that there was an actual campaign and the people of New York voted for this man by a landslide. It was totally because of this scheme to have a biracial child. Yea, nevermind love, chance, or happiness.
Spot on Jesse! And to continue your conspiracy when he was born in MA he set his eyes on conquering NYC, while his wife’s family moved to MA but planned for them to meet in NYC while working for Mayor Dinkins.
this made me laugh out LAUT!
Plus LOL again!
Lol On point Jesse!
You’re thick.
Dear JustLeavingaComment,
What is really bothering you? Is it the fact that me put his hand in his son’s afro hair? Or, that he is a white man married to a black woman. So he married a black woman in anticipation of advancing his political career 19 years later. Snap out of it already!
WHAT…THE…????
Who hurt you?
Too funny!
Oh pipe down foo. My white Jewish step dad used to RELAX and braid my hair, when he was at home on the weekend. My mom’s white Italian partner did blow outs better than any Dominican,:-)black girl or gay dude I EVER SAW. Some white people enjoy doing and touching our hair, so don’t be so shocked. My dad gave my brothers afros head noogies all the time!
That was FUNNY! “Who is the hell digs into somebody’s afro like that??” OMG – I’m still laughing. I certainly take it that he sure in the hell wouldn’t be diggin’ in yo afro like that.
Maybe he likes the feel of his son’s afro?
LOL….I know, right?
First of all, I can’t believe that people are still talking about this story. Secondly, when has has a candidate, running for any office, who wins, has not had his family at his/her side. Why is this such a big deal?
Man you read my mind. How did you do that?????
Exactly.
this made me feel so warm on the inside!
Took a white man to proudly take them there because if it were a black guy he he probably would have been with Latin or white
People don’t want to the see or hear the truth when it’s in ‘black & white”..
Some part of me agrees with ur statement.
Yes Renee speak on what we see too often.
This new family is so refreshing to see.
I agree 2cent, I was thinking the same thing. I mean, why ignore the obvious, ya’ll know most powerful black men only want white women or something close to it.
Omg, I just learned that Michelle Obama is white -_-
Some people to stop listening/watching Black Hollywood and those consistently on Social Media.
Not just black Hollywood, this is black men with any modicum of success, however, they’ve acquired it. For so many black men success equals fair skin. That’s the value system. One counter-example, Michelle Obama, doesn’t make it any less prevalent.
There are many black men in positions of power with black wives. Here are a few: Kenneth Chenault (CEO of AmEx), Steve Davis (CEO of Bob Evans), Jesse Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., Al Sharpton (former and current) Senator Mo Cowan, Former Senator Roland Burris, House of Rep. John Conyers, House of Rep. Charles Rangel, former Congressmen Kendrick Meek, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Lawrence Fishburne, Jay-Z, Forest Whitticker, Terry Crews, Spike Lee.
Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Samuel l Jackson, Kevin Durant, Morris Chestnut, Chis Rock….
I’m really not trying to be snarky, but fair skin doesn’t necessarily mean white skin. I don’t find any value in pretending that successful black men don’t have a marked preference for fair skinned black women.
You are mentioning black men who are also 55 plus or ALMOST 55 plus. Black people used to marry each other, but lately there are a great deal of financially successful black men marrying white women…Nothing bothers me about that, because black women should believe they have options too. However lets not ignore the obvious.
Yes but I lived in a poor white area about. 11/2 years ago while I was finishing school, and guess who all the FEW black guys in that little racist white town dated? They dated meth head white chicks with nothing going for them. Oh there were black girls they COULD date, they just preferred white skin. That little town has been on the map lately and even on CNN where those boys shot that baseball player you know. I know the dad of one of those boys, And even though I know one of the black shooters ONLY! EXCLUSIVELY dated nothing but white females, he still got on twitter and talked about how much he hates ” white people” So you are either mixed. (raised mostly around whites) like me or some clueless white person? Even though I’m mixed I know how 89% of black men do black women. Lets not ignore the obvious.
I would not want to date those types of BM anyway. Were you upset because broke, druggie, no prospects BM were dating WW. Its not about you…its not about BW when BM date WW, why does it matter to so many of you.
