Via rollingout.com
ORS Olive Oil teamed up with The Women of Bad Boy to host a series called Beauty Chronicles Women’s Empowerment Brunch in Chicago recently. It is an extension of the a campaign called No Stereotypes. This women’s empowerment series is paired up with the corresponding Bad Boy Reunion Tour. Faith Evans, Lauriann Gibson and Kima Raynor, Keisha Epps and Pam Long of Total were present at the velvet lounge to discuss their concerns and opinions regarding stereotypes.
When asked about her experience on the conversation stereotypes Faith Evans had this to say. “I realize that there are stereotypes on women of color,” Evans said. “When I came into the industry, I was a church girl. Luckily I was raised that there was a certain way I should present myself and offend people. I didn’t want people to mistake that for being soft. I don’t feel like the particular stereotypes affected me because I have always walked with God. No matter what I had to deal with, I knew I was going to be alright and then it was on to the next thing.”
Laurieann Gibson mentioned followed by saying, “The desire to be someone else must be [taken away] from our communities.”
We also spoke with Dr. Renee Matthews who happened to win two tickets to the Bad Boy Reunion show about her experience at the brunch. “I thought that Steven Jones of The Brand Maverick Entertainment and Ariel the Mogul put on a wonderful event that gave women the space to support each other and have an open dialogue about beauty and empowerment,” she said. “I know it is important to address stereotypes so that we can help the next generation make their way in this world and become successful. If we do not teach them then they will watch general market commercials and read magazines and fall into the trap of a lot of the stereotypes that they have created for and about us. “