Which ones are YOU using!
 

African-American owned products

African Natural - African Royale - Baby Love - BB, BB SuperGro - Black Magic - Blue Satin - California Curl - Care Free Curl - Carol`s Daughter -Curly Grow - Curl N Body Systems - Design Essentials - Designer Wave - Donnies - Dudley products - Duke - Elentee - Gentille - Isoplus - Kemi-Oyl - Kink Wave Memory System - Lesisure Curl - Mizani - Oil of K - Optimum Care - PCJ - Pink Oil Moisturizer - Phase 2 Press N Curl - S-Curl - Soft & Beautiful - Sporting` Waves - Vitale - Wave by Design- Wave Nouveau


Non-African-American

Always Natural - Affrim - African Pride - Afrosheen - Bantu - Bigen Hair Color - Bone Strait - Classy Curl - Creme of Natural - Dark & Lovely - Dax Excelle - Fabulaxer - Frizz-Ease - Gentle Treatment - Lekair - Let`s Jam - Long Aid - Lustrasilk - Motions - Murray`s Hair Pomade - New Era - Nice n` Easy - Options - Paul Mitchell - Posners - Right on Curl - Revlon Permanent Relaxer - Royal Crown - Sebastion - Sof-N-Free - Sta-Sof-Fro - TCB - Ultr Sheen - Ultar Star - Vigorol


It's DOES matter!! Support our black businesses.

I use every thing by BB or Bronner Brothers because not only is it black owned, but my hairdresser is a Bronner.

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Peace
KL

Personally, I used what works best on my hair. Hey people may say I'm wrong for not supporting black businesses, but I'm a Paul Mitchell fanatic. I'm also into that Organic Hair Products Line- the hair mayonniase, olive and carrot oil. Just like the pictures, it works wonders on hair. If you want your hair to grow, especially use the carrot oil. It stinks but it's amazing.

Well that's your choice. There are alot of people that don't care who makes their products. But just as a reminder, for every white-made hair product there is a black-owned hair product that works just as good or better.

I agree Poplife!

I try to support Black owned businesses whenever possible. I no longer buy hair products, since I get my hair done so often. I wear my hair very short so I can't do it myself. My current stylist uses Motions products, which are good. But I would prefer that she use Mizani (which is the bomb and is Black owned). However, she doesn't see things that way. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

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"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." ~Robert Frost

I know it's my choice. Pardon you, I was just answering the question. Finally to clarify myself, I support black businesses (the store I buy my products from is african-owned, one can get a dashiki and a relaxer in the same place) or black individuals trying to make money, just not with a particular hair product.

My question would be who owns the store where you are buying these black products? Is it black-owned? Because once cannot say, "support black businesses", while shopping in the other race's store.

Yes, Pardon me if I wanted to comment on something you said. I thought it was allowed.

Who owns the store's I used to buy my hair products in? I don't know who Sam Walton sold it to, but I bet they are white. Since my school is in a very white and somewhat rural town, that's the ONLY store that sells hair care products for blacks. I don't have many options. I buy my hair products online from www.carolsdaughter.com (black owned).

My point was, most of us HAVE to shop in white owned stores like Giant Foods, Target, Wal-Mart, Sallys, and Safeway because they don't have the privledge of having a black owned store in their area. My mother and father live in a BLACK area and we don't have any black beauty store owners. So to help even things out, the least we can do is buy items from black owned company's so we are putting some of the money back into our own communities...where it should be. People like Dudley's give scholarships to young black people so they can go to college. You'll never see Paul Mitchell doing that.

First I would just like to say that a person has the right to use whatever products they feel like using. Some people were brought up using a certain product and they've just stuck with it over the years. That goes for both black and white owned products. Second, I don't think that we should assume that just because we support a black product that means they're pumping money back into the black community. Nor do all white businesses take their money and give back to the white community. There are some black entreprenuers out their who are in business to solely make a buck. I say all of this to say, you never who's pumping money where. You never know, Paul Mitchell could have some sort of scholarship for minorities.

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KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
SPR 97
XI LAMBDA

I have to agree with sunnydays96 and NUPE4LIFE, I use what works!! I also switch up a lot so sometimes it may be Black owned and then other times it is white owned. I also feel that hair care is not the only way in which you can support our fellow Black Entrepreneurs ... we (Blacks) are doing everything now a days. There are black owned Bus companies for all of those planning ski trips this Winter. And what about DC Air, a Black owned airlines ... so Hair products are not the only way. But to restate my answer and to answer the question, I use both interchangeably, again I use what works and I don't think I would change that just to support a black business or for that matter a white, Asian or green business.

