Thursday, March 28, 2024

Actress Kimberly Elise Attends Screening of ‘Back to Natural: A Documentary Film’ (Pics)

LA Naturals with it leader, Amaechina Anyanwu (seated, far right): Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

*Los Angeles – Recently, I was most fortunate to be invited to a screening of Back to Natural: A Documentary Film. This film screening and brunch, which brought out actress Kimberly Elise, was hosted by LA Naturals. LA Naturals is the largest natural hair meetup group on the West Coast with 1,300 members. This diverse group of 18-45+ year old of men and women, consist of artists, entertainers, models, bloggers, entrepreneurs, moms, dads, students.

LA Naturals was founded in 2012 by Rhonda Glover, this phenomenal group is currently under the wonderful leadership of Amaechina Anyanwu. This dynamic group is known for their collaborations with national and local hair brands, as well as with other local natural hair groups such as LA Curly Girls, Nappywood Hair Expo & Afrolicious Natural Hair Expo.

Back to Natural: A Documentary Film was screened during the 26th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival, Thursday, February 8 through Monday, February 19, at the Cinemark Rave 15 Theatres/Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (3650 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd) in Los Angeles.

PAFF Signage: Photo Courtesy Pan African Film and Arts Festival

Back to Natural: A Documentary Film is a ground breaking, 68-minute documentary film that takes a shocking and emotional look at the intersection of hair, politics, and identity in Black communities across the globe. This consciousness raising movie is directed by Clinical Psychologist, Gillian Scott-Ward.

The documentary is a powerful, thought provoking, call for healing that takes a grass roots approach to exploring the globalized policing of natural black hair, especially when you consider the estimated $2.56 billion spent on hair care products in 2016.

Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Marquis Smalls, Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward and Kimberly Elise: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

The documentary was filmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Paris and Cape Town, this documentary explores universal aspects of the Black experience and the “New” Natural Hair movement.

This awesome documentary takes viewers on a journey of discovery and enlightenment while celebrating the history and natural styles that are taking the world by storm. Experts in academia explained the meaning of the African diaspora and the impact slavery, Jim Crow, and the Black Power movement had on popular cultures perceptions of natural hair. The documentary featured people from a variety of backgrounds talking about how hair intersected with their identity and impacted both career choices and career opportunities. Look around and notice how many men and women of other races wearing their hair in braids or afros. https://backtonaturaldoc.com 

As we mentioned above, acclaimed actress and four time NAACP award winner Kimberly Elise was in attendance to support this incredible documentary. Kimberly Elise is now the force behind a premium beauty company, Kimberly Elise Naturals, which formulates hair care products using natural and organic ingredients. https://kimberlyelisenaturals.com

Kimberly Elise announced the newest addition of the growing brand, the “Kinky Coily Care Kit,” a 4-step natural hair care system for African American women with coarse textured hair. “Mainstream beauty brands don’t pay enough attention to Black women’s natural beauty,” commented Kimberly Elise.

Kimberly Elise: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Dr. Gillian Scott-Ward and Kimberly Elise: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Cut My Hair, Barber a 24 minute short film by Director Patrick James was shown with Back to Natural: a Documentary Film. The film stars Kwame, a fatherless young boy who dreams of having a loving dad, meets his long lost father, and discovers even a nightmare can have a happy ending.

Patrick James, Candice Johnson, Michael J. Patterson and Torell Shavone: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based music reviewer, writer and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]

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