(CNN) -- Hair in the black community is like a religion, resplendent with ritual, devotion, mythology, metaphor, plenty of pomp and circumstance. Black hair arguably is one of the quickest indicators of ethnicity, ethos and sometimes, politics. This past week, two very different children found their very different "ethnic" hairstyles in the spotlight on two very different political stages. Dante de Blasio, the son of New York City mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio, is a typical nerdy, smart, shy 16-year-old Brooklyn boy. He has delighted New Yorkers, late-night satirists and America with his charm and awesome afro. When the Big Apple's primary election was held, it garnered national attention at first largely because of the high-profile and high-drama candidate Anthony Weiner. Yet, when it came to the TV campaign ads, liberal Bill de Blasio stole the show.
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Michaela Davis: Two very different children found their hair in the spotlight this past week
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Davis: While Dante de Blasio's afro won hearts, Tiana Parker's dreadlocks got criticized
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She says the "otherness" of black hair is a reminder that there is still bias to overcome
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Davis: Let's hope one day black hairstyles won't trigger powerful emotions or suspicions
When the tearful @placeholder hit the TV news cycle, many people were heartbroken watching her.