Black people have never needed a runway to flaunt our style (though we’ll serve like Naomi when necessary). More than expressing our individuality, we’ve incorporated style into collective protest movements and political statements, from rocking afros to counter Eurocentric beauty standards to sporting dashikis to show pride in our African ancestry.
To celebrate ESSENCE Fashion House and New York Fashion Week, we’re going back in time for style moments that made a statement.
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Black Panther Party leader Kathleen Cleaver rocking shades with chic leather in 1968, defying the more conservative style of the Civil Rights Movement
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…and her husband Eldridge Cleaver (and former Black Panther Party Minister of Information) sporting a dashiki when he was exiled in Africa and urged the Panthers to take on international issues
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Malcolm X looking sharp while talking to press in 1965. Though Malcolm was no longer in the Nation of Islam, its members had a dress code combatting stereotypical images of Black people.
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Lawyer, actor, and socialist activist Paul Robeson was a stylish Renaissance man. Black men were often portrayed as brutes in entertainment, but Robeson made sure to look dapper.
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Protestors at the March on Washington in 1963. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrators would wear their Sunday Best to represent the movement with dignity.
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Marcus Garvey, who founded the largest Black organization- the UNIA, was known for his military attire
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Civil Rights activist Dorothy Height (L) did not play about her hats. They were such a signature look that they earned their own exhibition, “Dorothy Height’s Hats” in Florida in 2017.
Did You Know These 13 Celebrities Were Jehovah's Witnesses?
Marques Houston recently sharing the news of his baptism to complete his conversion to the Jehovah's Witness faith surprised a few of his fans and got the Internet buzzing about celebrities and religion. As it turns out, Marques isn't the only Black celebrity who is currently or has previously been involved with the Jehova's Witness faith. Here's a look at 13 familiar faces who were either raised or later converted to the religion. Some of these may surprise you!
Songstress Jill Scott was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith but has stated in recent years that she no longer practices the religion.
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The Wayans Family
One of two family units on our list, the Wayans were also raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith.
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Terrence Howard
“Empire” star Terrence Howard has expressed interest in joining the Jehovah’s Witness faith and his current wife is also raising their children in the faith.
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Notorious B.I.G.
Rapper The Notorious B.I.G., aka Christopher Wallace, was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith by his mother Voletta Wallace, who is still active in the religion today.
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Sherri Shepherd
Actress and television host Sherri Shepherd was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but no longer practices the faith.
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Serena Williams
Tennis champion Serena Williams was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith and continues to practice many of her beliefs stemming from the religion today.
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The Jackson family
The Jackson family was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, but several of the family members, including sister Janet, no longer practice the religion.
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Marc John Jeffries
Marc John Jefferies, who you’ll recognize from films like “Losing Isaiah,” “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” and “Notorious,” was raised in the Jehova’s Witness faith as a child.
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Venus Williams
Like sister Serena, Venus was also raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith by their parents.
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Naomi Campbell
Supermodel Naomi Campbell was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness but no longer practices the faith.
R&B singer and actor Marques Houston just recently completed his conversion into the Jehovah’s Witness faith and has been actively celebrating his involvement with the religion on social media.
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Ja Rule
Rapper Ja Rule was raised in the Jehovah’s Witness faith but later left the religion after his mother was disfellowshipped.
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Prince
Prince was a practicing Jehovah’s Witness for years after converting to the religion in 2003.