Good Hair

[Gullah*Gotham*Glitter]

So lets talk about it. For those of you who haven't seen the new movie Good Hair by Chris Rock I highly recommend that you do. Before I throw in my two cents I would love to hear y'alls. Go!

[frodeep]

I liked "Good Hair" for the most part. I believe Chris touched on part of the issue because of his daughter. It was funny & smart and shared a lot about the business and desire for black womens' hair. I also loved when he interviewed the children - you could see how unsettled they were with the idea that they had to go through hours of torture, to look like...who? I don't know.

Part of me was unsettled, however, because I walked away believing he played it safe and didn't want to offend his fan base-smart move I guess its good for business.

When I was a child, I never knew what my hair looked like without being straightened or relaxed. Though I heard the speech from my mom, "There is no such thing as good hair." and "Don't listen to anyone who shares that ignorance." , children are extremely observant and words mean nothing after years of hearing "I can't manage this" and "Hold still" "Pop-Pop! Sizzle-Sizzle! buuuuuuuuuurnnnnnn". By the time I grew up, I knew there was no other way - nappy hair was not cool, so I killed any evidence of naps and laid a kiddie perm on it almost every month...but I knew that there was something wrong with me LOVING the fresh perm and rejecting who I was.

I was a victim who was blinded. I craved the praise I received and acted pissed when people tried to root me - "Its mine, I'd say, "Keep your hands out!" Then, I'd just smile a few moments later, because I was flattered they thought my hair wasn't real. But how could I be so proud if what was "mine" was altered by cream? Why is destroying the most prominent feature of my people more acceptable than bleaching skin, and making my nose skinny? Wouldn't I get grief from other black people if I did that? - Lord knows I get grief for just liking Rock music, or saying 'father' instead of 'paw'.

I always had an excuse to not go natural: no guy will like me, it looks unprofessional, what if I have the kind of fro that's see-through and fried looking? I'm proud to say, I don't think that way anymore, I've been loving my naps for over 2 years now. My fears were actually the fears of others: I actually have an incredibly loving boyfriend, and I've been hired at two business since the big chop. I laugh because most of the rejection comes from people with unhealthy permed hair ( you know, paper thin, with the 1.5 inch spiky ponytail that had to be gelled in place- yeah)

Not that Chris had to address this, but I know many Black American women have been traumatized to the point of not even thinking this is an issue. They believe we should conform to the straight & wavy and that's that! The history of "good hair" needs to be readdressed: remember people had to pass a comb test to go to church. How sick is that? I guess I won't be celebrating with God today, because my hair is too nappy to get a comb through. Or how about the teasing if you had nappy hair?-Most of the abuse came from us. And, man, the burning scalp alone, should tell the bulk of our population that there is a problem. We as a race can define what is acceptable and beautiful. If there is safety in numbers, and the majority only does what is acceptable to the majority, then hopefully our children will feel safe knowing that they are beautiful, because oooooooh, there another nappy head in a commercial, and in that movie, and in that video, and on that show, and on the cereal box. The industry can control minds-so more naps in the industry please...its already happening, but perhaps not fast enough.

[Mlle d. Sade]

Great post, frodeep.

[YamiNoSensei]

frodeep said:

I laugh because most of the rejection comes from people with unhealthy permed hair ( you know, paper thin, with the 1.5 inch spiky ponytail that had to be gelled in place- yeah)

-Most of the abuse came from us. And, man, the burning scalp alone, should tell the bulk of our population that there is a problem. We as a race can define what is acceptable and beautiful.

I haven't seen the film yet but so many of frodeep's comments are completely on point! Especially the part about most of the abuse coming from us. This is something I've often noticed... when I explain the whole "good hair" and color-struck thing to Caucasians, the response is almost invariably, "But why? I think your hair is so cool!" or "But your skin color is beautiful!". It's sad that other people can appreciate our natural beauty more than we can ourselves.

Food for thought: The word "nap" actually refers to the surface of a rich, textural fabric like fine wool, plush, or velvet. I offer that to people who think "nappy" is a pejorative term.
Good read: Tenderheaded: a comb-bending collection of hair stories, Juliette Harris & Pamela Johnson, ed.

[Kandyce]

Well said frodeep!!!

[Ashleigh]

1. I felt it was one sided and people who were not aware of the "issues" of A.A. hair would think we were these self- hating people who only cover our hair or alter it with chemicals. I was embarrassed that It did not talk about naturals, the women and men who love and look awesome with their fros, locks, braids, twists, frohawks, pin-ups, twist outs, and other styles.

Honestly, i thought it was going to "go there" and be a wake up to the black community. At least show natural hair in a positive light. It was fail.

And the "OMG DON'T TOUCH A BLACK WOMAN'S HAIR"

and the men who were like... black woman bashers were annoying and further perpetuated a negative view of black women.

I really was disappointed. >:(