I remember some years ago that the way you could tell if the product you were using was "black" was from this picture on the back of the product that had this profile of a lady or something...

It's amazing to "see" the list of NON-African American products... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

I won't support any business that sells inferior products, Black owned or not. Maybe I am the only one that feels this way. But I don't like it when mainstream companies make products geared specifically for us (ie. Revlon's African Pride, Flori Roberts). Likewise, I don't want to see Ralph Lauren or Donna Karan selling hip-hop apparel. If they make a line of products that is geared toward everyone, that's fine. If we stop buying Joico, Aveda, or Paul Mitchell, those companies will still have a large customer base. But if we stop buying Soft Sheen or Optimum products, these companies will go under. Just something to think about.

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"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." ~Robert Frost



[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited January 13, 2001).]

Yes, Dudley's is one example of a black company giving back, but how many of those other black companies named are doing the same? Moreover, how do one know that those non-black-owned companies aren't giving back?
My point is there are other ways to support black businesses than just hair products alone.

For me personally, I support the smaller black-owned businesses within my community more than the corporate ones. I just think more justice is done when I know that the owner of a small soul food restaurant can make a profit to put food on the table for his family and a decent roof over their heads. Rather than the owner of say, Black Magic earning money off of a stock dividend and buying his teenager a Lexus.

AKA2D '91, yes the list is quite amazing. I have to admit I think that I didn't think about any of them being black owned or not. A very conscious mentor of mine emailed me this list and I thanked her twice for it.

I can kind of understand the rest of you when you say that you use what works. I used to say that too, but when I when my dad opened an African America Cinema Store and everything changed. He sold rare and classic tapes of everything from Porgy and Bess and Stormy Weather to Roots and Queen to B.A.P.S. and Booty Call. Our first year was very rough because of the same thing that you all are saying. Everyone one when to Blockbuster with some excuse..."they have a longer rent time, they have those little cards, blah blah blah."

My father was afraid we would go under until a friend suggested we do some advertising on a black alternative radio station that is popular with local activists.

The turn out was amazing!! We met brotha's and sista's that actually drove FURTHER than they had to just to shop with us. This kept up for another year or two until people started to catch on. Because of the increase in profit, we were able to better the current service and add brand new ones. Needless to say, the store is doing quite well now. My dad made enough money to start an internet based company and guess who he is hiring?

YUP! Young, talented, black men and women.

Even though I was a freshman in high school my dad had me read these books about how Jews, Asians, and Hispanics SUPPORT THEIR OWN. That's why they are the 1st, 2nd, and soon to be 3rd wealthiest race in this county. Now that more and more Muslims are coming to the USA they are following suit. Where does that leave us brotha's and sista's??

We seems like we are the only race that wants to rationalize not helping our own. I have heard so many excuses from blacks in my home, school, job, and even here. I have not heard one person saying..."maybe I'll pick up a trial size of this or that and at least see if it works."

I was watching comic view one day and someone said:

If a Latin guy see's other Latin's beating someone up, he'll jump out and say "I need to help my countrymen!!" Let a brotha see that! He'll keep driving and say "Damn, they whuppin that brotha's a$$! He musta done SOMETHIN'!"

I laugh for two seconds before I realized how true that was. Then it wasn't funny to me anymore.

I'm tired of freakin' Korean's sucking up all my town's money. I refuse to spend my dollar in a store owned by people who hate us. They don't set up their stores in black area's across America because they like blacks...they know we will make them rich so they tolerate us from 9-5 on weekdays and 8-10 on Saturdays!

Screw that. I'm opening Poplife's Store of Beauty as soon as I save up enough money! AHBAI products only!! *lol*

Hope to see ya'll there!

I understand you, but I just feel that it's buy now and decided later. All in all, I'd rather by a black teen a Lexus then a white one. That's sad if it comes down to that, but if I does, I won't hesitate to make my choice.

