Introducing 'Black Beauty: Perspectives, Viewpoints and Representations'.

This article introduces a Special Issue focused on Black beauty as a multifaceted cultural construct that encompasses identity, resistance, and political agency beyond mere aesthetics. It traces the historical roots of Black beauty in African civilizations, highlighting its disruption through colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, and examines how Black women have continuously negotiated Eurocentric beauty standards through acts of cultural reclamation and empowerment. The issue explores the intersections of race, gender, and class in Black beauty practices, addressing themes such as commodification, misogynoir (a term describing the intersectional discrimination faced by Black women), and the politicization of beauty in media and fashion. Contemporary discussions include the role of digital platforms, influential Black beauty entrepreneurs and activists, and movements like the CROWN Act, all of which contribute to redefining global beauty narratives by centering Black women's lived experiences and resilience.