Speak Out!
“Good” Hair?
Sun, 07/12/2009 - 20:13 | CommunityA CNN.com article addresses how hair and hair styles are so deeply rooted in African American identity and culture:
It's not about hair per se, it's about what hair means, particularly for black women in terms of racial identity, identity based on gender and ideas about power," she [Ingrid Banks, an associate professor of Black Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara] said. "On one level, hair matters because race matters in our society. For black people, our hair has been infused with these racial politics."Banks points to the ideas, which continue to linger, that if a black woman straightens her hair she is "selling out the race" and/or "embracing the white standard of beauty" while women who wear their hair in natural styles are "blacker than thou."Because her children are biracial, [Renae] Valdez-Simeon said she has often heard comments about her children's "good hair.""When a child has straight hair, they are told they have 'good hair' and while people aren't telling children with curly hair that they have 'bad hair,' in essence that is what you are saying because you are saying that straight hair is good hair," Valdez-Simeon said.
Why does Black hair evoke such differing perceptions?
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Good hair
What is good hair?
Our Hair!
A am a 40 year old single black woman who is having trouble finding, I mean attracting a clean-cut black male because my hair is in it's natural state. I have not problems, if I was looking for an African or White man but I am not. I don't get it! I am bringing plenty to the table, with regards to education, career, one child; I own my own home and vehicle. Why is it that the brakes are pumped because I do not have straight hair? It saddens me because, I love my black men.
Be You!
I really don’t think that the natural hair, straight hair, is a problem with black men, you could be bald headed but it really depends on the man. It is a saying that things come to you when you least expect them. Well that is a true saying! My experience of meeting a potential black man in my life happened when I wasn’t thinking about it. I was in a health food store, standing in line with a girlfriend just chatting away about some of the health products we wanted to buy. Well along came this black man in the store, he looked at me and I looked at him and the connection begin. We have become good friends with a lot in common. He communicates very well, he likes to read, and he is very focus about his goals in his life. But what happen on that Saturday evening was far fetch from what was on my mind at the time. So I’m saying to you in all humility, you are who you are inside and out. There is someone for everyone and when that man crosses your path, he will adore the beauty you behold and will recognize you instantly. Could it be that you are too focus on your hair? And you think that every one else will be too.
I don't think I can fully
I don't think I can fully answer the question but I believe that hair changes everything. If you're dressed nicely and your hair is not done, it makes for an odd picture, also, it makes you feel good on the inside when your hair looks nice. One person said it best; "good hair is healthy hair."
"Good Hair"
As a little girl growing up, I certainly did not have "good hair." Now, my hair wasn't bad, it just needed that straightening comb from time to time. I, personally, feel that black people were more content and accepting of their looks during the days of the "afro." I take this position because that particular hairstyle, including cornrows, identified and defined us. We were unique and different; unlike any other group or ethnicities.
When we began to pay attention to the standards of beauty on television and in newspapers and magazines, things began to change. It seemed that one was not considered attractive or beautiful unless she was thin with long, straight hair and light skin. Many a dark sister has been wounded by that standard.
It is thinking like this that helped put Michael Jackson in the grave. African features have been a curse for many. The good hair/bad hair debate is still alive and well.
I like being Me Sexy Chocolate!
All these poisonous sayings come from slavery and have been passed down to generations to generations. Good hair to me is healthy hair whether straight or curly. My grandmother rest her soul, had me thinking for a long time that marrying a light skin man would guarantee me better looking children with good hair. It wasn’t until I became saved in Jesus Christ, that I really start to embrace who I am and not be ashamed of what God has created. I can truly say that with every ounce of my soul, I love being me! People pay big bucks to look like me with the full lips, hips, butt, and skin color. I got all of mine for free! LOL! That’s a message in the blessing. Be proud of what God has done, look around, other people are trying to look just like what they say they hate- Dark Chocolate. Anytime someone loathe you for your skin color, go beyond that and ask yourself why. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s because they want to look like you1 It’s a blessing to be me Thank you Jesus and a bucket full of glory!