Culture

Gabby Douglas says ‘stop talking about’ her hair

As Gabby Douglas was making history winning gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competitions, people on twitter were criticizing her hair instead of lauding her achievements.

Published

14 years ago

August 6, 2012

UVM Staff

Gabby Douglas Says 'Stop Talking About' Her Hair

Photo Credit : Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gabby_Douglas_2016_Summer_Olympics_Gold_Medal.jpg

As Gabby Douglas was making history winning gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competitions, people on twitter were criticizing her hair instead of lauding her achievements.

The 16-year-old from Virgina Beach, VA received harsh criticism, particularly from African Americans, slamming her for ‘not getting her hair done”.

Seriously? When you’re competing in an important athletic event as the Olympics, the last thing you worry about is your hair. Well Gabby Douglas has responded to the criticism, and she doesn’t care what you think about her hair either:

“I don’t know where this is coming from. What’s wrong with my hair?” said Douglas, the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in team and all-around competition. “I’m like, `I just made history and people are focused on my hair?’ It can be bald or short, it doesn’t matter about (my) hair. Nothing is going to change. I’m going to wear my hair like this during beam and bar finals. You might as well just stop talking about it.” – Associated Press

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Related Topics:Black hair Gabby Douglas Olympics

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UVM Staff

Unheard Voices, an award-winning, family-operated online news magazine, began in 2004 as a community newsletter serving Neptune, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, N.J. Over time, it grew into a nationally recognized Black-owned media outlet. The publication remains one of the few dedicated to covering social justice issues. Its honors include the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and multiple media innovator awards for excellence in social justice reporting and communications.

2 Comments

Natural hair lover
August 6, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Unfortunately it must be black people that can’t accept their African root to make such a ill statements about Gabby’s hair. All you girls out there that wear straight hair like your European counterparts should be a shame of yourselves. It just looks like another case of low self esteem by Blacks and not loving themselves. I love Gabby’s hair and all the beautiful black women out there that wear their naturally. Stop trying to set your standards to whites and do your own thing. Black people you can think! Wake up and stop criticism such a beautiful young girl because you don’t like the way you look. Remember James Brown say it best. Say it Loud, I am black and I am proud. Congratulations once again to our beautiful Gabby Douglas. All you straight wearing hair girls need to just shut up and grow up.
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Jill Strollo
August 7, 2012 at 8:13 am
I love Gabby, I think she is so cute. Why would people make such stupid comments about her hair. Be proud of yourself Gabby. I didn’t even notice your hair!!!!! Congrats to you!
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