Sanaa Lathan Gets Emotional Discussing Representation | In This Room

Star of the new Netflix movie "Nappily Ever After" Sanaa Lathan stopped by to discuss the movie, what it took for her to shave her head, representation and more.
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MADAMENOIRE is a passionate, cutting-edge web publication geared towards African-American women. The publication's mission is to unite black women at various stages of their lives, around a common aspiration for better, more fulfilling lifestyles. MADAMENOIRE provides breaking news, an open forum for discussion and cosmopolitan advice born from the lived experiences and needs of these women of color (which includes mothers, young professionals, fashionistas and intellectuals).
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[@seondeon6204]

Sanaa Lathan is soo gorgeous!! Black dont crack.

[@thisisyourfact-check1669]

It's the pigment called melanin that protects skin.

[@tommykeith6589]

seon deon LOVE SANAA BUT HATE THAT CLICHE'(BLACK DON'T CRACK) IT'S STUPID!😞

[@authentica6345]

I love her, with or without hair. SANAA! YOU ROCK SHORT HAIR.

[@luvs2cover]

Right On ✊💯✊

[@Gloria_All_Day]

Love the movie. The struggle is REAL. She looked so beautiful bald.

[@indiesindie1984]

She is the most "naturally beautiful" actors on TV and movies! I've loved her ever since Love & Basketball! She made me cry like a baby! She totally rocks an afro!

[@luvs2cover]

She looks so beautiful with her natural hair please keep it girl 👍💯👍

[@manestreambeauty]

I really like this interview and Sanaa's unexpected emotional moment when discussing black children seeing themselves represented in media. Media is a powerful force to contend with and the unspoken and underlying messages that can be drawn from one's absence is difficult for most and even more crushing for children. Sanaa is a beauty and I appreciate her committing to the role. To see the value in allowing herself to be vulnerable in order to play Violet truthfully is wise. When I saw her on "The Affair" I saw her in a new light. However Sanaa chooses to wear her hair, her beauty is evident.

[@shereewhite4828]

I'm so proud of Sanna for shaving her head, being brave, bold, & yet even more beautiful embracing her baldness. She's gorgeous. We as African American women (some of us) have allowed society to brainwash us into believing that long straight hair is right verses our beautiful natural hair. I'm a black woman who's natural. I embrace my natural beauty! If anyone can't accept me for the way my hair looks.....STEP!! KEEP IT MOVIN!!, DON'T LOOK!, TURN YA HEAD! GET OVER IT, etc. you get the point! I am not my hair! I'm beautifully & wonderfully made in God's image!!!! & the church said.....AMEN!!!

[@fromlissawithlove]

Amen Queen!! I went natural when I was 20. Threw away all my boxes of wigs, track pieces, add ons and bundles. This was YEARS before #Natural was a hashtag, black became beautiful again, we had natural hair gurus, or a KZbin, and #Melanin was #Magic. I felt her tears because I still remember the pain of rejection from jobs, from dating, from colleagues and so called friends. It made me stronger and wiser. Made me own the beauty my ancestors blessed me with. ❤✊🏾👸🏾

[@beautifulleopard3929]

Speak. .....

[@sheilaorangd1967]

You don't have to make yourself wear your hair natural if you have naturally a growing from your scalp it's going to grow like that you just have to maintain it wash it keep it healthy as black people we have to teach our children in the home to respect themselves to respect the neighborhood's don't throw trash out the window don't spit on the ground don't steal from the stores in the neighborhood don't steal from no one no store because that's what make the neighborhood go down in my neighborhood a beautiful store when you can go in in the morning and have a cup of coffee and maybe a dinosaur Bagel orange juice they close down because people going in the store and stealing so it was more stuff being stolen and less stuff being bought so teach our children to respect the building that we live in to respect our elevators by not urinating in them this is a whole movement of being natural natural don't only go through the hair I'll go to the hair and goes to being better people keeping our neighborhoods up not throwing garbage out the window not leaving garbage in the hallways this is respect for your neighbor respect for yourself and respect for your community

[@TheMspoodle2]

Sanaa looks so gorgeous with her natural hair.😄😄😄

[@nicoledavis9128]

Her hair is so beautiful !!! I love her !

[@msevettetenner5350]

Loved Nappily ever after, it got me even more comfortable with my hair, I love you Sana for showing us black women to embrace ourselves even more🙏❤️

[@crackingwithSwizzle]

I see why she got emotional. When I was a child I never seen us represented either. We didn't really have black cartoons or like she said the children's stories we seen them but there was never a black lead character. I remember me, my sister and my cousin used to put shirts on our heads when we were younger so we'd feel like we had long hair. Our uncle told us that we don't have to do that. It takes a while for us to grow our hair but that doesn't make us any less beautiful than girls with long hair. I was about 5 or 6 and I can still remember that and I'm 23. It's real life lessons that really stick with you. I'm terrified of wearing my real hair out. I want to just let go and do it one day though.