But in my earlier post I said that most folks don't have a choice. For instance, my county was named in the 5 richest black counties in the USA in 2000. Strangely, the number of black owned beauty stores is slim to nill. We have resturaunts, video stores, art stores, and even NAIL SALONS, but no beauty supply. Beacuse of that, if I can't buy any Carols Daughter over the web, I buy a product that is at least black owned.


[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited January 13, 2001).]

POPLIFE: does it make a difference to you that the Motions brand, has a Black Marketing Manager and a Black R&D staff.? The reason that Motions comes in Purple and Gold packaging is that the man who created and introduced that product line is an Omega. His whole marketing staff and research and devolopment staff is Black. If Motions fails, alot of brothers and sisters go down too. One of his NY area product managers is an AKA that I know. Also, alot of those products that you listed are former Johnson & Johnson (Americas largest Black company) products which were recently sold to a white owned company. If people stop using a product that they grew up on because of an ownership change rather than poor quality, is an individual decision. Lastly, it is very small-minded to hate on Koreans who are living the American dream. The stores, cleaners, laundromats, fruit stands, etc. can just as easily be own by those within the community. My old neighborhood has seen the Koreans move out only to be replaced by immigrant Jamaicans and Haitians and not neighborhood people . Your father did the right thing. Market your product well and give the people what they want and how they want it. No need to hate on anyone else trying to make a living. I am pro-Black too, but not at the expense of hating others for their success and hard work.

Thank you DoggyStyle for confirming my suspicions that my favorite hair products has an Omega connection. I truly love Motions and was kind of disappointed to see it is "Non-African American. I agree with one of the ladies earlier who said that she buys what works and I too love the carrot oil. It has truly rejuvenated my scalp.
My hair dresser uses Mizani and I have been a customer to Vitale, Gentille and I love my Kemi Oyl to death.

I think what is important is WHEN YOU CAN please by all means support Black businesses but remember that WHITE BUSINESSES have BLACK PEOPLE who work for them.

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Well first off, I'm not going to even try and talk about perms or who owns them because I no longer use them and have lost touch with what's hot. The last time I had a perm was 3 years ago and I remember it was Dudley's.

Black is still black whether they are Brazilian, Cuban, Jamaican or Hatian.

And about me being small minded. *lol* Well you can say what you will. I have a good friend who is half Korean and half Black. She went to the store with me and "translated" and if you knew what they were saying about YOU then I highly doubt you'd keep shopping there. Why shouldn't I dislike people that call us "monkey people" and "animals" when we walk into their stores, but smile at me when I hand them my money?

Is that all Koreans? Every Korean? Do you know them all? Should we treat Koreans like whote folks treat us? I have heard a few Black store owners say the same thing about some of their drunk, rowdy, shoplifting patrons also. I have seen the well-respected Korean shopowners of my favorite steak and shrimp place robbed repeatedly, shot, killed, and finally abandon any attempts at providing a reliable service to the community. But your bias is obvious. You must not know many Jamaicans because they are very appalled by how lazy american born Blacks appear to them. The point is, that a native to the neighborhood or indigenous African American passed on the opportunity to open a store. Again, prejudice and bias are for small-minded people.

you can still tell which hair care and beauty products are Black owned. The Proud Lady symbol is still displayed on products that are members of the American Health and Beauty Aids Institute (AHBAI) http://www.ahbai.org.

Nope it isn't every Korean. It's the ones in my neighborhood. The ONLY ones I concern myself with.

And FYI, I know alot of Jamacians. Hell, my bestfriend is half Jamaican. Black Americans ARE lazier than some other folks. Anyone that has been to a black school can attest to that. I know that wrong to some people but hey, I only speak from experience.

I might have a biased, who knows? Say what ever you wish, I will always want to see black faces behing the counter. If that makes me small minded, then so be it. But please don't act like you don't have ANY.



[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited January 14, 2001).]

I think that Poplife and DoggyStyle82 can (or I hope they can) AGREE to disagree. If the two of you want to continue to discuss this, please do so privately...

THANKS! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I think the issue at hand is more important than "buying a black teen a Lexus rather than a white one". For me, the black and white issue doesn't even come into play. If I'm going to support black businesses, I'm going to support the ones that aren't as established as the corporate companies-for instance just like your father's movie store in the get go. These are the businesses that need more support and this is where I will be concious about spending my money.

