4 Viral Photos That Focused An Authentic Spotlight On Our Powerful Love for Afros

Crystal Marcelle

The world is watching the simile created by these two talented women from London, student photographer and fashion blogger, Dazhane Leah and Crystal Marcelle, Creative Director of Acure Mag and a Curls AuNaturel Brand Ambassador.  Over a week ago, BBC Radio 5 In Short headline read , 'Flowers are just as beautiful as Afros', a message squeezing into  the spotlight across social media outlets as multiple online magazines like Allure, The Fashion Spot, Buzzfeed and Mashable relay the message. With or without flowers, our hair is beautiful period. 

Dazhane Leah

Inspired to define black power, Leah embarked on a project called "Afro Blooming". She used the stunning and provocative images of Marcelle and laced her loose curls with delicate flowers in bloom. The comparison is perfect. Where else can you find hair that is both delicate and defiant.  In her BBC Radio 5 interview, Leah reveals that hair can be one of the mediums used to empower and celebrate the black experience. You know we totally agree.

However, afros and natural hair on a whole has faced a long history of negativity and rejection from both its owners and non-owners alike. And although the natural hair movement is absolutely at its strongest, there are  still many news stories of women discriminated against because of their hair. 

Leah hopes that by marrying flowers and afros a new perception might emerge. In her Mashable interview, she stated, "Society tells us that our natural, God-given kinks and curls is not 'good hair [...] Natural hair, no matter what way a person decides to wear it should equally fit societies standards of 'Good hair'."

Despite our constant celebration and love for our natural hair, society will be society.  Either way, we praise both Leah and Marcelle for using their creative talent to send a powerful and sustaining message. One of Marcelle's  instagram photos summed it up nicely, "Black power is an awareness of self, a knowledge of your roots and your place in the world. Without that knowledge there is no black power. " Do you agree?

IMAGE: Dazhane Leah