I thought it was weird. I never said it bothered me because I never wanted their men. I was puzzled as to why these women would go on drugs and date clownish, ridiculous men? I also noticed them with a lot of alcoholics who were Mexicans? I was even more shocked at the fact that there were so many white women addicted to meth, and how they almost always were drawn to the worst black men? There had to be a connection? Btw I married two white men myself, but I would never have married ANYONE who was without a job. I enjoy other qualities in a man besides the obvious. . But these white women were just looking for these black men to hustle them drugs because they know a lot of black men will do ANYTHING for them. Where as the same black men will call you nappy headed and ugly because you’re black. It is interesting, but doesn’t bug me. I’m fascinated that there is this connection with white female, fat drug addicts and black men? My best friend is white, she is married to a good black man. She could be with a good green man and it wouldn’t bother me.
Barack took … Michelle to D.C…. You fail
No YOU FAIL, because everyone’s pretty much done with the conversation and those who live in a delusional mind set at all times. Barack is not the best example. He is black AND white.
He may be black and white, but if he’d married and taken ‘Becky’ from Idaho to the White House instead of ‘Chelle from the south side of Chicago, you probably would have questioned his decision to not marry a Black woman since he is ‘half’ Black.
You say “probably” but you can’t say for sure can you? You “FAIL” Potus coulda married a panda, but he is cool so I still would like him. He says he “self identifies” as being black. However genetically he is not. So therefore he is not the best example, most of his influences growing up were strong white men. Remember his crazy dad skipped out and had lots of women. Barack got his “man rearing” from his non black older family authorities. This is why he valued marriage and wasn’t anti family like 80% of black men.
And no I wouldn’t have questioned. We all know why rich, powerful black men prefer Becky. But like I stated Mr. President is mixed.
Black women love IR dating and marriage EXCEPT when it involves Black men. That’s why most BW worship Kerry Washington’ character Olivia bc she bends over for WM. Judging by these ridiculous comments re Black men it’s clear most BW are straight up haters.
I’m very excited for this new era in the city. de Blasio’s platform presented sound alternatives to what we experienced with billionaire-limit-soda size- ignore term limits – mayor Bloomberg for the last 12 years. I made calls for his campaign on behalf of my union the UFT.
I’m fairly conservative so I’m not 100% with him politically, but I’m still very happy to see this family in the limelight! They seem loving and happy, and Dante’s fro is really impressive!! This is significant because we need more well-spoken black women out there. I just read something that says for the umpteenth time that black women are not seen as desirable by men compared to other ethnicities, and I think at least part of it is that being such a minority some men’s only idea of black women is from the media where we don’t always get a fair shake. So anyway, I don’t think a person should elect an official based on appearance, but I appreciate this family being the face of a big city and I wish them well!
Just Beautiful!!!
wow, I love the second picture of the dad hugging the son’s fro. and I love how his parents let him keep his fro and wear it BIG for elections! I trust my African parents, they would have asked for him to shave it off.
This is a great example for those out there who are considering a political career or any “public” career and thinks their hair would be the centre of attention and it should be straightened.
Listen, the texture of your hair doesn’t affect your capability as a leader, it’s what’s underneath it that does!
themanecaptain.blogspot.ca
I am assuming all the people commenting negativity about this guys politics don’t realize that this is a natural hair / beauty blog. So our excitement is pertaining to the families natural hair, save the political talk for the left & right wing pundit blogs…
By the way I 100% here for the family and all of the natural hair!!
William, hon, the new Mayor is a White Man. And it flew over your head anyway. Umm sit down and hush. 🙂
His son and his afro won him that election- deBlasio came from way behind-at one point it looked like Christine Quinn would win the democratic primary (?) Dante’s ad did it for deBlasio- the black son of a white candidate in a city with a pervasive “stop and frisk” policy.
I literally dragged my butt out of bed and with kids in tow(4,7) I went down and voted for this man BECAUSE he and his family look like mine and it was awesome to see that realness. Oh and I agreed with his political points too lol.
http://www.kinksandall.com
They are gorgeous! What a beautiful family. His speech was very moving and full of energy. It will be interesting to see what he does as mayor. Best wishes to the whole family and to NYC!
I’m not ashamed to say that I was extremely moved when I saw the picture of the family whilst travelling on the London Underground yesterday………..
Lovely family, but does it mean he’ll be a great leader? I don’t get this American obsession about the personal lives of politicians.
did anyone say he automatically would because of the way his family looks?
This is a natural hair blog and we appreciate all the natural hair beauty his family displays. We are obsessing over that. Also, he seemed to be a great councilman so I am certain he will be continue to be a great leader as NY’s mayor, moving along.
Very valid point Antonio — I also hope de Blasio is a great leader… THEN I can be very proud of this whole scenario… for everyone gushing, what if his policies are complete shyte? wouldn’t that profoundly negate what we are perceiving right now? With all due respect, politics can be a dirty dirty game, don’t lose your beautiful heads by a few pics & what seems to be a pleasant package…
well, I see rational thinking is completely out the window… they *do* look wonderful… ::sigh::
Antonio is absolutely right. While this family is beautiful and i fully agree that they are changing the standards of beauty and class, it really should have no bearing on his political ability… But let’s be honest i know a lot of people who probably only voted for him because his wife is black.
“But let’s be honest i know a lot of people who probably only voted for him because his wife is black.”
So tired of this rhetoric.Sigh….
But let’s say some black/or other ppl did vote for him b/c of his wife’s blackness, so what? How often has a black first lady even been an option in the US? Why do ppl act as if black folks can’t be both politically aware and vote according to our personal taste? IF his wife were white and still had the same social justice/feminist/womanist background, I have no doubt he still would have been elected..
But don’t some people vote for white leaders just because their white. What’s your point?
…and I know that there were individuals who would not have voted for him because she is black. On election day I had an interesting chat with a coworker who lives on LI (Long Island) and she said that she would have voted for his opponent because of his policies. As an educator I am excited at the prospect of UPK (Universal Pre K), which Mr. de Blasio would like to implement. Yet this person could not “see” the benefit in that policy, despite the fact that we work in a challenging school. Go figure!
antonio you just don’t get it.
this post has nothing to do with leadership.
Antonio then don’t try to get it. Find something else to do and sure there are other things that may interest you.
I love them and the best part is his son’s afro is what got him the attention, when Dante did the commercial for his dad everyone was like hold up even my mothet was like you have to see this commercial…who says that natural hair is not influential and powerful !
congratulations to the DeBlasio family on your big win, you guys ROCK. Times are changing and the natural hair movement is accelerating. I wear my hair natural and loving it. What I like to see now is that African americans that do wear their natural in the work place be accepted for their talent not for how they choose to wear their hair. not get fired or force them to make a choice to keep their job if they don’t cut off their locs. I have seen well dressed men and women with naturals and locs and still carry themselves in a professional manner. we live in a multicultural city and people from all ethinic backgrounds make this city what it is.
As a relocated New Yorker its good to see a new look for my hometown. Love the healthy hair!!!
I absolutely love Dante’s afro. That is the kind of afro that I am trying to cultivate.
Very gorgeous family! I love the natural hair and unique names. Proof that we don’t have to assimilate to succeed! Go head first family!
This is the best thing that happened this week. I’m in love with this family. I live in upstate NY and I’d stayed up watching this family win the election. Very encouraging to see and gives me hope.
I love how he’s holding the son’s fro in that picture!!
Me too<3!!
There are many out there who roll their eyes and don’t understand what the big deal is.
They don’t get why I, and many natural black women like myself, care so much about seeing a public family like this.
It’s because we’re changing the perception of beauty in this country.
That’s a big deal, especially when we’ve been told our whole lives we’re not a part of that idea of beauty.
We’re doing it slowly, and steadily.
And when we see this family, we know it’s working.
One kink, afro, curl, and loc at a time.
The revolution WILL be televised, ladies.
Great response! I also think it’s changing the perception of intelligence and what is professional. I am fascinated by Chirlane. She is a fiercely intelligent woman! I hope this begins to put to rest the idea that natural hair is “not professional” or you “can’t get ahead” with natural hair. It’s what’s in the head, not on it, that counts.