For instance if Black Magic starts to experience losses. They will either discontinue the company or sell it to another competitor, either black or white. Either way, they will still get some type of residual from their company and will be living comfortably until they find another business venture. However, if the small restaurant owner's business fails, he gets no significant residual or none at all, has nothing to live off of, and has no money to start another business.

Just like you had stated in your post. Yes, there aren't many choices where people live. I have the same dilema. But you know what, that doesn't and hasn't stopped my parents from traveling 35 minutes to go to that bakery that they have been going to since they lived in the apt above it 20 years ago.

Just remember these big corps had to start somewhere. I'm the one supporting the somewhere.

Moreover, just because I'm supporting a white corp-PM for example- doesn't mean that I'm not supporting that black people that work for his company and get paid from the company's profits. Either way I do it, someone black is getting paid.

WOOOO, when did this turn catty????????
I think some people ARE BEING very small minded, just speaking the truth here. I am sorry, but like I stated I use what works but how did you (poplife) pull from what I said to be I won't try something else??? Huh? I DID SAY I switch up a lot, so obviously I am out there trying DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, I try white and black and then I use WHATEVER WORKS this is for hair, soap, videos the kitchen sink!!!!!!!!!

I think you are HATING for the wrong reasons, your father's business did not almost go under because Blacks did not shop there it almost went under because he did not market well, and after he did that, as you stated yourself things got better, MUCH BETTER!! Who needs to make excuses about where and why they shop at a certain place - Puleeeeze!

You know what is funny, or maybe weird … the way some people justify liking or knowing about a race by saying, I have a neighbor, best friend, close friend, or even makeshift friend that is SUCH and SUCH … please realize this does not give you in the inside scoop to the race as a whole.

And again I agree with sunnydays96, just because I am supporting the white person's XYZ, doesn't mean that I am not supporting the Black persons ABC. I think the gist of most of these post is that everything does not have to be black owned, you have to do what works for you ... what if supporting Blacks ABC, makes me BROKE. I do what works Sorry.

P.S. DoggyStyle82 and CrimsonTide4 I also agree with the views that you both presented!!

Um. F.Y.I, my dad marketed VERY well with the small amount of money we had. Since my father a BLACK video store %95 of the people that it appeals to are BLACK PEOPLE. If BLACK PEOPLE do not come and shop we will make no money.

We didn't have the $$$ to do as much as we wanted with advertising so we did the best we could. In fact we didn't even pay to have that add on the air. My uncle did (another black business owner).

Even if every person that reads this think differently I will stick by my guns.

Like I said before, and like I will say in the future: We as a people make too many excuses. That's one of the reasons other races are leaving us behind in the dust. In the black community everyone is trying to "get theirs" and we don't care where it comes from. We don't think in terms of "us"...we think in terms of "me" and it's doing US no good.

I'm tired of going to my Internship and seeing all the Hispanics, Asians, Indians, Africans, and Latins working as a team and then looking over my shoulder and watching the Black Americans BS each other. It's embarrassing and pointless.


LadyAKA:

I was not talking about just you. There are alot more people reading this than you and me. I said I never see anyone saying that they will look for and try an AHABAI product and that's the TRUTH. Not be mean, but I can't remember "LadyAKA said she tries everything".


I have no reason to hate on anyone because I have everything I could ever want. If anything I'm hating on MY OWN people for not using the potential I know we have.

Sometimes I wonder if we will ever get out of the bucket.

What's the problem? Stop being so defensive. If you begin a thread or post a comment, expect replies. Some may not be what you were hoping for, but nonetheless it is an opinion.

For the record, this topic already has a thread from a while ago where we discussed this issue about black-owned hair care products.

From reading the list, it looks like I support both equally. My hair is really "stubborn" so I too use what works.

Wow! Lots of interesting comments!

I only buy what works, at a price point I'm comfortable with, from people who are happy to do business with me. I always look first for the brothas and sistas, but I've learned the hard way that quality knows no color, and neither does triflingness (not a word, I know). If you can't be polite, on time and offer an excellent product, I'm not doing business with you. Period. The 'white man's ice' ain't colder to me, but my people aren't getting infinite passes from me either.

Poplife: you can beat people over the head and call them blind, ignorant and crazy, but in the end, you need those very people you're belittling. Sometimes honey really does work better than vinegar.

