African Entrepreneur Drops Bombshell About Black American Experiences In Salons— and The Internet Has Thoughts

Social media has been a dumpster fire lately as African braid shops continue to be dragged for their alleged mistreatment of Black American customers. But since the braid shop incident in Alabama went viral, one African business owner has stepped in to address the ongoing issue. And the internet has some thoughts.

We previously reported how Jessica Odom, a young Black woman, was allegedly held hostage inside of Mama’s Gifted Hands, a Birmingham braid shop, over a pricing dispute. Odom tried to pay the agreed price of $200, but when the stylist allegedly refused to accept it, demanding an additional $50 after using human hair, that’s when the stylist allegedly grabbed her hair and held her hostage.

The recorded confrontation sparked outrage online and reignited conversations about customer mistreatment in African braid shops.

Now, Ghanaian business owner and content creator Naana Donkor Arthur is giving her two cents on the situation and her perspective about culture and respect. 

“I don’t understand why you’re behaving like that,” Arthur said in her TikTok video, while showing a screenshot of a conversation allegedly between Odom and the shop owner. She points out what many had already suspected: the stylist broke the agreement and crossed the line. 

“Now, every video I have seen, Americans are saying that we Africans never loved them,” Arthur explains, “so they should kick all of us out.” The tension between the two communities continues to grow, and Black Americans have been extremely vocal about their experience while at the braid shops, some even calling for a national boycott.

Arthur made her views clear as day, pointing the blame at the greedy business owners. 

“You see, your greediness has come to us, to worry us,” she said. “You come all the way from Africa to somebody’s country. The opportunity that you get here, you don’t even get it in your own country.” In frustration, she adds that Americans often support African-owned businesses more than Africans support each other back home.

“Why do you want to steal from the lady? Fifty dollars?!” she asks. “You see your life now. You just did the woman’s hair. Look at the way you are grabbing her hair, a hair you just did. How wicked are you as a woman?”

In a follow-up video, she posted a video of how a Black woman spews out her anger for the attack on Odom after getting her hair done at Mama’s Gifted Hands. 

Arthur continues, reminding fellow African business owners that, regardless of immigration status, Africans are living in a country where financial opportunities are available, and respect must be shown to those who support their businesses. 

TikTok comments poured in from Black Americans praising her and showing appreciation for the accountability. 

“Sis, we know it’s not all Africans,” one TikTok user commented. “We appreciate you for this.”

Another commented, “All braid shops need to be investigated bc this happens more than we actually realize!” 

This isn’t the first time an African business owner has spoken out. Earlier this year, Maryland hair shop owner Nadine of “Nadine’s 24/7 Hair Braiding Shop” publicly apologized while acknowledging the mistreatment that Black Americans have endured.“I want you guys to know that I’m sorry,” she said, recognizing the disrespect and lack of care some customers have faced.

One commenter said it best. “I don’t care what your nationality is, cultural respect is respect,” they said. “It isn’t a color thing, and I think that’s what we, as humans, don’t understand: we are all trying to survive.”

The post African Entrepreneur Drops Bombshell About Black American Experiences in Salons— And the Internet Has Thoughts first appeared on The Root.