Hair and Black Identity

[the411]

Lately, I have noticed that the majority of black women and girls featured on mainstream TV commercials all have natural, ethnic hairstyles (i.e. afros, dreds, twists, kinky curls, cornrows, etc.), while very few feature those with straight/relaxed tresses. In fact, the only commercials I've seen lately where this is not the case are a Pantene commercial, a lipstick commercial featuring Halle Berry, and a TV ad about a cure for vaginal yeast infections.

I casually mentioned this new trend to a male friend who rocks the sexiest twists I've ever seen on a man, and he responded by saying that such commercials are capturing the true essence of the black female, and argued that by relaxing and straightening our hair, we are de-valuing our "blackness" by trying to be white.

Since the majority of us in the forum are women--black women, I thought I'd throw this topic out there. To me, these commercials seem to be saying that our blackness is definied by physical characteristics stereotypical of African Americans, like kinky hair, full lips, voluptuous bodies, etc. They imply that if a black woman posses attributes that don't fall into the stereotypical "norm," she's not black enough to be the "token" black person in their commercials. (And let's face it, most companies only put blacks in their commercials for political reasons, anyway).

Now, I am very open to debate on this topic-- I thrive off intellecutal conversations such as these! But more than anything, I want to hear from my sisters who, like me, opt for relaxed styles over natural ones. Why do you relax your hair? Do you think that, by straightening our hair, we're falling prey to Westernization? Are we not being true to ourselves as African decendants by altering the texture of our hair? How do you feel when you ONLY see black women on TV who have natural hairstyles? I'll add that many of these actors appear to be bi-racial, so I am even more confused as to why they seem to be the "standard" for black people in TV commercials, just because their hair has a curly texture.

Somebody help me out here! This has been on my mind for a while!

PS: If you think I'm making this up, just sit down and watch TV commercials for a couple of hours. Look at the hairstyles on all the black women and girls you see, then join me in the forum with your comments!

Thanks for at least thinking about it!



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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[DirectorDST99]

I wore my hair au naturale for a year. I stopped because it became difficult to manage once it got to a certain length.

It's so funny because "brothers" would not talk to me when I wore my hair natural. LOL!

I talked that talked about Westernization when I was natural and even persuaded a couple of sistahs to join me. I feel like a hypocrite now!


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Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[This message has been edited by DirectorDST99 (edited August 21, 2000).]

[ZChi4Life]

This is a great topic. My friends and I were actually talking it about the other day. Well for me, I don't see anything wrong w/ relaxing one's hair. I do it and that's what works for me. BUT, if I could go natural, I would do it in a minute. It's probably a heck of a lot cheaper! And I know that the chemicals are continously breaking my hair down. So that's why I'd want to go natural.

The longest I've been w/out a perm/relaxer was about 9 months (I had braids). So my perm had grown completely out. When I would take the braids out to get them redone, my hair was like WHOA! It had grown so long, but I didn't know what to do w/ it. So once I got sick of braids, I got a perm. For me, I barely have time to take care of my hair permed! If I went natural now, I'd be bald! Since I'm in school, I just don't have time to deal with the up keep of a natural style. Plus, I just don't think I'd look that great with something like locs or twists. You know, not every style works with everybody So the most "natural" I would go would be braids. I would love to chop all my hair off, but I'm afraid my head won't look too great like that.

So I wear a perm cuz it's just easier to deal with. And I don't think I'm falling prey to Westernization. I mean, why shouldn't we as black women be able to style our hair in a way that works for us? My question would be, if white women can perm their hair (make it curly) then what are they falling prey to? I just see it as a way of simply styling your hair. I think people tend to read into the reasons black women straighten their hair way too much. I'm not saying it doesn't have any basis, but I think for me and my friends, we do it out of convenience. Just like when I wear braids or get a ponytail, it's done b/c it's easier to deal with. That's the first thing on my mind....not "oh I'm gonna get some weave or straighten my hair so my hair can look like that white girl at school/work/ or on t.v." My hair is terrible when I don't have a perm! It's always been that way since I was little. But if I could find a natural style that would work and look good, I'd do it. But for now, it's a perming I shall go

This is a very interesting topic.

