The Ultimate Twist Unveiled: Discover the Truth of Nella's Hair Grease in The Other Black Girl

Summary

The Other Black Girl explores the complex and suspenseful story of Nella, who becomes suspicious of her new coworker Hazel and uncovers dark secrets at the company.

The show explores the concepts of internalized oppression and intersectionality. It depicts how Black women are manipulated into adhering to oppressive standards in order to achieve success.

In the final episodes of the first season, Nella, Malaika, and Kendra make plans to overthrow both Diana and the Sisterhood, hinting at the potential for a second season.

Hulu's dramedy thriller, The Other Black Girl, delivers a gripping and intricate ending. Adapted from Zakiya Dalila Harris's novel of the same name, this series revolves around Nella Rogers, an editorial assistant who starts off as the sole Black woman at Wagner Books. When another Black woman, Hazel-May McCall, is hired, Nella finds solace in their shared experiences as Black women working in the corporate publishing world, forming a fast friendship. However, strange occurrences begin to unfold, casting doubt on Hazel's intentions.

Nella receives an anonymous letter urging her to leave Wagner Books, while Hazel initially encourages her to speak up about issues with a client's book, only to later withdraw her support. Instead, Hazel appears to be attempting to win over their coworkers and Nella's client. As Nella and her best friend Malaika dig deeper, they discover that Hazel lacks any documented history prior to a year ago. This leads them to uncover unsettling files containing private information on multiple Black women, including Nella. These revelations propel them towards the dark secrets that Wagner Books is hiding. The climax and ending of The Other Black Girl unravel with an intricacy that captivates.

What Happens to Kendra Rae Phillips?

In the first season of The Other Black Girl, Kendra Rae Phillips, the former Black editor at Wagner Books, is shrouded in mystery. Richard Wagner, the owner, informs Nella that Kendra disappeared due to her secret suicide years ago. However, Nella discovers Richard's deception when Kendra comes to her rescue from Diana Gordon. The conclusion of The Other Black Girl reveals that Diana had coerced Kendra into using mind-controlling hair grease against her will. Realizing she was being manipulated, Kendra escapes and goes on the run from Diana.

The relationship between Kendra and Diana in The Other Black Girl demonstrates how individuals who have been oppressed can become oppressors themselves by internalizing society's messages. In their pursuit of success in the book publishing industry, Diana alters her behavior to be more submissive and agreeable, and she expects other Black women to do the same. She enforces the use of her hair grease as a means of control. On the other hand, Kendra refuses to conform and instead fights for the respect she deserves. Because Kendra refuses to change herself to fit oppressive norms, Richard and Diana, who hold more influence and power, attempt to coerce her. Ultimately, they would rather erase Kendra than allow her resistance to prevail.

Does Nella Use The Hair Grease?

Nella's appearance and demeanor undergo a significant transformation in the conclusion of The Other Black Girl. She conforms to white beauty standards by styling her hair straight and wearing more noticeable makeup, rather than her previous choice of an afro and minimal makeup. In addition, she refrains from voicing her discontent with the company's problematic upcoming book, instead expressing excitement for its release. These changes suggest that Nella may have utilized the hair grease given to her by Hazel.

However, the ending of The Other Black Girl season 1 reveals that this assumption is incorrect. Nella merely pretends to have used the hair grease as a means to infiltrate the company and gain access to Diana's inner circle. By positioning herself favorably with Diana, she becomes a spy, gathering valuable information on the Sisterhood.

The Sisterhood’s History And Leadership Explained

The group responsible for promoting agreeability and success among Black women is known as The Sisterhood. Under the leadership of Diana, the group carefully chooses lead conditioners and assigns tasks. Rather than delving into the organization's structure and history, The Other Black Girl TV show leaves gaps for viewers to fill in. In contrast to the book, the show omits any established origins of the hair grease used by the Sisterhood. The exact timing and manner in which the Sisterhood came into existence remain unclear, although it probably occurred after the incident involving Diana and Kendra. By withholding specific details, the show adds an air of mystery and power to the entire organization.

