This is a sort of tangential follow on from your post about May's hair the other day.
But did you see that she used her experience of having black hair to solve the problem and potentially save someone's life. I know that someone with my hair texture isn't thinking of that as a solution, Maddie certainly didn't despite her being a usually being a very resourceful person in these type of situations. I don't know how to describe it but there's something about the fact that the unique experience of growing up black was shown to be such an important part resolving the problem. May isn't smart or resourceful despite the fact she's black, she's all of those things and more because she's black and this scene seemed to scream that fact, for me anyway.
I hope this makes some kind of sense and I'm not overstepping by commenting on it and that you in general enjoyed the episode!
hi nonnie you’re not overstepping at all and i loooved the episode. i did think about how may’s blackness played into her quick thinking in that scene. in fact, i audibly said iktr!! when she mentioned that her mom used to braid her hair so tight that it hurt to sleep (rip may’s scalp but every black person that wears their hair in braids has been there at least once). that was may’s ‘‘this is just like that time in afghanistan’’ moment and i loved it.
i’m actually gonna use this ask to gush about the hair this season. every black character, down to linda, has had consistently great hair looks this season. and not just great looks but Black looks. the way mara wears her hair in 903 is the way a little black girl would wear her hair. it’s refreshing to see from a representation perspective but it also adds depth to the story for those in the know. in that episode, mara’s wearing a semi-protective longish lasting style with a fun flair to it. as a black audience member, that tells me that her moms played a large role in the styling of her hair. it tells me what considerations mara and her parents had in mind when they chose the style. it tells me that mara didn’t do her own hair, it’s a style that’s simple enough to do at home but too complicated for a child to accomplish on their own. the styling choice says a lot about the wilsons in a iykyk way. it’s unusual to see this level of care and consideration for black hair on network tv. it’s unusual to see on 911.
the wig that athena’s been wearing throughout this opening emergency is flawless*. that shit’s laaiiiiiid. a black woman had a hand in that. take my word for it when i say, that hasn’t always been the case. there have been moments when i’ve looked at athena’s hair and thought baby girl, if you like it, i love it. THIS BOB
and the bob she’s wearing in tripp hauser’s space shuttle are built different, literally and figuratively. the wig pictured above is incongruous with the rest of her styling and character. athena’s a middle class, middle aged, feminine presenting black woman who cares about her appearance. her off-duty outfits and make-up looks have always communicated that, her hair hasn’t.
other fun black hair things that had me buzzing while watching 903. harry’s line up (he looks so handsome :)). karen’s locs (they’ve never looked better. that updo is doing everything for her). linda’s lob (her and maddie should be gossiping and braiding each other's hair. it’s what i deserve)
*not flawless in comparison to beyonce or hairfluencers but that’s not the realm we’re in.
as an aside on wigs, the only 911 wig i despise is hen’s hen begins wig. every other wig is just fine, at worst.
user @athenagrantsbob, any thots? how do u feel about this?
