Michaela Angela Davis is a writer on African-American style, race, gender and hip-hop culture in the United States. She is also a fashion expert and an "image activist."
I seek to widen, narrow narratives of women of color.
Hair is what connects women in Dakar and Detroit, Oprah [Winfrey] and Opal [Tometi] the Black Lives Matter activist. There's a story in every kink, curl, and coil.
Being an Image Activist simply means to be in action of supporting, celebrating and creating honest images of a group you care about, or yourself.
I've been waiting years to have a conversation with Franchesa [Ramsey]! She's so funny and wicked smart. So that's really going to be the experience it's going to intelligent, layered, and hilarious.
Defining oneself is a revolutionary act, and, as described in her memoir, Janet Mock fiercely fought to free herself with exquisite bravery and sensitivity. Redefining Realness is full of hope, dreams, and determination. It is a true American girl story.
MAD FREE is a conversation project, not an organization, but I've literally have seen women have breakthroughs in real time. They learn and connect. I've had more women I could count say one of our conversations inspired them to be bold and wonderful things like getting PHD's or traveling to the continent. I am certainly far more inspired by the community of women than they are inspired.
As a busy, grown ass woman, I don't have the time. What I do is I keep myself and my hair hydrated - I drink lots of water and wet my hair frequently. I also keep it highly moisturized.
How I grew to believe Black hair has power, genius, and magic in it, defying gravity and limitation. I mean, look at how marvelous it is: Black hair grows up and out.
My approach is to be honest-really honest-and consistent. That is what any growth will take. It is an issue I think [young] generation can be courageous enough to comb through.
Black women have been cultured to compare not connect.
I couldn't bare the idea of not being in regular communication with the audience I love - young women of color.
MAD FREE is simply described as "Liberating Conversations with Revolutionary Women about Beauty, Image and Power". It began as a Salon series in NY loft in Brooklyn as a salve to my broken heart after Honey Magazine folded. It was not because of the readership or because the market wasn't there; the company that held it collapsed, which I was the last editor in chief of.