[@nwatson2773]

the swizz FACTS!

[@tricedavis6709]

It seems like you should be terrified of wearing weaves, wigs, hair extensions that damage your scalp along with unrepairable results to both your hair and scalp because wanting straight hair or good hair as some would say is having healthy hair but for some reason my sister sister's don't seem to understand that you mentioned what your uncle gave you and your sister's advice on about your hair but it didn't sink in fully my sister people or trying to look like you at all cost with ever plastic surgery there is on them their told it's beautiful on my sister who were born with it we were scorned and made to feel ashamed of our big asses wide hips full lips tightly coil hair most real down for their sister's brother's who haven't been blind sighted or forgotten that they were raised by black parents love realness from a sister they love the top of their heads to the tip of their feet

[@sheilaorangd1967]

Having black cartoons having black products in the market black products in the market with a black woman or children on the packaging and have to start from each individual and respect if you want a dog is nothing wrong with having a dog but you must pick up behind the dog that's like a child you have to change the child's diaper unless the child will have diaper rash you have to feed a child so the child will not read That's responsibility teach your children to be responsible tell them about education why they should have get education stay with a little mind have programs for them that will teach them how to speak another language and understand it because it's very crucial today and getting work to speak another language do you know in other countries as my daughter visit so much and she said she could not believe that there were people and different countries that spoke more than one language and the English language also and our United States call these third world countries because some of us don't get out to see that other people either live the same as us or want the same thing so teach your children educate your children be behind them teach them what's right and what's wrong and if you don't know what's right or wrong try to have somebody to teach you because sometime we see a pattern of something within our community or in our house and we think it's normal

[@arbidayoung1308]

I love Sanaa's hair short length! When I saw the movie I could tell that was real emotions. She was free but fearful! Liberated but loss! I'm glad she did this movie it showed how we pass our hair hatred from one generation to the next.

[@letoriabennett883]

I can't wait to see this movie!!!

[@rachelsweets]

Me too

[@letoriabennett883]

@@rachelsweets 😄💕💕

[@letoriabennett883]

@Dee Stevens 💕💕💕💕

[@ethanjones467]

I seen it last night on Netflix it's really good

[@kate6273]

i watched the movie and i liked it its not just about hair its about accepting who you really are

[@Fashionarily]

I cannot wait to watch this movie. I can relate so much. I shaved my head on KZbin LOL

[@YourGirlSudanny]

I shaved mine on YT too!!

[@MekaHall1078]

Congratulations to you on your natural hair journey!

[@sheilaorangd1967]

I keep my hair natural and it's been real very good I had a few bumps but after learning about it with KZbinrs and reading and reading about products I'm satisfied now I love being natural I can control my hair now with shampoos and conditioners and oils and I'm very happy and to say to black women who we thought that we couldn't grow hair or it was genetic because mama had long hair Grandma had long hair but we all as long as you don't have a medical condition or lack of vitamins and keeping your body healthy so that your hair can grow we can grow waist-length hair don't let no one put you down and tell you that you can't grow hair if you're having a perm or you color your hair you will see when your hair start to get puffy when you have a relaxer that's new growth and all you have to do with the system of who do your hair or the beauty if you go to the beauty parlor is to retain length so all I have to say don't let no one tell you that as a black girl black woman that you cannot grow here because I can testify to it I am still on my journey but I am so very happy

[@UIV7096]

She’s very beautiful in all Styles short long shaved... she experienced spiritually the shaving of her hair.. her glory.. her covering..

[@myjoi212]

She's gorgeous....her features and skin are perfect and love her hair!

[@erikkillmonger4000]

Great movie. I love my women, especially with their hair in its natural beauty :)

[@blurose9648]

I loved this movie!! Sanaa is so beautiful with her buzz cut.

[@tarnichedtreasuresllc5763]

One of the very reasons I love her!! Not afraid to embrace her natural beauty wholeheartedly!! Such a lovely woman.

[@therealkenj98]

She looks so good!

[@aristothearies]

Without a doubt Sanaa Lathan has been one of the biggest inspiration since I was as young as Five! She is Everything to me, this human is truly incredible 😍😩

[@Patrick73787]

Happy birthday Sanaa!