I choose to relax my hair because it is much easier to manage. I have extremely thick hair, and the relaxer takes away some of the thickness of my hair so I am able to handle my hair. I also like the way my hair looks vs. the natural look. I just came out of braids, which I wore for 9 months and loved. But I've returned to the relaxed look

But here's another question to ponder: how do you feel about white people who are constantly trying to "tan" their skin to look darker, thicken their lips, and perm their hair to add the curl that we were born with? Are they de-valuing their whiteness?

Just thought I'd throw that question out.

[daLuv-n-Desire]

'I rock ruff n stuff with my afro-puffs!' Heeeeeyyyyyy!!!!!

Greetings to those Devastating Divas of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and sisterfriends.

I have been reading the posts for a while now and I just felt the need to reply to this one.

Yes I am a natural 'sistah'! I have been natural for 2 years plus. Mind you this was a big step for me and it wasn't by CHOICE. I was diagnosed with a hair condition that couldn't be treated with the use of chemicals -- so I braided it up and let my natural nappy roots take over. 'Going natural' is a big adjustment for those of us that enjoy the ease and convenience of the 'fried, dyed and slick back to the side' do.

I am not trying to sell anybody on natural hair, but there are so many advantages. For one you get in touch or get to know YOUR hair (what products works best and the actual texture of your hair). This is very important because as you all know a woman's crown is her glory. We all want our glory to shine through!

Also natural hair is much, much healthier than 'relaxed or straightened' hair. Every time a perm is used the hair shaft is broken down more and more which ultimately break the hair off. No matter how much conditioner or 'rebuilding' supplements you put in your hair, it will never live up to its full potential. This always leads to that 'new look' (i.e. CUT). Trust me I know - been there, done that.

Now don't get me wrong - NATURAL HAIR IS WORK! If anyone told you that the nappy naps are easy to maintain - then they lied. You actually have to put in more time and energy into the au naturalle then into the 'relaxed'. If you don't, you might just be sporting a fade.

One thing that I have noticed is that women with natural styles always have to be on their p's and q's because they are constantly being challenged. People always want to know 'why'? They think that you are trying to be 'too black', indignant or a rebel. Society doesn't like the idea of a woman, especially a black woman being strong, independent, self-reliant, self-sustaining and basically just being who we are.

To my 'relaxed' sistahs, do what you want, but don't let anyone tell you are devaluing your 'blackness'. Represent to the fullest, but I can pretty much guarantee that you will not be challenged as much as we are. See, you are and have been 'accepted' (or at least that is the way that it appears). We are still fighting for that. We are entering a new struggle and just hope and pray that all women; straight, curly, dyed, long, short and happily nappy alike come together and make one loud, booming voice - In the name ourselves, but most importantly in the name of our Sistah. (Always others before self!)

Women should be allowed to wear their hair in which ever way that defines them, for me I have the BIG Afro-pic hanging out the side.

Stay Tru!!!!!


PS. Sorry for such a long post, but I was feeling this one.

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Phillipians 4:13
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained"

[dyhardque]

Sorry to step in like this. I do not think that altering your hair texture is "selling out". Of course, this depends on the reason that you alter the texture of your hair. If you do it to blend in or mask your African heritage then there is a problem. If you are doing it for those reasons then you have a serious identity problem. Fact is, if you do anything for those reasons, you have a problem.
Black women are beautiful because of their strength, intelligence, and passion. Not their hairstyle. You are Queens.

And I'm gone

[NicoleRey]

Originally posted by DirectorDST99:
I wore my hair au naturale for a year. I stopped because it became difficult to manage once it got to a certain length.

It's so funny because "brothers" would not talk to me when I wore my hair natural. LOL!

I talked that talked about Westernization when I was natural and even persuaded a couple of sistahs to join me. I feel like a hypocrite now!

Hypocrite...NO INDEED! I wore my hair natural for 6 years...Trotted myself to the Barber Shop every two weeks (and was Cute!) But I was really tired of having no versitility. Sooo I went back to relaxing my hair.

Westernization? Of Course we are westernized! We are Americans, we live in America, the Hub of Western Civilization. And there is nothing wrong with that. We have not been taught how to "manage" our hair in its natural state until very recently with the establishment of independent African-American beauty suppliers and authors of "Hair books" for wearers of natural styles.