IMO, our goal should be to start and grow $100 million+ companies. We will only reach true power by being able to make and contribute REAL MONEY to our children's education, our community institutions and to our country's political structure. The ballot can only do so much, especially if we are not the kingmakers behind the scenes, deciding who will be on the ballot in the first place. Quibbling about where we buy some grease to further burn our hair ain't gonna get us there.

*whew* it is hot in here! I must admit, I don't use any of these products...my family is really "natural/vegetarian" so i make my own hair products...but i do support Black businesses whenever I can (that means more than hair: things like black doctors, black dentists, black stores, black farmers at the farmer's market, etc...).

but I will say that after having lived outside the US for most of my life, it is truly amazing to see how a lot of Black Americans rationalize not coming together. I have never seen another group of people do it more "successfully". http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

While trying to let the fire burn out I noticed another comment on here that I had a question about and I think it was mentioned twice by 2 different people but I will address 1 Woman of Virtue since hers was posted last, can you please explain to me what you mean by excuses (rationalize) for not coming together, who is making and excuses and who is refusing to come together, haven't we all said we support black xxx (where xxx can be anything under the sun). I just wanted clarification ...please respond either here on the board or to me personally ...thanks

ADDED: Just FYI - In my first post I did mention supporting Blacks in other ways then hair care products ...

[This message has been edited by LadyAKA (edited January 20, 2001).]

I can see that this topic has expanded to include more than just hair care products..whew!

Well, to echo a couple of other posters, I use whatever works from someone who wants my business period. If I buy a product and it doesn't work I don't buy it again. If I receive less than cordial treatment in an establishment, I don't go back, even if the food, product, etc. was outstanding. I will either get it somewhere else or do without. I have even walked out in the middle of a service and sometimes request my money back (I have a million of those stories!). Our most powerful voice is the dollar and we should use it wisely (I beleive that was the original point?)

That said, I must agree with some of what Poplife says. We do need to support our own, however we must not do it blindly.

I must also agree that immigrant Blacks are fed the same stereotype as other immigrants about American Blacks -- lazy, trifling, shiftless, Welfare-dependent, etc. Unfortunately, we have too many folx trying their d&*ndest to live down to that image.


As far as supporting white-owned businesses w/ Black employees, I will do so IF it appears that the Black employees are benefitting from the transaction (ie commission, appraisal, being observed, etc.). However, I WILL NOT compromise my require service standards for anyone, period.

My 2 Cents


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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

poplife i hear you girl, nupe4life i hear you bruh, yall kiss and make up http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

anyway poplife made some valid points, the majority of whites, asians and other ethnic groups do come to this country with a "lets stick together mentality and they do for the most part stick together and support thier own" if all americans were about love and equality of all men then that wouldn't be necessary, but we all know that isn't reality. how many of us would like the asians have several families in one house in order to save money to buy a business etc. most blacks are into the "i want my own, you get your own mentality" other minorities often have no problem and see nothing wrong with supporting one another, just like most whites didn't see anything wrong with seeing all white faces on tv, or even separate but equal legislation, most minorities in america realize that in order to maintain respect and quality of living for the present and future generations of their race they must show unity and sacrifice for the good of the whole now/today. and they are of course doing better as a whole then we are because of that mentality. i think we could learn alot from them.

idealy we should beable to shop/buy whatever works for us, i'm all for that, but sometimes their is a need to sacrifice for the good of the community. other minorities have done it and it has worked for them. can you imagine what would happen if just "half" of our spending went back into black owned businesses and communities, white america would start looking at us differently, money talks and we are big consumers. america doesn't love asians anymore then they do blacks (i don't think) but they love and respect their economic unity and economic power and that gives a race of people a voice and leverage that we as a community still need today, so although i will never "tell" anyone to buy something just because its black owned, big company or small it doesn't matter, its still a black man and a black child, but i will say that the mentality of supporting your own has done wonders for other minority groups and allowed them now to be able to do more mainstream activities for lack of a better phrase now that they have established a respect and strong economic foundation in this non utopian country. it may not be hair products for you, but i would encourage us to support black businesses/products and even start our own black businesses like pop's dad did whenever possible, i hope to do so oneday.

Soror DG is right HONEY does work :-0)

Soror PositivelyAKA I like how your last paragraph was stated and now understand a bit more what some are trying to say ...

I am still looking for a reply on how we are making excuses/rationalizing not coming together/buying from our own.

