Melba Tolliver
Melba Tolliver, the first black woman to anchor a major TV news show, will be one of the speakers at an upcoming celebration and discussion of black hair.
The event — “Heads Up! A Soulful Celebration of our HAIRitage” — will gather women and men of all ages for an evening of dialogue, film and performance at 6 p.m., May 20, at the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts on the Long Island University campus in downtown Brooklyn.
Heads Up! will salute natural-hair pioneers, accomplished professionals and everyday folk. Attendees are invited to bring along a “Natural Inspiration.” Admission is free, and all hairstyles and viewpoints are welcome.
Farah Jasmine Griffin
Panelists include Michaela Angela Davis, a critic and writer on urban style, race, gender and hip-hop culture, Columbia University English professor Farah Jasmine Griffin, natural haircare expert Ademola Mandella and actress Dominique Morisseau. Anu Prestonia, founder of natural hair-care salon Khamit Kinks — the event’s sponsor — will speak and present a mini bridal hair show.
Tolliver will read from her upcoming memoir, “Accidental Anchorwoman: Chance, Choice, Change.” Tolliver stopped relaxing her hair 38 years ago while working as a reporter for WABC-TV. Her new afro was deemed unsuitable and she was told she’d either have to straighten it or cover it up while on assignment for the White House wedding of President Nixon’s daughter, Tricia. When she failed to comply, she was banned from the news studio set until supportive viewers demanded her reinstatement.
Khamit Kinks is offering NaturallyCurly readers a chance to win a gift bag with three Khamit Kinks hair oils, three of Anu’s Body Butters, a “Heads Up!” pin and a $50.00 gift card. To enter, send an email to headsup@naturallycurly.com.
