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Embracing Natural Hair with Ebonee Davis

Naomi Shimada speaks to fellow model and activist Ebonee Davis about embracing her natural Afro hair and calling out systemic racism in the fashion industry.

Naomi Shimada speaks to fellow model and activist Ebonee Davis about embracing her natural hair texture.

When her breakthrough fashion campaign coincided with the fatal police shooting of an African American man, Philando Castile, in 2016, Ebonee's open letter to the fashion industry calling out systemic racism made headlines.

What does it mean - and what does it take - to defy Eurocentric beauty standards, against a backdrop of racial inequality and injustice?

In a conversation recorded before the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 and the Black Lives Matter protests that followed, Ebonee speaks to Naomi about learning to love her hair and her heritage and helping others do the same.

Presenter: Naomi Shimada
Producer: Kirsty McQuire
Researcher: Candace Wilson
Editor: Rebecca Stratford

If you are affected by issues raised in this episode you can get more information at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.

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32 minutes

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