Actress Viola Davis arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2012 in Hollywood
*Journalist Allison Samuels posted a lengthy piece on The Daily Beast this morning about the significance of Viola Davis wearing her natural hair to the Oscars.
“Whether she knows it or not (she does), Viola Davis made Sunday night at the Oscars a teachable moment, giving the world a crash course in the ever-complicated politics of African-American hair,” began Samuels in her article “Why Viola Davis Ditched the Wig at the Oscars.”
Samuels continues:
Davis, a Best Actress nominee for The Help, arrived at the awards ceremony in a stunning emerald-colored gown and a natural curly Afro, instantly lifting the lid from the bubbling pot of anger, judgment, and debate often directed toward African-American women and the varying states of their textured tresses.
Through the most of awards season, Davis had donned a dizzying array of wigs and hairpieces to complement her tasteful choice of vibrant-hued cocktail dresses and elegant evening gowns. Many were attractive enough, but some of the follicle support had appeared stiff, ill-fitted, and aging to her lean frame and glowing ebony skin.
“She looked younger and more vibrant on Oscar night,” says Karen Mitchell, owner of New York’s popular True Indian Hair. “Her wigs weren’t that great, and it was clear she needed a custom-fitted wig and style that worked better for her face.”
The actress’s long, public journey with her hair is certainly a familiar story in the African-American community. In fact, it’s so familiar that in the days leading up to the Oscars, black Hollywood found itself actively debating whether Davis would in fact “de-wig” and go natural for Hollywood’s biggest night.
Like many women and most African-American women, Davis learned long ago that hair can be either a tremendous source of pride and confidence or an all-too-frustrating beauty burden that chips away at one’s self-esteem over time.
Read the entire article here.
Right on! I appreciate this piece because it echoes some of the same things I was thinking as they zoomed in and out on her beauty. And she was indeed Beautiful! The funny thing is I don’t even watch awards shows anymore for various reasons (I won’t even get into here) but she and Octavia was why I watched a show with so many racial-sexist-homosexual undertones the whole night– the only reason why. When I saw Viola rockin’ that natural I couldn’t have felt more proud…proud of her and proud for her and also proud for all the sisters out there that probably felt more validated because they saw someone who spoke for them just by Being there…naturally. Oh, and Black women should never think any additional validation is ever needed– Being yourSelf, the Self God created is and always will be valid. As for Viola – umh, she’s gorgeous – regardless of not getting an Oscar, that nite she won more than she may know.
I must agree. She looked amazing… The sister made me proud!
Thank you, Viola!!!! Fake hair doesn’t suit some folks and she looks great!!!!!!!
Hunh? I glanced over the pic cuz I didn’t even recognize who she was.
Hell, I didn’t even know she wore wigs but always felt she looked shitty w/that shiny ass hair!
She actually looks really good here and should be ashamed of herself for not doing this sooner! WTMF!
I had thought to myself, it would be great if she won for best actress with that natural hair. She didn’t win the award, but she did win props for bringing natural to the Oscars. Kudos!
Simply gorgeous Viola Davis! Lets not forget Whoopi Goldberg was in the natural too when she won her award. No heavy make up, her hair was very much in the natural and I love it. Miss Hattie McDaniel didn’t have the features of Lena Horne or Dorothy Dandridge, she accepted her award with what God gave her too.
beautiful!
That look really does become her. Hopefully she notices all the compliments and will allow all this praise to inform her look going forward.
The wigs always made her look so different, even fake, and not well-put-together. If she must wear wigs in the future (she said she would when Oprah interviewed her), hopefully she will find a stylist who can get her better quality ones.
She looks absolutely beautiful! The hair and the dress are perfect! This hairstyle suits her so much better!
Absolutly breathtaking You go girl!!!!!!!
She looked stunning! I loved the dress, loved the natural hair. She looked radiant.
And she looked fabulous!!
I love this look on her. She actually looks younger without the wigs.