My younger sister just returned from a six week trip to Ghana. She stayed in ACCRA, the major city and was amazed at how many billboards there were for Relaxers, straightners, SKIN WHITNING CREAMS!
She wears her hair natural...She has the Angela Davis thing going on sometimes, twists sometimes, coils, cornrows, etc...She is one of the sisters who has learned to have natural AND functional hair. Not all of us have that talent.
She said that the women in ACCRA kept asking her why she didn't have her hair relaxed, and wasn't it difficult to manage as it was. Talk about culture shock!

Anyway, my point is..As much as people would like to think that our "Blackness" is defined by a hairstyle, choice of makeup, or the thickness/width of our features, it is not. It is in our attitude toward our communities, our "people". it is our level of consienceness regarding the things that we need to know and do to get "our thing" together. It is the respect that we (should) have for our history, our ansestors, and our foundation. NOT the "need" to BE an African but to be proud of BEING an African-American.
*stepping DOWN from the podeum*

Those are my thoughts...Great topic!

[the411]

Thanks everybody for your comments! I am feeling you kissy324-- I find it VERY interesting that when black people straighten their hair, they are accused (by some) of trying to be white, but when they "tan", it is never for any Afrocentric reasons!

Just last week I got into a debate with a group of my white student workers about tanning. We'd gone to Cedar Point Amusement Park one Saturday, and a few of them kept commenting on how "white" some of the people were and how they needed some sun. I told them that it's funny how white/light skin is glorified in this society up until summertime; then it's deemed "ugly" by the same people who find it attractive the other 9 months of the year. These same people think Michael Jackson has "issues" because he's so "white" now! And of course, let's not forget the new trend in plastic surgery whereby whites are making their lips thicker by having fat cells injected. But, WE'RE the ones who are assimilating or being Westernized when we do something that they don't think is characteristic of blacks. This from the same group of folks who STILL think Cleopatra is white!!!

Forgive me for venting-- I do have love for all people, but I just think it's ironic that the ideal picture of beauty, even in the eyes of Caucasians, is the African American, at least by virtue of the beauty trends in white society. What do y'all think? (That's the Mississippi in me coming out!)



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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

If some women are like me, they didn't have a choice as to when their hair was first relaxed. My mom took me to the beauty shop when I was about 8 or 9 for my first perm. Before that, the hot comb was used to press my hair. (I can still hear the crackling as the comb went through my hair.) After a while, both my mom and I were tired of the hassle, so perming we went. The jheri curl was popular at this time, but my mom said no. (Thank goodness! )
When I got to high school and started playing sports, I wore box braids which damaged my hair. It recovered, but then I went to crochet (sp?) braids, which were okay. Now I just wear my hair pulled back.

Now, on the identity thing I don't know. I mean sistas are wearing green, blue, and gray contacts, and blonde hair (I mean platinum). I had golden highlights, but that damaged my hair, so never again. I have been told that I would look good with light brown or green contacts, but that doesn't appeal to me either. My thinking is if God wanted me to have green eyes, He would have given them to me. I have used bleaching cream and cocoa butter, but it's to lighten dark scars from acne, chicken pox from back in the day, or from a scrape. I don't use it to make myself lighter.
I'm somewhat in between on skin tone, but closer to the lighter end of the spectrum. I can rememeber my older relatives telling me to come in out of the sun when I was a kid. Not to avoid cancer, but to avoid getting darker.
People still have this mentality that black is bad or ugly and light is desireable or pretty. I feel it boils down to what the bruh said, it's the reason behind your look is what counts or the problem.

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Sisterhood, Scholarship, & Service
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
"Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom"

[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited August 22, 2000).]

Originally posted by the411:
Some would argue the same thing about hair. If God wanted us to have bone straight hair, he would have given it to us. If God wanted us to wear earrings, he'd have made us with holes in our ears. Same thing applies to arched eyebrows... I could go on and on!

I agree. But what I said is my response to people who try to change MY look to fit THEIR definition of beauty. I am a slacker in the area of hairstyles. I don't like to use curlers, I can't sleep with rollers, so I just keep my hair washed and conditioned and maintain a simply hairstyle, but going natural wouldn't a option for me because I wouldn't take the time to maintain it properly.

I, too, was raised in one of those communities that favored the light kids over the dark kids, and insisted that the light kids stay inside so they wouldn't get dark. I am still dumbfounded by that ridiculousness! But, would you believe that stuff still goes on?!?!?

