Beyoncé silences hair haters
eyoncé teases out Cécred critics by highlighting her wash-day ritual. Credit: IG
Two months ago, Houston’s own Beyoncé dropped Cécred, her line of hair care products designed to treat textured hair. And while most fans couldn’t wait to get their hands on all of that shampoo and conditioning goodness, of course, the haters hated. Social media lit up with folks criticizing Bey for not demonstrating the products in the first batch of visuals. And others argued that they wouldn’t trust her with their haircare because she wears wigs. Usually, Bey rises above the comments and doesn’t dignify them, but this time, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer decided to silence the haters with a simply “watch me wash” video. The April 22 Instagram post, which received over four million likes in 24 hours, showed the singer getting what is clearly her natural hair washed, blow dried, flat ironed and curled using products from her line. And in the voiceover (yes, there is a voiceover), Bey talks about how much she loves the feel and smell of the products. She also took a moment to address the stigma and misconception that people who wear wigs don’t have long and healthy hair, calling that thinking, “Bullsh*t.” Bey also let users know that her products were carefully developed out of her own experience and are meant to help people maintain healthy hair. Bottom line, the Queen has spoken ….carry on.
Turkey Leg Hut can’t catch a break
Former Turkey Leg Hut employee Lyndell Price has been at the center of ongoing drama. Credit: Jimmie Aggison
While Turkey Leg Hut (TLH) founder Nakia Holmes is trying to rebuild/rebrand her extremely popular business, her former partner is making that difficult. Holmes wants to make it clear that her estranged husband, Lyndell Price, is no longer affiliated with the Turkey Leg Hut. But where goes Price (and all his drama), so goes his connection to the Turkey Leg Hut. Last week, Price was in the news because of drama with his pop-up Oyster Hut (which he set up after being fired from TLH). Now, Price is making news again, accused of assaulting a man during a February bar fight, according to court documents. Price, 42, was charged with misdemeanor assault in connection to the fight, which police said left a man unconscious and with a knee injury, at a neighboring business. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Price, wearing an Oyster Hut shirt, appeared recently in the County Criminal Court at Law #12 alongside his attorney Robert Alton Jones to turn himself in. Jones said the fight at the Tipsy Lounge, down the street from the Turkey Leg Hut, was not as it seemed. The judge ordered Price to stay away from the Tipsy Lounge and set his bail at $1,000 on the misdemeanor charge. All the negative attention really is a shame because I love seeing Black businesses thrive and no one can deny the success of the Turkey Leg Hut. Hopefully, Nakia Holmes and her team can rebrand and restore the legacy of this Third Ward staple.
Why we can’t afford to ignore Donald Trump
A ‘Blacks for Trump’ rap video is drawing criticism from many. Credit: Screenshot
So, this topic elicited a lot of debate amongst the Defender team. Some of my colleagues want us to ignore the tomfoolery that accompanies Donald Trump’s quest for the presidency. I beg to differ. And since, this is MY column, I’ll explain why… It’s tempting to dismiss voices that seem extreme or outlandish, whether they come from former presidents or fringe groups. However, ignoring figures like Donald Trump and the segments of the Black community who support him, would be a grave mistake. To overlook their influence is to neglect a significant portion of the populace and to disregard the underlying issues that fuel their fervor. Like it or not (and I don’t), Donald Trump remains a powerful force in American politics. Despite his departure from the White House, his impact lingers, shaping the narratives and strategies of both major parties. His unorthodox approach to governance and communication style have left an indelible mark on the political landscape. Ignoring him won’t make him disappear; rather, it risks leaving his rhetoric unchallenged and his followers unchecked. This debate came up because of a rap video called “My Black President” about Trump. Yes, we know there are some Black folks who jump on the Trump train because it’s the only way they’ll get any attention. But there are some Black people who don’t follow politics, who buy into the headlines, who think ‘Trump bought milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A so he’s down with us,’ who will bob their heads to the beat of that rap song, and then say, “You know, he’s got a point” and walk into the ballot box and cast their vote for Trump. Simply writing off those who express them as “crazy” or irrelevant only exacerbates the divisions within society and perpetuates the cycle of polarization. We need to foster dialogue and understanding rather than resorting to dismissiveness and disdain.
And trust, I know that’s not easy.