[@mahoganywilson-taggart1487]

Like the look . you can see the natural beauty inside and out. Hair just hides are true essence of who we are. Bold and beautiful comes in all colors . living your truth and being yourself , who God created is truly all that matters.

[@charlenewalker7891]

great interview ladies, continued blessings to everyone

[@denanewton1518]

Love this conversation and Sanaa as well. Her hair looks amazing so thick and healthy.

[@AuntyM66]

I feel better now after my semi big chop. Hair grows back.

[@MrzJones2314]

I watched it and it was excellent!😍😍😍😍

[@lottiespence2614]

I think most Black American woman were all once into European beauty. As we got older we began to love ourselves the way we need to be loved l. Natural is the way to go and I feel beautiful and happy.

[@FEMI9INEOracle]

She’s so beautiful!!! 👑

[@debrastevenson709]

Her hair is beautiful short and long or with no hair at all she's a beautiful black woman! I wish she had more opportunities in Hollywood because she's an amazing actress!

[@thehoneyeffect]

Elephant in the room is the beautiful black women in this vid with the dark skin and type 4hair weren't really rocking their own afro hair texture or talking about why they're not. Plus the fact that Sanaa's hair would be considered 'good hair' by many black people because she has looser curls 4a/3c.Plus Mixed Race women are represented frequently, meanwhile black girls not so much. In saying all of that, Im glad that the film was made, I appreciate Sanaa's bravery, even though its abit of a cheesy romcom we need those types of films too.

[@galewright-lyons8493]

Saana's hair wouldn't be considered *good hair* by Black people, who have naturally straight or naturally curly hair. Her natural hair is kinky curly. Also, the show wasn't about the other two sisters wearing a wig/braids. Be reminded that most Black people's hair is naturally curly from the roots, just as Saana's hair is.

[@mizzjacquettaxx6974]

Sanaa still beautiful and younger ever🙂💖

[@veronicamoton5250]

And Sanaa looks Great!

[@gracelove1842]

she's so beautiful. all the ladies r beautiful

[@baegoals8112]

So Sad But So True...❤️

[@BEEVICKY1]

beautiful ladies beautiful conversation keep it going don't stop #representation

[@biblegirl2980]

I love Sanaa’s natural hair. Thick & curly just beautiful; without the movie you would have never known.

[@jackbass9712]

That Virgo ♍️ courage is 2nd 2 nun my beauroyal Dunia Nzuri sweet earth u make us all proud keep shining my Spiritual energy power waves are with u 💚✅

[@mahoganywilson-taggart1487]

I like that song dont believe me just watch , where are all my over comer at . believe in you spread the joy of peace . go for it and ride this life .

[@latoyaraymond9674]

This was a great movie!

[@dawnd.5290]

Keeping it real !

[@johndelaney1787]

Maaaannnnn she's beautiful!!!!!!!!!!😍😍😍😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@franstylz08]

Great movie✨👌🏽

[@E32DJ-ELB24]

Love to Sanaa Lathan ✌🏽🩷

[@tw6361]

What song is the name of the song in the intro of the video? Sounds so good!

[@cocdezal]

she is so beautiful wow.

[@mandelharvey3429]

I always considered my dad and his brothers and the men in my church as peers with superman and the comic book heroes. I always thought I was seeing the alter ego. Come to find out it's ego on the altar. But that's something new to write.

[@cythrajulie2122]

Being Natural is beautiful. Embrace yourself. No make up , natural hair ... that's the best beauty

[@cythrajulie2122]

Sanaa Lathan to be honest you own this hair. It fits you perfectly. There is glow in your natural beauty

[@Leah__Ro]

It was a great film.

[@Usualspec13]

She's stunning either way.

[@tas-life231]

sanaa looks beautiful an she a good actress

[@thisisyourfact-check1669]

Sanaa, great comments about natural hair, and your hairstyle looks FABULOUS. Shamika Sanders has on a wig or weave. I'm so tired of Black women with fake hair!!! And I don't think that we should call our hair nappy. Coily, curly or wavy hair is better.

[@midnightvelvet8077]

yes indeed. "nappy" actually refers to a baby diaper

[@livinglifetthefullest7722]

@@midnightvelvet8077 I agree but not every Black person have wavy curly hair it depends on your hair type but wavy and curly isn't a common combination some of us have that combination (like myself) but most if us don't.

[@livinglifetthefullest7722]

@@midnightvelvet8077 really? I didn't know that

[@veronicamoton5250]

Yas! I love my natural looks!

[@the4thhorseman840]

I think all black women should wear their natural hair. It's so beautiful. I wish black men would really support and encourage our women to do so.

