In the film, Rock examines why some African-American women feel they need long, silky, straight hair to fit into white society. In today’s world, why do black women need to have long silky hair? Has being the need to look more European really taken over our community? Chris Rock explain on the Oprah show that he immediately became interested in the science of black women’s hair when his daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?
To some this movie made black women upset. Although the film was funny, is it really? Is it funny to laugh at how black women chose to go through extreme measures to have “good hair”? If you are sitting in the movie theatre and a woman, who has “good hair”, is laughing at the jokes would you be offended? The problem at hand is that is it okay for us, black people, to laugh at the fact we don’t have “good hair” but not okay for others to laugh?
Black people should embrace their natural hair and accept what God gave them. God has already blessed women of color with curves and our amazing charisma. I believe that other races are already trying to imitate us with plastic surgery. Other races are plumping their booties, lips, and hips. Why is it that we are trying to look different?
5 comments:
I saw Good Hair and I thought it was enlightening. I believe that the comedy was a means of presenting important information in a non-threatening manner. I would not be offended if a white person or someone with "good hair" was laughing at the jokes because I do not feel that the film was degrading. I think that any Black woman would say that the film was true and valid. Black women have textured hair that is sometimes difficult to manage or get appear the way the woman would wish. I do not feel that it is a problem for people to alter their appearance if it makes them feel better about themselves, because at the end of the day, one's personal self esteem matters.
I have been natural for four to five years now, however I have a weave and I wear extensions in my braids. I think that black women have good hair because we are able to wear our hair any way we want. Its thick enough to wear natural, thick enough to get perms, thick enough to get braids, and wear a weave. I feel that wearing your hair naturally has become just as much a fad as wearing it permed. If there is a woman with an afro, its always picked or clipped or dipped in dye at the ends. No one walks around without caring how their hair looks, so my argument is this: Wear it the way you want to wear it. Hopefully as a society we can accept people no matter how they wear their hair.
-Nia Newton
As I read your piece I could not help but stop and check how I truly feel about hair. Hair is a very important part of the black woman's identity. Most men prefer long, luscious, "good hair" so it is not ludicrous that women seem to fight the ongoing battle when it comes to that which grows out of their scalp. Perms, presses, straighteners, braids and even rocking it natural are various ways that hair can be worn and still look great, however, I think the problem comes in when opinions are thrown into the mix. Hair is a way to express yourself, and when opinions are put into the conversation many women disregard how they liked to wear their hair and begin to appease society. Furthermore, you mentioned the jokes made about "good hair". Now is it okay for women with "good hair" to laugh at jokes made about "bad hair"? I say if they find it funny, why not. But they should not be surprised when others without "good hair" begin to question their chuckles.
Sascha
I believe this is true about as a race, we must embrace the skin we in, including the hair; straight, curly, coarse, or nappy hair that God has gave us. Unfortunately, the corporate world sometimes finds it hard to except. I am not saying we must conform to their believes but if you don't you must be confident in the skin and hair that you are in. Personally as a black female, whose hair is natural, I am satisfied with the hair that I have and I took it as my own personal decision to go natural because its healthier and it gives off a sense of pride in my heritage.
-Courtney Warren
Growing up I was always told by my mother that "all hair is 'good hair'" so this matter never bothered me. Maybe if we as a people stopped trying to justify or explore our reasons for doing what we do, we wouldn't be so emotional about certain subjects. If we did not try and determine why we as a race first started getting relaxers and/or straigtening our hairs then there would not be a problem with others speaking of the process. Wear your hair the way you please, and forget the rest.
Post a Comment