The other Saturday I was at brunch with my best friend Sarah and in this small restaurant we were surrounded by two tables that irked my last nerve. Let me explain because they didn't do anything to me, I was just bothered by the "set up". Both tables were filled with a group of white people and one lonely black person. I know you are confused but just keep reading. Sarah kept looking at me in all my anger, like what is wrong with you, why are you so upset? When I finally took the time to stop staring in disgust and answer her, I fumbled all my responses because I truly could not give a reason. I kept saying over and over again, I do not know why this makes me mad, but I am so annoyed. I tried to get it together but I kept staring and shaking my head. It was sad.
Fast forward to family dinner with my friends from my Papa Razzi days. I brought my brunch experience up to them and they were in shock, like Tiff what is wrong with you? Our dinner damn near came to a halt while they tried to figure out what my issue was! They asked me question after question after question, I thought I was being interrogated for a crime. But because they kept probing me, I subconsciously blurted out, IT"S JUST LIKE THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY!
It was a crazy aha moment for me. I'd never realized that the two were connected. Those two tables represent what I hate most about an industry I love. Women who look like me are never represented in a vast majority, we are more an afterthought or a filler. And don't pat me on my head and say, "well this brand came out with 40 shades in their foundation." Yes, I applaud their efforts but if they don't show the girl wearing shade "number 40" on their platforms often then what are they really saying?
I feel like 75% (probably 90%) of the beauty industry uses white women for their marketing purposes, shoot even their back office is predominantly white. And even when their social media chooses someone other than a white woman, the individual looks white. You look at the person and say, she may be spanish but she looks white. You'll never go to a big brand's page and see black women as the majority, you see this.
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
Black
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White
White-ish
White
White
(Ya'll didn't even notice the BLACK I threw in there, be honest!?)
My career in this makeup industry is a constant struggle to have more black women being represented. I am determined to make sure women of color have several seats at the table, not just the one that we are strategically given so a brand avoids scrutiny for not being "diverse" enough. Ya'll gonna get this black girl magic largely and consistently.
So let me put my cape and boxing gloves on and get beside all the other women who are fighting for this cause. I want balance, I want representation, in all industries, in all lanes. We all deserve the seat, the table, and the room all that shit is set up in.
#dearAll Do Better