PositivleyAKA: Thanks for your post. It's nice to see that folks can understand where I am coming from even though I sometimes I come off as being "militant".

Before I start rambling again I would like to make it clear that I'm not small-minded like people have thought me to be. Like I said before, I only speak about MY LIFE. For instance, when I said I had a problem with Koreans, I was talking about the three or four shops in my town. I do have a problem with them because of the way they conduct themselves and I will continue to dislike the ones I KNOW until they get their act together. I don't know nor do I care what every Korean storeowner in the US is like. There are many other non-black groups that have stores in my town. I shop there simply because they put a lot of the money they earn back to the community. If they're supporting our community centers, schools, civic associations, etc. then why shouldn't I support them?


LadyAKA: When I said "you" or "we" I am talking about Black's in general, not just the people on this board.

Take the original topic of this thread. When I asked the simple question "which ones are you using" most of the people said "I use what works".

Ok, now I'm not excepting people to use any old product on their hair because it's black owned. I sure don't. But why didn't anyone ask "What black owned products work well?"
It seemed as if no one wanted to get out of their comfort zone to even ASK about black hair care companies. Everything I use is black-owned (except for my alternate shampoo). Anyone could have easily asked me what works and what doesn't, but no one did. Instead, people made EXCUSES as to why they don't use black owned products. There might be some out there who just didn't post, but many who were vocal about it didn't seem as if they cared to at least looked into the idea.


About us not coming together: My job is perfect example. When I asked the black Americans why the "other folks" were working together these were the top 4 reasons they gave me:

1. People from (xxx country/ethnicity) are just like that.

2. They just got to this county and that's why they're still close. They're get sick of each other after a while.

3. Because they don't speak English well. (my job doesn't hire people that aren't fluent in English)

4. I don't know.


No one saw/wanted to admit that Black Americans don't WANT to come together as a race because that breaks the "me" mentality that they have come to know. When you work as a group that also includes suffering as a group. Too many of us are too selfish to suffer for the betterment of our people.

DANG DANG DANG!!!!!!!!!!! I promised myself that I would not be drawn into this conversation. I promised myyself that I would play "silent observer", but POPLIFE I have a question.


This question is asked with all due respect, I repeat, I am not trying to attack your comment, I'm just asking. This is simply a question, because I found your comment....intriguing.

How can you tell other people what products well?

I'm asking because everybody's hair is totally different. My hair and thick and (for DiscoGoddess) it is SHOULDER LENGTH. It is naturally (never been colored) a shade darker than sandy brown. It is very porous, and at times extremely dry. I rarely have breakage (?) because it is SOOOO thick. I also have a relaxer.

I don't feel that anybody, not even my hair stylist of 14 years can tell me what will work best on MY hair.

I'm not saying that she can't express an opinion about her favorites, but what works on one's hair is very personal.


I (PERSONALLY) would have a hard time taking advice about my relaxed hair from you, because you seem to be so very MILITANT about the fact that you are "relaxerless". (NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH BEING PROUD OF YOUR CHOICE. HEY, MORE POWER TO YOU!!!!!!!). I'm just asking. I hope I didn't offend you, because I am TOOOOOO exhausted to get into a debate over this.


Miss. Mocha

Lady AKA, I believe that the sentiment expressed in this quote explains what I meant very well. To further the point,
Dr. Na'im Akbar talks about this subject a lot in his book "Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery". In paraphrase, he discusses the "wonderfully thorough" job that slavery did on the Black mentality (destroying the group consciousness, and elevating a "me" consciousness).
Black Americans have an economic buying power that is absolutely amazing. We literallly have the resources (our money) to make drastic changes in our community. But while the White dollar will circulate throughout the White community for years, the Black dollar leaves the Black community in days.
Black people have a HARD time supporting their own. Whether it be doctors (think a white one is smarter), colleges (think the white one is better), lawyers (think the white firm is more successful) or whatever, Black Americans (for the most part) are amongst the very few groups of people who prefer the "Other" over their own.