I wanted to like your comment 1000 times!
People just don’t get it. We’ve been told (not necessarily literally) our whole lives that beauty is the exact opposite of what we are. It’s been damaging to our community and self-esteem. We are finally realizing how beautiful we are without trying to change everything about ourselves.
It’s a big deal.
I don’t understand why people are excited for this.
The reasons:
1. I am not from New York and know nothing about these people.
2. The article is written horribly and contains no meaningful information about the people. It does not even define what is meant by the phrase “All Natural.”
This article tells me only a few thingss:
1. A black man was elected mayor of New York by a large margain.
2. He has a family of four (all members of which are also black).
3. His wife went to Wellesley.
4. They’ve been married 19 years.
5. They have three kids of various ages and hair-styles.
6. These people are “all natural,” whatever that means. I assume it means they don’t wear makeup, but this is not made explicit.
Even if I am correct, I wasn’t able to guess that until I read the part about “beauty.” You shouldn’t have to read to the end of an article to be able to even have a good shot at guessing what the headline means. At first I thought that the headline referred to their consuming only natural food.
So, I’m not excited. I’m confused. I’ll be heading to Google to research these people and see if I should be excited about them.
!. He is not black (so clearly did not read properly.
2. Natural is african american women or of that ethniicity who hair is not permed.
Maybe if you actually gained knowledge about things you wouldnt be so lost in this article. If you actually gained knowlege just from the title you would have been able to tell what the article was about before you even read it. And also nothing wrongwith not knowing, but there is something wrong with not even taking the time to at least google what you dont know. Instead you jumped to assumptions. In the end everything is about knowing and not knowing.. Take some time to get to know.
You have a point that I should have noticed what site I was on… sorry about that. I did not “stumble” here but was linked by a friend who is usually posting about things like wome’ns rights, global warming, and eating organic. Usually her posts are from sources like the New York Times and similar news outlets.
I mistook this site for a news site when it is actually a human-interest site, apparently.
So, while I still believe that I am correct that this would be poor journalism (proper journalism makes itself explicit and does not require you to squint at a picture to decide the mayor-elect’s race if it’s at issue), I suppose I was in the wrong for expecting journalism on what I now understand to be a human-interest site.
Uhmmmm…William, you didnt know you ‘stumbled’ on a NATURAL HAIR site entitled BGLH (Black girl long hair)?
IF BEING NATURAL MEANT ANYTHING TO YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE IMMADIATELY KNOWN WHAT THE ARTICLE WAS HINTING AT. THE WEBSITE IS CALLED BLACK GIRLS WITH LONG HAIR SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS NOT ABOUT FOOD. AND IF YOU CANT PICK OUT CORRECT FACTS BY READING AND VIEWING (HE HAS TWO KIDS AND AS SHOWN IN THE PICK, THE MAN IS CLEARLY WHITE) THEN WE DON’T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE INFERENTIAL. WHEN YOU STUMBLE ON ARTICLES ONLINE, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING THAT YOU CANT RELATE TO, DON’T JUST MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT IT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOUR NOT THE AUDIENCE IT IS BEING WRITTEN FOR.
You are TOTALLY CLUELESS, from another country or planet, or are just trying to be rude. You must have some idea, otherwise why are you here on a natural hair site ?!
TROLL
You didn’t even bother to look at the picture if that is what you got from the article. It’s definitely not a detailed article, but if you looked past anything but the headline, you would get more information that you claimed to have received. Pretty sure my dog understood more about this article than you have appeared to.
Ugh! This is only one of the most talked about elections this year. William, if you are so lost on your political news that none of the above makes sense to you, I suggest you actually open those New York Times links that your friend posts. I suggest you read them. Read them carefully. Your lack of political awareness is sad. Your arrogance despite your political stupidity and overall dense nature is appalling.
Absolutley beautiful couple and family–LOVE!!
I am just plain in love with this family!!! Beautiful family and you can just see the love!!!
I agree, great pictures!!