hair
 

When black people say:"you have good hair.", what do they mean?

I hope you don't mind if I take a stab at this question my sister-sorors of AKA. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I think that folks used to say "good hair" when they meant a person whose hair was either naturally curly or straight without using chemicals. Clearly, during the house vs. field slave debacle (which many would say is still alive and kicking today, sadly), having "good hair" i.e. usually, but not always, indicated a racial mixture of African and XYZ (often slave master white), which was apparently preferable for most house slaves.

Although this phrase and its resultant definitions should be as archaic as Jim Crow laws, unfortunately folks sometimes still use this term when comparing naturally straight or curly hair to naturally kinky or textured hair. I never, ever use this term when describing anyone’s hair. My boyfriend has naturally curly hair: I say he has curly hair—never “good” hair.

Hope this helps a bit.

Shela.


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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[This message has been edited by Shelacious (edited October 23, 2000).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by The Original Ape:
When black people say:"you have good hair.", what do they mean?

Basically they mean your hair looks non-African in texture. I personally abhor this terminology. By nature, if straighter hair is "good", then coarser, kinky hair must be "bad". This is another subtle continuation of the "White is Right" mentality that our people seem to have. The same thing goes for dark skin, wide noses, thick lips or gap teeth.

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We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

Aesop c550 BC

What is good hair? A bald man would say, "Hair that covers your head http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif". Seriously, I have been on both sides of the straight/nappy thing. I currently am sporting a short natural (no texturizer) and I love it. sometimes I find myself rubbing my head and I realize how much I enjoy the natural texture of my hair. On other posts, I've mentioned how convenient and low maintenance my natural style is. I can't tell you how much I love it!

I hope you start a new trend!!!!!!!