Now of course this goes waaaaay beyond hair products. And if it was merely hair products, then it wouldn't be a big deal to say "well I buy what works" (which, in an ideal world would be fine). But when we add not being concsious about seeking out Black hair products, to not being conscious about who we purchase our clothes from, to who we buy our cars from, and who we pay to do our tax returns, and who we go to for legal services, and to who we go to get our appliances serviced...well that adds up to a whole lot of money leaving the Black community. Like the sister earlier said "most minorities in america realize that in order to maintain respect and quality of living for the present and future generations of their race they must show unity and sacrifice for the good of the whole now/today". Rarely would you hear a Korean say they're going to buy products from "John and Bob's Grocer" because the prices are cheaper. Their mentality is such that NO MATTER WHAT they will support their own. And that mentality has worked for them. Now we may rationalize and say "I just buy what works" and think nothing of it...but that mentality has kept us where we are--even though our hair may have that extra bounce...

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the Presence of God

Lady AKA, I believe that the sentiment expressed in this quote explains what I meant very well. To further the point,
Dr. Na'im Akbar talks about this subject a lot in his book "Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery". In paraphrase, he discusses the "wonderfully thorough" job that slavery did on the Black mentality (destroying the group consciousness, and elevating a "me" consciousness).
Black Americans have an economic buying power that is absolutely amazing. We literallly have the resources (our money) to make drastic changes in our community. But while the White dollar will circulate throughout the White community for years, the Black dollar leaves the Black community in days.
Black people have a HARD time supporting their own. Whether it be doctors (think a white one is smarter), colleges (think the white one is better), lawyers (think the white firm is more successful) or whatever, Black Americans (for the most part) are amongst the very few groups of people who prefer the "Other" over their own.

Now of course this goes waaaaay beyond hair products. And if it was merely hair products, then it wouldn't be a big deal to say "well I buy what works" (which, in an ideal world would be fine). But when we add not being concsious about seeking out Black hair products, to not being conscious about who we purchase our clothes from, to who we buy our cars from, and who we pay to do our tax returns, and who we go to for legal services, and to who we go to get our appliances serviced...well that adds up to a whole lot of money leaving the Black community. Like the sister earlier said "most minorities in america realize that in order to maintain respect and quality of living for the present and future generations of their race they must show unity and sacrifice for the good of the whole now/today". Rarely would you hear a Korean say they're going to buy products from "John and Bob's Grocer" because the prices are cheaper. Their mentality is such that NO MATTER WHAT they will support their own. And that mentality has worked for them. Now we may rationalize and say "I just buy what works" and think nothing of it...but that mentality has kept us where we are--even though our hair may have that extra bounce...

oh, sorry it took so long to respond http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the Presence of God

Good question and I'm not offended at all. I like people that ask and not assume.

To start, I didn't TELL anyone what to use. I suggested they look at black companies, many of whom make wonderful products. I can't tell you which ones work best for you. If you tell me how your hair is I can SUGGEST what might work. I've gotten pretty good with matching hair products to hair types. You just have to go out and try it. My friends with perms ask me about Carol's Daughter all the time (she makes products for permed and natural folks).

That brings me to another statement you made.

I had a good laugh at your line about you trusting your relaxed hair to me. What do you think I'm going to do? Tell you that Nair is a great conditioner? *lol* http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif It's not even that serious, sistah.

You think I'm militant because you don't know me. VERY FEW people on this board do. I can't blame you though. Sometimes when I read what I have written I surprise myself. If you were to have class with me, live near me, and even talk with me on a daily basis, you would never know my thoughts on anything I have discussed here because I don't share how I feel about sensitive topics with people I don't know. I don't bother speaking from the heart because most folks don't want to know or aren't ready for the way I'm going to say it.

Discogoddess said something about getting more flies with honey. That's true for some things, but we are living in a bitter world so I speak the bitter truth.

And for the last time, it's not being chemical-free that makes me "militant"!!!

It's the actions and attitudes that ignorant people have inflicted on me. THAT'S what puts the fire in my belly.

Peace and Blessings.

Amen. Said alot better than I ever could!!

Well for me, I never asked because I KNOW what works for ME and on MY hair. Just because I use a non-black owned product primarily doesn't mean that I exclude other products from my hair regimen. I've got a huge storage container with lots of beauty and hair products black-owned/not. My friends don't go to the store and buy products because "I've got my own little shop" as they say. I just took offense to those who just assumed (and you know what they say about assuming-"you make an ___ out of yourself") that because someone uses "what works" that they don't support black businesses which was the main point of the question. But the topic was very narrow and eventually with all the other posts, it showed that there are other ways that black people are supporting black businesses.

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif oh that was too much, lol, Nair as a conditioner, my my, lol.