Grandassa Models

The Grandassa Models were African American. They were a part of "Miss Natural Standard of Beauty Contests". The contests were hosted each year on Marcus Garvey Day. Which is on August 17. The beauty contestants were dark skinned, wore natural hair, and African styled clothing.^[1] In January 1962 the African Jazz-Art Society & Studio and the Grandassa models gave a fashion in Harlem. The fashion show was in the basement of a Harlem night club called the Purple Manor on East 125th street. The show was called "Naturally 62". The show was considered revolutionary because the models were not professional. The models hair was natural and they had dark skin. Most African Americans in the early sixties wore their hair pressed to straighten by a Hot comb. “Black Is Beautiful”, became the slogan and a movement Black is beautiful.^[2][3][4]

Black Rose was a Grandassa model and a pioneer in African natural hairstyles.^[5][6] AJASS was formed in 1956 by a group of young African American artists, designers, musicians, hairdressers, writers, and jazz enthusiasts. It was initially called the Jazz-Art Society. It was later remained the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios. They produced jazz concerts, art exhibitions, and cultural events. The concerts featured many artists that later become renowned, such as Lou Donaldson, Jackie McLean, Gigi Gryce, Johnny Griffin, Cannonball Adderley, Hank Mobley, Junior Cook, Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones, Betty Carter, Leon Thomas, Wilbur Ware, and others. The organization was influenced by Carlos A. Cooks, leader of the African Nationalist Pioneer Movement (ANPM). ANPM developed out of Marcus Garvey's UNIA.^[7]

The original Grandassa models were Clara Lewis, Black Rose, Nomsa Brath, Priscilla Bardonille, Mari Toussaint, Esther Davenport, Wanda Sims, and Beatrice Cramston. Ann Tripp and Sikolo Braithwaite were former members of the Grandassa models. Ann Tripp is the News Director for the Steve Harvey Show and WBLS/WLIB Radio. She is quoted as saying "they were forerunners of the natural hair movement". "We tried to make black people feel proud of who they were, no matter what complexion or hair type".^[8]

AJASS worked with Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach in producing "Naturally" shows. The shows were created to develop racial pride, African culture, poetry, art, and standards of beauty. AJASS shows traveled to colleges and universities in the United States of America. They were also a part of "The Black Arts Movement", along with Larry Neal, Ed Bullins, and Leroi Jones that created theater in Harlem." AJASS became a part of the "Black Arts Movement" Leroy Jones later on changed his name to Amiri Baraka.^[9] The organizers were a part of an organization called AJASS. The organizers were Elombe Brath, Kwame Brathwaite, Robert Gumbs, Afrank Adu, Chris Asmandeces Hall, David K. Ward, Ernest Baxter, and Jimmy Abu Williams. The women competed with natural hair showcasing natural African beauty. AJASS organizers were Elombe Brath, Kwame Brathwaite, Robert Gumbs, Frank Adu, Chris Asmandeces Hall, David K. Ward, Leroy “Satch” Giles, and Gus Williams Leroy “Satch” Giles, and Gus Williams. The theme of the beauty contests was “Black Is Beautiful.” AJASS started in Harlem.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

AJASS continued to hold "Naturally" beautiful shows regularly thru and 1980s, and then ten year anniversaries til 2002.

In 1963 AJASS created The Black Standard Publishing Company. They published two booklets; "Naturally '63 Portfolio, and later in 1963 "Color Us Cullud", the AJASS theater company.^[7]

On September 22, 2018 in Harlem, the Elombe Brath Foundation and the Harlem Arts Alliance presented a tribute to the Grandassa Models, as the pioneers of the "Black is Beautiful" movement.^[15]

References

External links

• "CCPTV.ORG: Queen Black Rose on African Hair and the Grandassa Models". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
• Grandassa models, Naturally 62 & the Business of Black is Beautifull