Yesterday I saw the Chris Rock movie Good Hair. This documentary was very funny as it explored the historical, social and political aspects our Black Hair but it only discussed women who perm their hair or use weaves. Now being a child of the 60s and 70s I went through all the changes with the straightening combs, perms, white and Black peoples perception of my natural hair but I feel that Mr. Rock left out the Black Power Movement when the Afro/Natural became popular or accepted and also voices of Natural Hair care. I wish that Chris Rock had interviewed some Natural Hair Care Stylists so he could have presented a more balanced picture of what Black Women truly think and feel about their hair. All in all it was a good movie and I was sitting in the theatre cracking up yesterday. For me it was like a trip down memory lane in some cases. I've done everything to my hair except weaves or coloring.
I did disagree with what was said regarding white people being more relaxed if your hair is relaxed. This assessment is contingent on the industry you work in. I work for the security department in a museum. Frankly as long as you don't come in with your hair dyed purple or green the bosses could care less whether you wear your hair natural or relaxed.
Now being that many of my white co-workers are from countries where there are no Black people period they have not bought into the notion of permed or weaved hair being better than natural hair. In fact I get my best responses on my Afro from my white co-workers both Americans and Europeans. Actually it is women who react most to my hair. White men don't really react or respond one way or another unless you ask them or they have a question. In my case white people ask what seem like stupid questions about Black hair because they are just ignorant not racist. Since most of the Black women at the museum wear their hair relaxed I'm different with my every expanding Afro and sometimes when I wear cornrows or boxbraids I really attract attention. White people are just amazed at the versatility of Black Hair.
I think that the funniest parts of the movie were when one actress described the "tumbling tumble weaves" rolling down the avenue. See that almost everyday in my hood.
Also one of the best parts was the discussion in the Barbershop of touching a Black woman's hair during s*x and the responses of the Black actresses. This amazed me. First of all as I previously stated I wear my hair in an Afro. In fact I'm slowly becoming a salt & pepper Macy Gray. Anyway I have no problem with a man touching my hair during s*x. When my current relationship does progress to that point I will make it a point to him that I want him to touch, feel and caress my hair during s*x. For past boyfriends I've always loved touching their hair during the s*x act so I don't understand why they could or should not touch mine. As long as they don't try to pull it out of my head that is part of the entire intimate experience. Anyway as much fun as it may be for the woman to be on top most people as least for me I enjoy changing positions during s*x. These actresses who don't let their husbands or boyfriends touch their hair during s*x are not getting the most out of the act. I'm looking forward to renewing my s*x life and allowing that man to touch any part of me.
Maybe somebody could get in touch with filmmaker Julie Dash, Director of Daughters of the Dust and perhaps Ms. Dash could make a movie about African Americans who have embraced the kinks!! God Bless You All!!
I got off the "creamy crack" back in the mid 1990s when I was in my 30s. Since then other than a brief time when I was under extreme stress my health has been healthy, thick and growing. I'm now 50 and I have no problems with my hair. Wash and go Afro.
Crazy comments from white people, specifically white women on my job when I came in with my hair cornrowed this past summer. Does it hurt? Where did your hair go? Meaning my Afro. The assumption that I wash my hair every day just like them.
BTW my co-workers from Eastern European nations and from the Middle East just think I have curly hair. Since many of them were born in the 1970s, they don't know what an Afro is. Only one Arab supervisor who is 62 has any concept of Black Culture or Black hairstyles. My girlfriend from Iran feels my hair is Curly just like hers only smaller curls. My boyfriend is from Bulgaria and since he was born in 1957 he knows what an Afro is but never actually had an opportunity to touch one. Ivan has not said so and we have not progressed to me allowing him to touch my hair, even though I touch his but I'm sure he can't wait to get his hands on my head. I finally got him to admit he liked my Afro over my cornrows or boxbraids. Actually these terminlogies escape him. The first time he saw me with cornrows he thought they were locs but since there are no Black people in Bulgaria he would not know the difference. I'm educating him.
You know what really fascinates white people more than my hair is that at age 50 I have no lines or wrinkles in my face. Many of my co-workers white and Arab don't believe me when I tell them my age. Pretty much I look the same as I did when I was in my 30s. Obviously some is Melanin, DNA, genetics, etc... but I also lead a healthy lifestyle. No drinking, smoking, drugs, partying. I try to eat healthy and I walk for exercise.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 at 7:34AM
DeBorah Palmer
..." White people are just amazed at the versatility of Black Hair"...
I find this to be true. Although I wear my own hair, but relaxed I still get questions at work because many of the women wear different hair styles/weaves/wigs which is cool. I just prefer to wear my own hair since the time my son when he was 2 pulled my wig off in a crowded park full of people.
On another note, I'm happy that you are educating others about Black hair even your boyfriend, Ivan. ((smiles)) I had a stylist who told me that hair was made to be brushed and combed when he would dipolomatically decline my requests for some of those fancy hairstyles that required gels and hair spray. ((Lol))
I too enjoy when my man runs his hands through my hair during those intimate times we share together! It's the most amazing thing... the power of touch ... I hope you and Ivan will have a really amazing experience when the time comes. Thanks for sharing Sister DeBorah.
You have to understand that Chris Rock did not grow up back in the day. I do remember the Cinderella curls, my cousins (older) used to do my hair when I was 6. I remember having hair so thick I would start crying when my mother started getting the towels ready to wash my hair. Women now days like the curly mess of hair on their heads, I do not think it is stylish because you can barely get a comb through it. I remember visiting my grandmother, and my mother used to take me to the only woman that would do m hair with tenderness.....Ms. Craft was her name, dark skinned woman, with the reddest of red Revlon lipstick and black Cadillac glasses. She knew how to do my hair, without pain.....I can hear her say, "don't get that comb too hot, her hair ain't gonna take the heat. Now I wash and pull it back, tie it up to straighten it, sleep well to dry, and flat iron. I do remember more, I just don't want to give up the age just yet.
Thursday, October 15th 2009 at 9:24PM
Cheryl Hendrix
Cheryl I remember the straigtening comb. My Mom used to press and curl my hair on Saturday nights so I could look good for church the next day. When my Dad saw her making the preparations he would say y'all getting ready to burn hair, I'm leaving this house and out he would go. I hated getting my hair washed, and straightened. My mother would be yelling at me to bend my head so she could get to my kitchen. I had the nappiest, kinkest hair in the world. My hair was so thick and woolly it would break the teeth in combs. Finally my Dad could not take it anymore and when the Afro really became popular lets say around 1971, off he took me to the barber to get one. My father said that he was tired of waiting for my mother to do my hair before he could take me out. Really he was probably tired of hearing all the yelling, screaming and crying from both me and my Mom. I had to give up the "Creamy Crack" when I was in my 30s because I developed allergies and reactions to chemicals. My hair actually broke off and came out due to processing. It is a scary thing to comb your hair and find it in the sink! Pretty much I've been Natural for nearly 20 years. That photo you see is my High School graduation picture from 1977. My Fro looked great. My Dad made sure I maintained my Afro. I have very fond memories of us going to the barbershop to get our Afros shaped. Today my Afro looks similiar except it is slightly smaller and of course its salt and pepper. Barbers today no longer know how to shape Afros like they did in the 70s so I just do my own hair. However the gray hair is not the same texture as the black hair. Also menopause has changed my hair. My hair is now actually more curly than nappy. That may also be because now there are better products for Natural Hair. God Bless Sister and Thanks for your comments. I enjoyed your post.
Friday, October 16th 2009 at 5:59AM
DeBorah Palmer