Hazel’s Backstory In The Other Black Girl

In episode 9 of The Other Black Girl season 1, titled "To Be Young, Gifted and Broke," the viewers are presented with Hazel's backstory, shedding light on how she became the lead conditioner for the Sisterhood. At that time, Hazel was known as Chantal and her responsibilities included taking care of her disabled mother while also juggling her job. Despite her aspirations of becoming an editor, Chantal faced numerous socioeconomic obstacles that prevented her from pursuing a college education. When she missed out on a job opportunity as an editorial assistant, Diana lured her into joining the Sisterhood, promising that it would enable her to achieve her dream job while also caring for her mother.

Hazel’s backstory has implications for The Other Black Girl’s messages. Despite her aspirations for upward mobility, Hazel lacks access to the same resources as others. In order to pursue a better life, she relies on social currency, which is provided by the Sisterhood. However, this comes at a cost to her own thoughts, values, and personality. Hazel’s origins depict that solely examining racism and misogyny is insufficient. Diana, being a middle-aged, affluent, and renowned Black woman, has a different experience compared to Hazel, who is young, impoverished, and Black. These intersecting identities necessitate a comprehensive analysis to comprehend the impact of systems on them, even within the context of the show.

Who Sends Nella The Notes And Manuscript?

The mystery surrounding the sender of the notes and manuscript in The Other Black Girl is established early on. However, the series never explicitly resolves this mystery. Nonetheless, there is a subtle moment that provides a highly plausible explanation. During a flashback, Kendra hastily takes the manuscript and stashes it in her bag while on the run. Thus, if Kendra is the one who sent the note, it is highly likely that she also sent the manuscript.

The Real Meaning of The Other Black Girl

The Other Black Girl delves into workplace racism before delving into the thrilling mystery aspect of the plot. Nella faces an uphill battle in her quest for a promotion at Wagner Books, and her efforts are undermined as soon as she speaks up about racism. Her boss deems her advocacy as unprofessional, disrespectful, and disruptive to the established order. When Hazel joins the company, she and Nella are constantly compared, with their colleagues implying that Hazel embodies the ideal image of a Black woman.

Following this, the mystery unfolds, introducing Diana and the Sisterhood, characters that exemplify how Black women can internalize societal messages, both explicit and implicit. Diana only embraces aspects of Blackness that do not challenge White supremacy. Her hair grease symbolizes the expectation for Black women to remain silent, be submissive, and overlook any issues in order to achieve success. Her approach to addressing an oppressive system involves conforming to it.

Additionally, The Other Black Girl effectively highlights the negative effects of white fragility. When Nella voices concerns about the problematic content of a client's book, her boss instructs her to pretend to like it and keep her thoughts to herself. Rather than challenging the status quo and demonstrating solidarity, her boss succumbs to white fragility. Following the scandal, Nella's white colleagues panic about the potential accusation of racism, instead of taking responsibility for their role in perpetuating a system that allowed the scandal to occur. Ultimately, the supposed allies in The Other Black Girl revert back to protecting their Whiteness instead of directly confronting racism.

The Other Black Girl’s Ending Leaves The Door Open For Season 2

With The Other Black Girl receiving positive reviews and ratings, it is highly likely that Hulu will renew the series for a second season. The adaptation cleverly deviates from the ending in Harris' book, thereby setting the stage for a continuation. In the gripping season 1 finale, Malaika and Kendra take matters into their own hands by abducting Jesse Watson, a Black activist who has been manipulated into endorsing a book promoting Black oppression under his name. Nella cunningly poses as a user of the hair grease, gaining entry into the Sisterhood. Together, the trio appears to be strategizing a plan to dismantle Diana's group in the upcoming second season of The Other Black Girl.