We Should Be Talking About Alopecia
Image Courtesy: Complex
If you have been on social media at all during the past week, you have heard about the infamous slap at the 2022 Oscar’s award show. Chris Rock made an insensitive joke about Jada Pickett-Smith's recent decision to shave her head, comparing her to G.I. Jane, a fictional character who also sports a shaved head look. Will Smith took to the stage to defend his wife hitting Chris Rock with a hard and shocking slap that left Oscar goers speechless. To finish, Will Smith aggressively yelled at Chris Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f*cking mouth.”
Image Courtesy: Los Angeles Times
People have been talking about the buildup and “beef” between Chris Rock and Will Smith all week; however, I believe this event is a great opportunity to bring attention to the people directly affected by this joke: the people who are battling alopecia.
WHAT IS ALOPECIA?
In 2018, Jada Pickett-Smith first announced that she was dealing with alopecia, Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that causes your hair to fall out in clumps. Hair falls out in small, round chunks, leaving coin sized patches of skin around your skull. The amount of hair that falls is unique to the individual: It could range from a small patch the size of a quarter, to almost all the hair on your head. Alopecia is very common; however, the cause of the disease is unknown. It has been linked to things such as stress, genealogy, or age. Although the disease is common and does not cause anything other than hair loss, it can have severe negative impacts on the confidence of individuals.
Image Courtesy: iStock Photo
ALOPECIA & BLACK WOMEN
Up to one-third of all black women will experience some form of alopecia in their life, making it a common disease within the Black community. Black women praise their hair--We feel pressured to believe our worth is found in the length and thickness of our curls. So, when there is a disease that causes the destruction of our crowns, it is very scary to deal with.
Image Courtesy: @jadapinkettsmith on Instagram
Jada Pinkett-Smith made the brave decision to shave her hair due to how difficult hair upkeep can be dealing with alopecia. She took the power away from the disease. This is considered to be a big step amongst Black women due to the fact that most Black women believe having thick and lengthy hair is correlated to the desirability of the individual. By cutting her own hair, Jada acted as an inspiration to many within both the alopecia and Black communities.
Image Courtesy: Dazed
The infamous slap has indirectly helped raise awareness to this disease and the people it affects. The term “alopecia” has spiked in searches and has been trending online since the Oscars. People are trying to read about drama, but instead are learning about a community we should all talk more about. Alopecia is a scary disease that can make you feel isolated and alone, but when famous people such as Jada Pickett-Smith stand tall and proud as a poster for people with this disease, it takes away its power of isolation and draws out members of the alopecia community. Sometimes there is comfort in seeing positive representation.
Strike Out,
Writer: Chanel Gaynor
Editor: Shelby Wingate
Athens, Georgia