Some may remember when Zendaya, then best often called a Disney star, arrived on the 2015 Oscars red carpet wearing an off-the-shoulder white gown by Vivienne Westwood and her hair in flowing fake curls. The look was elegant yet culturally significant, launching Zendaya into the conversation as a real tastemaker — but not in the way she and her longtime stylist, Law Roach, initially thought.

At the time, Giuliana Rancic, host of E!’s “Fashion Police,” caused a stir when she said on-air that Zendaya looked like she “smelled like patchouli oil or herbs.” Her comments resonated and, based on Roach, began a movement that led to the CROWN Act.

Recounting that moment nearly a decade later at the Teen Vogue Summit on Nov. 23, Roach explained why he’s ultimately glad the moment happened.

“This case actually changed the way Black hair was accepted in schools and workplaces,” he said during a panel discussion, based on People Magazine. “So even though we didn’t plan on making this big statement, because of the events that took place, the CROWN Act was really born out of this incident.”

Following Rancic’s comments, Zendaya didn’t hesitate to call out the veteran host via Instagram.

“There’s a fine line between fun and disrespect,” he says he wrote then in an in depth post.

“Someone said something about my hair at the Oscars that blew my mind,” the Emmy winner added. “Not because I liked the rave reviews of the outfits, but because I was met with ignorant insults and a complete lack of respect.”

She continued: “Stating that an 18-year-old young woman with curls must smell like patchouli oil or ‘herb’ just isn’t only an enormous stereotype, but in addition outrageously offensive. I do not normally feel the need to answer negative things, but some comments cannot be ignored.”

After noting how many individuals in her personal life, including her father and brother, have curls, Zendaya also determined what number of extremely prestigious and successful people sport curls, including professors, authors, and Harvard director Ava DuVernay.

“There has already been harsh criticism of African American hairstyles in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair,” she said, adding that she wore her hair in curls that evening to remind Black folks that “our hair is sweet enough “.

Rancic faced immediate backlash for these comments, and the next day she even apologized on air, admitting, “Something I said last night crossed the line.”

“That’s how change happens,” she said. “And it made me think, ‘How can I always have a lasting impact on what people see and associate with people of color?’”

In the years since these comments, the CROWN Act, co-founded by Adjoa B. Asmoah in partnership with Dove and several other others as a part of the CROWN Coalition, was introduced and first passed in California in 2019. The CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on gender hair texture or style, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. Versions of this bill are currently in effect in 27 states. Most recently, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, passed a law against hairstyle discrimination in July.

As for “Fashion Police,” this moment also marked the starting of a run of bad luck for the show that ended later that yr. The show, where hosts scrutinized stars’ red carpet outfits, struggled to get well after Rancic’s gaffe, the departure of fellow host Kelly Osbourne in response to the incident and the death of longtime co-host Joan Rivers.

Since the show ended, celebrity fashion coverage has grow to be more comprehensive. Instead of harsh and sometimes offensive criticism, fashion journalists and red carpet hosts now often concentrate on what suits a star’s look, its potential cultural significance, and production that takes under consideration the creation of the look by the stars’ design teams and stylists.

November 29 is Black Friday, and it might look different this yr.

It’s not only Black Friday; Also coming up are Small Business Saturday on November 30, Cyber ​​Monday on December 2, and Giving Tuesday on December 3.

With many firms, including big box stores and major online retailers, staring down promised tariffs from the Trump administration next yr, this yr’s deals might not be as big as Black Fridays of the past. It said Many people emphasize the need to make purchases before potential tariffs occur.

In addition, many of us still struggle with inflation, deteriorating lifestyles and low wages. In the wake of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, some of us are also struggling to get into the holiday spirit, and that features enthusiasm for holiday shopping.

That does not imply you possibly can’t still make the most of the annual shopping event where many retailers finally trim excess margins in the hopes of turning their red revenue back into black. From being more strategic about what you purchase to getting creative along with your Black Friday spending, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the upcoming holiday incentives.

Below, we have put together a guide on how to make the most of sales on Black Friday and beyond, especially if you happen to want to support Black-owned brands.

Skip it completely

Some people just need to let the day go by. If your checking account is not what you expected this yr, otherwise you’re just not searching for anything special, skip at the present time altogether. If you will have a day without work from work, enjoy it. Do something fun or meaningful along with your family. Some people use the Friday or weekend after Thanksgiving to officially transition into the Christmas season in the event that they have a good time.

