Right before the start of Black History Month, The New York Times shared an article about Travis Kelce and his fade haircut.
The article implied that Kelce was an originator of the fade, which did not go over well in the Black community considering the haircut has been popular for decades.
Several members of the Black community spoke out against the article, including Jemele Hill and Shannon Sharpe.
“The New York Times began Black History Month by referring to the fade as the Travis Kelce,” Sharpe said on his “Nightcap” podcast that he co-hosts with ex-NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
“New York Times, so that’s how you start Black History Month,” Sharpe continued. “I’m trying to figure out what black barbershop you go in and say let me get the Travis Kelce.”
Hill added: “The NYT thinks that Travis Kelce invented the fade.” “When you have zero cultural competency on your staff, this is how you end up with stories like this.”
Even Kelce himself was not happy that the Times made the implication, saying he wanted no part in the controversy.
“That’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said with a smile, laughing off the Times‘ story. “And to do it on February 1st and throw me to the wolves like that, that’s messed up, man. I don’t want anything to do with that, man. I got a good fade, though, if you need it. I get a No. 2 on top with a high to mid fade with a taper in the back. But I didn’t invent that. I just asked for it.”
Travis Kelce confirms he did not invent the taper fade.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today#SuperBowlLVIII pic.twitter.com/7YctXphYez
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) February 6, 2024
The fade haircut has been part of the Black community since the ’80s and ’90s, when popular rap artists like Kid & Play and MC Hammer, as well as Black athletes like Shannon Sharpe and Emmitt Smith, wore the style.
That the NY Times wouldn’t take the time to note this in their article was interesting, to say the least. Especially when, as Kelce noted, the article was written right before Black History Month.
There doesn’t appear to be any comment or accountability coming from The Times about the article. Instead, they left it to Kelce to clean up their mess. To his credit, he did just that.
It shouldn’t be up to him to do that. Part of a journalist’s job is to get the facts right and provide context. African-American culture has been poached many times over the centuries, from food to music to dance, and their influence is often overlooked or downplayed.
This is a perfect example of why Black history is so important, to teach not only those in the Black community but others as well, about the contributions of the African-American community.
{Awful Announcing, Vegas Sports Today}