[@lastdays3148]

Ms.Sanaa Lathan hair is thick & beautiful,she looks much younger wearing hair coif hair like this.

[@harmony3279]

She looks so nyxg better with her hair short

[@tinamacoy6293]

I went natural 18 years ago. This summer I scalped my hair bald and felt nothing. Am I missing something? I'm used to cutting. Had locks twice. I only did it this time to grow it all the way out which goes pass the middle of my back so I can leave it alone and just live.

[@YourGirlSudanny]

She's so beautiful. I big chopped in April & sadly, I hardly wear my own hair out; usually in different wigs :/

[@bauthentic333]

U still got some growing to do, sis

[@YourGirlSudanny]

It is & it's kinda sad that we've gotta shift our mindset to rock our OWN hair. I would wear my hair out more if my hair was able to stay looking & feeling moisturised. As soon as I step outside, it's dry as foook! Any tips?

[@FoAdunni]

@@YourGirlSudanny camille rose ginger rinse shampoo giovanni 50/50 calming conditioner or mielle protein free deep conditioner put on a shower cap or plastic bag sit under a dryer or put a hat over the plastic cap to capture body heat for 30 min rinse out moisturize with mielle curling souffle seal with olive oil on the second day. If your hair is still dry after the second day of reapplying water cream and oil you may need to use a thicker cream with coconut like maui moisture curl enhancing smoothie from the drug store. I didnt start with that cream because coconut dries some people's hair out. I also recommended protein free items so you can add a protein deep conditioner or leave in product as you learn what your hair likes

[@The.Whoever]

@@YourGirlSudanny You need to watch every video on Green Beauty channel on KZbin and learn your porosity. It's the key to moisturizing your hair properly and most importantly staying moisturized. Also no matter what ppl recommend, only use products that work FOR YOU! it will take trial and error so be ready for the journey. But when you find what works, stick to it unless you think you've found something that could work better. And I did the same when I became natural. Don't feel or allow anyone to shame you for continuing to wear wigs until you get comfortable with your hair. I did the same until my hair got long enough to where I felt it flattered my face. Every one will have an opinion about what they think or how they think you should wear your hair. It's not going to change when you go natural or rock your natural hair so get ready and don't give a fuck. Lol And I still rock my wigs just not as much. The only difference is I'm no longer dependent on them and I feel the most confident in my natural hair. As oppose to before I felt the most confident in fake long hair. Also no longer giving any damns about what any other group including your own says about your hair will help tremendously. Tune that out and focus on you and mastering your hair. Trust me! And don't feel like you have to follow any natural hair rules. If silicones, sls poos, and/or grease is working for your hair, then use it. Just be sure to research how to use them properly. And stay away from the natural hair community. That "community" is very toxic. And when all else fails, Google is your friend. Have a concern or question about your hair? Simply type it in. No matter how ridiculous you think the question or concern is. And follow ladies with your hair type. But you really want to be focusing more on figuring out your own hair than watching others. I also found that focusing on what my hair CAN and WANTS to do rather than constantly trying to force it to do what it can't has caused my hair to thrive and be much easier to deal with. I use to be so caught up in definition of curls and wash n gos and later realized I don't even like the look of them and they caused me breakage. Also be sure your protective styles aren't too tight or anything. And don't keep your wig on 24/7. Your scalp needs to breath. Lastly, consistency will make or break your hair. You need a consistent routine. Lol ok I'm done. Sorry so long I just love to help my newly natural sisters. Too many of us are going back relaxed or never showing our hair. Remember patience! Take your time! Good luck! 🤗😊

[@YourGirlSudanny]

@@FoAdunni Thank you girl. I'll have a look at those items 💜

[@tevinmabry609]

Hey Sanaa lathan you look so beautiful and I love when you was in the movie love & basketball with Omar Epps and out of time with Denzel Washington and eva Mendes and you look so beautiful and that movie and I hope to meet you soon Sanaa lathan 💙

[@loyal8501]

The lady next to sanaa on the left is fine😍

[@HEAVYCHEVY409]

*Sanaa is beautiful woman and a great actor! But Ms. Kelly is drop dead gorgeous me and her could play a game a basketball for my heart lol she can win!*

[@lindajackson7310]

Hi edagdwg love this lady she is pretty woman she knows her self Linda j ❤️joy peace happy ☮️

[@tracieparham5893]

I'm an African-American women who embraces weave because my hair is super thin, does not hold a curl..my texture of hair is like cotton.. my choice to wear weave has nothing to do with thinking white people look better or because I'm ashamed of my hair...I wear it because its convenient & it wouod cost me a lot of time & money to attempt to wear my hair...been there done that..my natural hair is very healthy, I wash & condition it on a regular however I choose not to wear it because its difficult due to the soft textur..nothing more or less..every black women that wears weave is NOT ashamed of her blackness... I have had white women tell me they wish they had texture in there hair like AA women.. I had to let her know that I have no texture so we are in the same boat... she wore weave as well to give her the volume & fullness.. women of all races & culture wear weaves wigs extensions braids ect.. its called fashion, options & convience.. every action a black women makes about her hair is not about self hatred.. it could very well be about convience.. I'm one of many beautiful black women who chooses to wear weave/braids/extensions/ wigs because of convience nothing more or less...trust me😘

[@raegray8768]

Ladies let me help you all those fairy tales were originally our stripes especially Cinderella! Cinder-rella or cinder=Black or burnt, rella-regina princess or queen etymologically!!! Rapunzal’s golden hair was her melanin. We don’t know our history or even esops the Ethiopian’s fables. There is nothing new under the sun. Our hair ladies is connected to the cosmic ethos. We are queens and goddesses!

[@tinamacoy6293]

You better tell it! Everything that is born from this earth gives praise to the sun and stands erect. Our hair grows up likes the trees, grass, and vegetation because we are paying homage to the earth in which we come from.

[@alskmr4036]

Brazilian African-descent Brazilians are going crazy about this movie. See Gabi das Pretas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHLSZImdZd-kg68 many African descent Brazilian bloggers are talking about this movie. In Portuguese, it calls - FELICIDADE POR UM FIO

[@seansartor]

95% of Brothas have abandoned their conks after the ‘60s. I am ecstatic my Sisthas are shedding European beauty standards. We are FINALLY embracing the beauty standards of The ORIGINAL woman. We can’t let propaganda rule our vision of ourselves

[@sistasoldier7774]

Sanaa is so pretty! 😩😂🤗

[@eltonfan1]

We see beautiful women on youtube chopping off their hair everyday and talking about how it makes them feel and see themselves. Why are we behaving as though this is new? Let's also mention they do if for themselves and not a role

[@rhyno8644]

Is she serious? ? I see light skin females everywhere in magazines and modeling and music it's 2018. I rarely see dark skin women or even the features of black women represented unless they are on another nationality. I don't have to be self depravative to admit what I see everywhere.

[@sweetsong1623]

Yes we see that now. But I think she was talking about her childhood or possibly her mother’s childhood not having enough blacks representation

[@isharamsi2595]

Well black people are to blame for that

[@nyembsafric1]

She meant hair and you didn't see that many

[@rhyno8644]

Black people love to wait until you get rich and famous to claim you don't they It's funny cause its true

[@Brownie8986]

@@rhyno8644 *sad but very, very true unfortunately*

[@justblack1]

Shes lucky she has a beautiful face because if I shaved my head 🤮

[@acharich]

💀💀💀💀💀

[@lovelife4eva]

Take that back...look what society has done to us. We arent allowed to embrace our own uniqueness ...makes me sad😕

[@the2006mvp]

Lol...and her head shape is perfect! Some of us have lumpy misshapen heads...i know I do...mine shaped like a football at the back...lol...I wont be shaving this head...ever! Lol...luckily ive been natural my whole life...im 25...my mom was way ahead of the curve in her thinking...

[@livinglifetthefullest7722]

@@the2006mvp same thank good nees I been Natrual all my life cause I would have a lumpy peanut m&m head 💀💀😂😂 shavedisnt for everyone plus my face is a lil chubby for a shaved head look lol .

[@Lulu060986]

Din’t realize Sanaa was so lightskin. Her hair is beautiful though.

[@chicagoliightsx]

Here come the colorist comments, of course. 🙄Oh boy...

[@isharamsi2595]

@@chicagoliightsx how would that be colorist?

[@keishadewsbury1104]

So true didnt realise she was so light skinned yer her hair lovely an this brings me back to the movie something new ☺

[@keishadewsbury1104]

Ok so look at her skin tone in any film thats what i mean

[@thehoneyeffect]

Rarely is she ever next to black women that are darker than her, thats why

[@scripter0998]

I wish this role had been done by someone with 4c hair.

[@leongardner710]

Look at HER, she's the only one with her OWN HAIR...the rest got all the fake hair on...CRAZY...YOU don't like you, who going to

[@mudzungaratshitanga]

I wonder why hair is such a big deal to women🤷🏿‍♂️

[@MadelynBass]

This was a great movie!