Shop from home

Both retailers and shopping experts have long touted that online offers are actually higher than in brick-and-mortar stores, and all indications are that this yr can be no different. Skip the lines, crowds and lackluster Black Friday deals and as a substitute scour your major online retailers for exclusive online deals that won’t appear until Cyber ​​Monday, December 2.

Look for wellness and lifestyle deals

Instead of spending money on “stuff”, you possibly can have a look at deals in the wellness and fitness space or other lifestyle areas. Local gyms, spas, dance studios, art workshops, astrologers, skilled development gurus and more are offering deals on memberships and classes exclusively on Black Friday. Pay attention to your usual hangouts or favorite web gurus as they might wait until the day any discounts are announced.

Invest in experiences

Similar to the above, Black Friday can be a superb time to put money into some of the larger attractions in your wish list. On sites like Groupon and other travel sites, you will find deals which can be price spending your hard-earned money on.

Wait for Cyber ​​Monday, Small Business Saturday, or Giving Tuesday

You know what they are saying: “Good things come to those who wait.” Apply this logic to the biggest shopping weekend that features Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber ​​Monday. Wait for Saturday when you possibly can shop local and small Black-owned businesses, or wait for Monday when in some cases you could find even higher deals online.

Then it’s Giving Tuesday. Instead of hoarding your coins and spending them on material goods, perhaps keep them to donate to causes and charities close to your heart. Knowing that your funds are going to people doing work that urgently needs doing can make it easier to feel more on top of things in a world spinning out of control – and feel such as you’re doing all your part. (Plus, most donations are tax deductible.)

If you go, go all the way

If you choose to engage in some retail therapy, we are saying go big or go home! Big ticket items, that’s. Why spend so much of money on a growing cart at your favorite fast fashion store when you possibly can finally reach for that investment like a superb winter coat or a durable pair of shoes? Instead of buying something rare that you simply don’t actually need, pick up high-quality electronics on sale that you might need in your every day activities.

Note: There are also legitimate concerns that these larger products may develop into harder to purchase if and when tariffs are introduced.

Don’t forget to shop in black

If you usually grab your coat and automotive keys as soon as the table is cleared of the Thanksgiving feast to go and camp at your favorite big box store for door thieves, then more power to you! We encourage anyone participating in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber ​​Monday to also consider shopping Black brands at major stores that carry and support them, equivalent to Target, Nordstrom and Sephora.

Black chefs highlight the growing trend of men taking over cooking duties on Thanksgiving. Recent studies show that over 50% of men prepare not less than one dish for the vacations.

The recent Instacart questionnaire showed that 64% of ladies plan to arrange not less than one dish for Thanksgiving, and 57% of men also become involved on this initiative. Additionally, 30% of each men and ladies intend to cook your entire feast.

As more men join within the Thanksgiving cooking duties, Black chefs are celebrating this shift and congratulating men for embracing the shift in traditional roles.

“I don’t think cooking is gender specific. I see it as a form of creative expression” – Los Angeles traveling chef Jeffrey Smith Jr. he said .

The owner of the catering company Best Kept Secrets International believes that cooking is for everybody, not only one group or gender. Research too revealed that Gen Z (63%), Millennials (66%), and Gen X (61%) are ahead of Boomers (53%) of their plans to cook or deliver meals.

Chef Que Dunn of St. Louis, also referred to as Chef Que, shares this angle, noting that younger generations are moving away from traditional gender norms, especially in terms of who does the cooking.

“I think the division is becoming more equal. I believe this generation doesn’t have the same mindset as the previous one,” he says. “Women find men who can cook attractive. They find it an attractive feature.”

Charles Hunter III, Nashville personal chef and owner of The Salted Table, is hosting Thanksgiving this 12 months to provide his mother a well-deserved break. He plans to arrange all traditional dishes himself.

“We stick to the standard: turkey, ham, gravy, macaroni and cheese, candied sweet potatoes and savoy cabbage. We cross off the list and whoever is best at preparing a particular dish will stay on preparing it,” he says. “We create an execution plan and I try to put my own spin on it all. I just love being in the kitchen. This is a dream job that I committed to, and I didn’t even know I wanted it.”

Commenting on the rise in men taking on cooking on Thanksgiving, Hunter emphasizes that everybody should feel comfortable within the kitchen, stating, “Cooking is a life skill.”

“It’s something everyone should know easy methods to do. Even if it’s at a really basic level, anyone should give you the option to place ingredients right into a pot and make them edible.