[/QUOTE]

I believe it and see it everyday. Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine (who's light-skinned) had a baby by a dark-skinned man. I can't tell you how many people said that they hope the baby comes out light like the mother. I thought how about just hoping for a healthy baby!

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Sisterhood, Scholarship, & Service
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
"Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom"

[This message has been edited by c&c1913 (edited August 22, 2000).]

[ZChi4Life]

Some would argue the same thing about hair. If God wanted us to have bone straight hair, he would have given it to us. If God wanted us to wear earrings, he'd have made us with holes in our ears. Same thing applies to arched eyebrows... I could go on and on! As far as contacts go, I used to have an issue with them, I admit. However, last year, I tried on a pair when I went for an eye exam, and really liked the brown lenses my Optometrist (a black lady) recommended. Although I love 'em to death, my eyes are SO dark--almost black-- that they look eerie sometimes! The lighter brown (not hazel) gave me a more "human" look. I only wear them once every 1-2 weeks when I want to try something new. I don't think that's any different than cutting or dying my hair for a different look. I think it's perfectly fine to make changes if we do it for our own satisfaction, tastes, and personal expressions. The problem is when we do those things to "fit in" or because we have low self-esteem.

I agree w/ this. And you're right, you can go on about if God intended us to have certain things, then he would've provided them for us, etc.

So I have a question: Do you all think there is a line b/t wanting to be different and then doing things to downplay your given ethnic identity/heritage? If so, where does one draw it? Take for instance Sisqo and Lil' Kim...why do you think they dye their hair? Why do you think L.K. wears the blue contacts? Do ya'll think they do it b/c of the biz or b/c of other reasons?

[Salience]

Originally posted by c&c1913:
I believe it and see it everyday. Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine (who's light-skinned) had a baby by a dark-skinned man. I can't tell you how many people said that they hope the baby comes out light like the mother. I thought how about just hoping for a healthy baby!

Okay, but why do people think they're complimenting by commenting on how "light" my skin is? I feel like I'm just a Black woman trying to make in this jacked up world, you know? But I get called "yellow" until I tan, then I get called "red," by FRIENDS and FAMILY!! They think I'm overreacting when I get upset.

Man the PG & E man was just here, teasing me about my "Angela Davis" fro, telling me I'm militant. Now, y'all know better, it's just a blanket assumption about my hair and skin. That's all we have in common right now! LOL

I change my hair often. Now I'm going natural to twist and loc it, but I still need variety, so I color my hair. It's my beauty, I'll do what I want with it!!
Sheesh.

I'll holla at yall later.

Sal

[DoggyStyle82]

Originally posted by the411:

This from the same group of folks who STILL think Cleopatra is white!!!

I hate to break the news to you 411, but Cleopatra is/was white. She was a Greek, desended from the line of Ptolemy. The royal family was famous for inter-marrying and breeding, so that while she had olive skin, she was not African/Black. But I do feel your afro-centrism.

[the411]

Originally posted by c&c1913:
My thinking is if God wanted me to have green eyes, He would have given them to me.

Some would argue the same thing about hair. If God wanted us to have bone straight hair, he would have given it to us. If God wanted us to wear earrings, he'd have made us with holes in our ears. Same thing applies to arched eyebrows... I could go on and on! As far as contacts go, I used to have an issue with them, I admit. However, last year, I tried on a pair when I went for an eye exam, and really liked the brown lenses my Optometrist (a black lady) recommended. Although I love 'em to death, my eyes are SO dark--almost black-- that they look eerie sometimes! The lighter brown (not hazel) gave me a more "human" look. I only wear them once every 1-2 weeks when I want to try something new. I don't think that's any different than cutting or dying my hair for a different look. I think it's perfectly fine to make changes if we do it for our own satisfaction, tastes, and personal expressions. The problem is when we do those things to "fit in" or because we have low self-esteem.

I, too, was raised in one of those communities that favored the light kids over the dark kids, and insisted that the light kids stay inside so they wouldn't get dark. I am still dumbfounded by that ridiculousness! But, would you believe that stuff still goes on?!?!?



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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[the411]

I feel you, DoggyStyle, but, she's definitely NOT a Eurocentric Caucasian who looks like Elizabeth Taylor. When have YOU ever seen her depicted as having olive skin and full lips on the silver screen? What I meant in my statement is that whites refuse to accept those of her physical attributes that are more characteristic of people of African decent than of Europeans.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE