Last week, the world was introduced to Tessica Brown, now infamously known as “Gorilla Glue Girl.”
Brown, who is a Black woman from Louisiana, became Internet famous after she posted pictures after she used a powerful spray adhesive, Gorilla Glue, as a temporary replacement for Got2BeGlued, a popular hair product.
Naturally, the glue hardened and got stuck to her scalp. One month and several washes later, Brown was still unable to remove the solvent from her hair and turned to social media to document her experience. Eventually, a Black plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Obeng, came to the rescue and treated Brown for free, removing the adhesive from her hair.
Although Got2BeGlued is a popular hair product for Black women, it does not do the job for everyone. In this instance desperate times called for desperate measures and Brown turned to a stronger solution.
Still, the entire spectacle highlighted how Black women’s pain is often dismissed and laughed at. This incident further proved how our culture does not allow for Black women to make mistakes, but when they do, they are publicly humiliated and have their entire identities reduced to a single mistake. In regards to their hair, Black women suffer from a unique type of pressure that expects their hair to be perfectly groomed and tamed at all times. Brown attempted to meet those expectations and not only suffered for it physically, but also socially.
GORILLA GLUE GIRL GOT HER HAIR BACK YASSSSS pic.twitter.com/FvS6zOmzx1
— T (@richonnesokoye) February 11, 2021
Many who criticized Brown said that this had been a tactic for her to get her fifteen minutes of fame. In reality, she paid a hefty price and further helped illustrate the disrespect and low regard many have for Black women, whose mistakes can quickly turn them into punching bags. Ironically, it also highlighted the country’s obsession with Black women and their hair.
Are YOU a victim of Gorilla Glue?#gorillagluegirl #SNL pic.twitter.com/lzYvGows96
— Loren Fouroux (@lorenfouroux) February 14, 2021
The process of Brown’s hair removal was tedious and emotional. It was clear that Brown was suffering physically and mentally through the process.
Despite the toll the situation took on her, Brown gave away the $23,000 that were donated to her GoFundMe to the Restore Foundation, a nonprofit that provides reconstructive surgeries. Her hope was that others could have the same access to surgery that she did, even if they had financial restrictions.
Even in the face of criticism and unsolicited laughter, Brown remained graceful through the ordeal. If Brown reacted harshly to the criticism she received, then she would have been labeled irate or worst, deemed an angry Black woman.
A Black woman’s hair is her crown and Brown’s was damaged in the Gorilla Glue fiasco. She was not allowed to mourn her hair but instead was forced to handle the situation with grace, even when few saw her humanity.
