The days of ignoring blatant injustices, quietly assimilating and cautiously adhering to the politics of respectability in exchange for acceptance seems to be nearing an end. All around us, in every arena, minorities are calling BS on the propaganda of an equality that is simply unrealized for marginalized groups. Fashion model, writer, and activist Ebonee Davis is one of the latest public figures to speak up on the issue of diversity and discrimination in her industry.

In a recent TED Talk that has already exceeded 6 million views, Davis, who has been featured in campaigns for Adidas, Calvin Klein and Sports Illustrated, describes her indoctrination to the superiority of European beauty standards as a black girl growing up in Seattle. “I remember entering the beauty supply shop at four-years-old and eyeing the Just For Me home relaxer box with a picture of a black girl about my age,” she said. “Despite the burn of chemicals on my scalp and the smell of sulfur that filled the room, I was entranced at the prospect of having straight hair. It was beautiful, it was celebrated and I, with my kinky coils, felt inadequate.” This societal pressure to mute her blackness only intensified when she became a model. In addition to detailing some of the barriers she has encountered as a black model, Davis also offers solutions to promote inclusivity in the fashion industry to both mirror and promote the evolution of societal norms when it comes to beauty. 

When it comes to taking a stand against racism and injustice, Davis has been about that life. When Alton Sterling was murdered by police last summer, she decided it was time to use her platform for a larger purpose. In an open letter to the fashion industry published by Harper’s Bazaar, Davis wrote,  “it is no longer acceptable for us to revel in black culture with no regard for the struggles facing the black community … The time for change is now.”

Watch the powerful talk on "Black Girl Magic In The Fashion Industry" below: