Hair and Black Identity

I choose to perm my hair because I am flat out lazy. I don't want to take the extra time to maintain my hair. When my hair is permed I can wash it, wrap it, and go to sleep. I wake up the next day comb it down, bump the ends and go. I don't have to curl my haid but maybe every two or three days. When i get really lazy I braid it up or like recently I swallowed my pride and kept my hair in ponytails for a month. My hair grew like a California wildfire and I am think about putting it back in one. I have not put a perm in my hair for almost three months now and I'm still looking good. I thought about jsut stopping all together and getting an electric pressing comb and doing it once a week. ANYWAY, I do what I do to my hair out of laziness nothing more nothing less.

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The Unseen Mistress steps back into the mist...a bright light flashes....and like that...she was GONE

[Lovealious]

Hello sistafriends,

I would just like to add my opinion to this discussion. Prepare yourself though sistafriends I got a little long winded in this one.

For years black people have been left out of mainstream television. For years we were told that our hair was too kinky (even a little kink was too much). For year we only saw lighter shades of black represented on television and in films. Nowadays we see a few darker toned sistahs in main stream advertisements and videos (don't get me started on the videos). What is so wrong with finally not being condemned because we were not born with naturally straight hair? Finally we are seeing another variety of Blackness in these advertisements. What is so wrong with finally being able to celebrate our roots and not the styles that have been pushed on us for years upon years? Straight hair is better, light skin is better, skinny is better... enough is enough. Personally I think that advertisers and such are just trying to attract more African - American dollars. Trying to say oh now it's ok for these types of people to buy our product. African-American women with kinky or not so straight hair.

If we are putting relaxers at our hair at 10, and 11 or our early teens, then we really have no time to get to know our hair. We don't know how to manage our natural tresses. We are led to believe that our tight coils are unmanageable, how would you know if you were wearing a relaxer since you were 11. My mom didn't stop doing my hair till I was like 12. The minute I touched my natural hair I was like “give me a perm!” I didn't want to take the time to get to know my hair... Now I have decided to go back to my natural hair because relaxers burn the crap out of me. I love my hair now, after almost a year of “what am I going to do with this mess.” I can wash my hair, brush it out and go... No more patting my head for a week cause I can't scratch or it'll burn.

I mean there are different shades of blackness and just cause you wear an afro or a doobie doesn't MAKE you more or less black, but it's time for the constant putting down of our natural hair, natural complexion and other things to stop. If you choose to change the texture of your hair, the complexion of your skin, or the color of your eyes.. that’s your choice. But I believe that since we have only seen light skin women with super straight hair in advertisements for so long some people believe that this is the only acceptable way to look. I am guilty of it for at least 10 years.

The advertisers see it as a fad I believe. It's really evident to me in the Gap Kids add with the little girls singing on the stage like a band. The 'token' black child has her hair flying all over her head, it's appalling to me.. (it doesn’t look like they put a comb through her hair) the other girls (all white) have neatly combed hair, without a strand out of place no funky pony tails nothing.

If I don't like the way black women especially are in advertisements and certain music videos I don't patronize those artist and those products. But there are exceptions.
Black Hair Care magazine, nothing but straight hair styles, the only natural styles are braids (which aren't good for your hair). But I've learned how to work with my natural hair, just like I learned to work my relaxed hair. I would do my own doobies and it would look better than most salon jobs and now I can do just about any style I see in those black hair care books. My point is don't knock it till you've tried it.

And if you aren't getting compliment or attention from men because of the way you wear your hair be it relaxed, jheri curl, natural, whatever then maybe it's the way you carry yourself. I am proud of who I am. My hair does not make me and less of a woman, if any man has a problem with the way I wear my hair, then he isn't the man for me. To be caught up on such materialistic thing is childish. Humans were once covered from head to toe with hair, some day we may not have hair at all I guess by then these men will have to change their opinions on hair.


[This message has been edited by Lovealious (edited August 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Lovealious (edited August 23, 2000).]

[Resplendent_Maria]

Sisterfriends-

Before I went away to college, I was NATURAL for all of my life. I was known for my braids, extensions, and cornrows in HS. Braids definitely saved me $ because I always braided my own hair (with years of practice). But saving $ was also spending lots of time rebraiding my hair.
My kinky hair was past my shoulders!

So when I went away to college, I did not have that extra time to braid my hair. So I did what I vowed I would never do and gave myself a relaxer!

Now, three years later, I loved my relaxed hair. When I permed it, I decided to give myself a change and took a dramatic haircut (yes, shaved off the back of my head and all). But it since grew back, and I love my layers. It's all about versitility for me.

And I certainly do not think that I am trying to be "white" by straightening my hair, because I know that I am black as ever, especially when I need that touch-up every six weeks!

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Maria

[Ice Cold Kreator]

Unfortunately down souf!!! (SOUTH)

Much of the natural look is still not in!

When I left MN....everybody was freakin' a natural look...GREEKs were on the forefront of that...AKAs and Deltas were famous for locks, twists, fros, and braids...

It just seems that in the GREAT ATL. You will only find conscious (afrocentric) women and men sporting these styles (although cornrows are making a "come up")

Many women (and men too) are relaxing are texturizing their hair b/c they think thats the best way to look...AND Brothers here only want to date Long-haired sisters (no matter their personality)

one of my friends who is an AKA (who sports a short natural cut) was told that her hair was too short (to be an AKA) by some people who weren't even in a sorority!

I'm hoping the south as a whole will move from this pathetic view about "nappy" hair...

I'm happy to be nappy!!!

I am,

The Ice Cold Kreator

[the411]

Originally posted by Lovealious:
Hello sistafriends,

Finally we are seeing another variety of Blackness in these advertisements. What is so wrong with finally being able to celebrate our roots and not the styles that have been pushed on us for years upon years?

But I believe that since we have only seen light skin women with super straight hair in advertisements for so long some people believe that this is the only acceptable way to look.

The advertisers see it as a fad I believe. It's really evident to me in the Gap Kids add with the little girls singing on the stage like a band. The 'token' black child has her hair flying all over her head, it's appalling to me.. (it doesn’t look like they put a comb through her hair) the other girls (all white) have neatly combed hair, without a strand out of place no funky pony tails nothing.

Lovealious,

Like you, I won't even touch music videos because I'd be here all day!

The point I was trying to make about Black hair and TV was pretty much reiterated in your statement about the GAP commercial. I understand what you're saying about "seeing another variety of Blackness" on TV, but the thing I'm bothered about is that the media only attempts to give us ONE variety at a time. Yes, it is a media trend, and I guess I'll have to accept that. However, it seems a little biased to me that the trend would shift from light-skinned blacks with straight or naturally curly/fine hair textures to dark-skinned women with extremely kinky, natural styles. What about women like me who fall somewhere in between?!?!?

African Americans are, in my opinion, THE most diverse race of people in that we DON'T fit a certain mold in terms of how we look. We vary GREATLY in skin color, hair color and texture, facial features, body shape, etc. And yet, we are usually only depicted in one way or another on TV-- never as diversely as we really are.

I am extremely happy that we've shifted from the "light is right" trend, but I will never be completely satisfied until we as a physically diverse people are accurately depicted and fully represented in mass communications.

The commericals today seem to be sending a message that blackness is defined by thick and kinky hair (I won't say "natural" because many blacks--dark-skinned and light-skinned alike--have naturally straight hair!). My argument is that blackness is not based on physical attributes. One of my dearest friends is a sistah who could esily pass for white; however, within 2 minutes of talking to or being around her, you'd want to elect her the next president of the NAACP! She radiates BLACKNESS; she's a proud, Afrocentric sistah who makes you feel good about being black. On the other hand, I went to college with a black girl with brown skin and kinky, natural hair, who is an assimilationist who ONLY hung with white students and stood on the side of those white students who argued that our Black Student Union and Black Greek Council (including the frats and sororities in it) were racist, unconstitutional organizations that should be abolished!!!

I do relax my hair religiously every 8 weeks, and as cute as many natural styles are, I doubt I'll ever change. I love my hair and everything about it, so I'm not relaxing it to be white or anything other than the proud, Black woman I am; I relax it because it's less time-consuming to style, not because I detest my natural hair. To be honest, when I first get it relaxed, I hate it because it's too limp! But, when that kinky new-growth starts coming in, you can't tell me I'm not a DIVA!

I would love to see us as Blacks become more accepting of each other's personal expressions. Blacks are priviledged to be able to do more with their hair than any other race of people. Many black hair care books do seem to lean toward the relaxed looks, but I have seen many books that feature natural and braided styles only. We need to start appreciating each other for who we are and not for how we choose to style our hair. I'm all for the natural styles on my sistahs who rock them, but I'm just saying that it's not for me. I just don't want people who choose to wear their hair natural for WHATEVER reason to judge me because I don't, just as I'm not gonna judge them because they shy away from chemicals.

Once again, thank ALL of you for your feedback on this topic!!! I never expected to see flames coming out of this folder, but I'm glad about it nonetheless. It is wonderful that we can have discussions like this!

Love ya!




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

[Resplendent_Maria]

I think the supermodel Alek Wek has shone a positive light in the fashion industry. She sports a very short natural haircut, has a very dark skin tone and I think she is beautiful. I hardly (if ever) see her in wigs or weaves, even as a fashion model.

I'm interested to hear other opinions on Alek Wek.

[the411]

Soror Director,

Isn't your 3-yr-old a little girl? If so, what do you think you'll be doing to her hair when she's a pre-teen? Just wondering.

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

[Tinese]

Hello to all the ladies of DST. Whats up DSTDirector it Tinese SGRHO! I think women relax their hair for various reason other than trying to be white. Personally, I relax my hair because I'm a very tender headed. Taking a comb to my hair without it being relaxed hurts my scalp to the point of it being sore and having a headache.

Tinese

[prospectiverushee]

Originally posted by Ice Cold Kreator:
Unfortunately down souf!!! (SOUTH)

Much of the natural look is still not in!

When I left MN....everybody was freakin' a natural look...GREEKs were on the forefront of that...AKAs and Deltas were famous for locks, twists, fros, and braids...

It just seems that in the GREAT ATL. You will only find conscious (afrocentric) women and men sporting these styles (although cornrows are making a "come up")

Many women (and men too) are relaxing are texturizing their hair b/c they think thats the best way to look...AND Brothers here only want to date Long-haired sisters (no matter their personality)

one of my friends who is an AKA (who sports a short natural cut) was told that her hair was too short (to be an AKA) by some people who weren't even in a sorority!

I'm hoping the south as a whole will move from this pathetic view about "nappy" hair...

I'm happy to be nappy!!!

I am,

The Ice Cold Kreator

I didn't know Atlanta was like how you described. I always thought Louisiana was the only state that had such issues.

I know the light skin/dark skin debate is still an issue around here. I know I'm going off topic slightly,but I would like to share a personal experience. I hope nobody minds this slight shift in topic.

I attend LSU and this summer I was in summer school. After class one day, a classmate and I were walking across the quad. It was unbelievably hot that day and we were walking in the sun. So my classmate says that we should have walked in the shade. I was like it didn't matter to me because I was already at my destination. So she goes "Well, I don't need any more color. Maybe you do,but I don't"

Talk about somebody blown completely away. I have never had a issue with my skin tone. I am neither light skin or dark skin. I fall right in the middle. This particular person happen to be dark-skin. How do you respond to a comment like that?

Originally posted by prospectiverushee:
I didn't know Atlanta was like how you described. I always thought Louisiana was the only state that had such issues.

Nope, and I can tell you that Texas has them too.

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by Ice Cold Kreator:
Unfortunately down souf!!! (SOUTH)

Much of the natural look is still not in!

When I left MN....everybody was freakin' a natural look...GREEKs were on the forefront of that...AKAs and Deltas were famous for locks, twists, fros, and braids...

It just seems that in the GREAT ATL. You will only find conscious (afrocentric) women and men sporting these styles (although cornrows are making a "come up")

The Ice Cold Kreator

Ice Cold,
Where in MN did you live? I spent 2 years in MN after graduating from an HBCU in ATL and then returned to ATL. I think what you are observing is something that I too observed, but with a different twist. Because there are so few African-Americans in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area the AA folks there tend to be more cohesive and demonstrative in their blackness. I was able to get connected with a lot of different folks there because they all seemed to be saying "A young black woman! Please don't leave! We'll do anything if you stay here!" I don't think black folks in the ATL feel it necessary to wear their blackness on their sleeves (or head if you will) because we are so plentiful down here. Then it becomes a much more personal choice. I can 'choose' to wear my hair one way, and choose to live my life any number of ways. Consciousness is not just about a hair style. It's expressed in so many other ways.

This reminds me of the movie "Mixing Nia" that has been on heavy rotation on HBO lately. Karen Parsons (Hilary from Fresh Prince) plays a young biracial woman who is trying to embrace her blackness. On her quest she meets and begins to date an afrocentric college professor (with dreads of course) and begins to make subtle (and not so subtle) changes in her hair, speech, clothing and food choices thinking these external things made her more "Black". She found out that they did not.

[DirectorDST99]

I think what sums the entire topic up is the fact that the "SISTAHS" just have it like that. We are such a unique species that we can do so much to ourselves and so little to ourselves and still look DAMN good.

I love my blackness, I love that my hair can be kinky and short, relaxed and short, kinky and long, etc. You feel me?

I love that we are so versatile. I just love my blackness. I love that I have a two, maybe three toned body and discovered that my 3 year old has inherited that same physical characterisic as well. I love what makes me UNIQUE. Don't you?

This topic gets the BEST TOPIC award for the month!

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Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[prettygyrl]

I wear my hair relaxed and could probably never do the natural thing. My hair so nappy that I have to perm it every 5 weeks! The natural look does look very good on some but it is not for everyone. My hair is easier to manage while it is relaxed. It has nothing to do with wanting to look like a white woman. With the best perm in the world my hair still does not look like a white womans. I would never want hair like that anyway. I enjoy my hair. I love the fact that we can do so many different things to our hair. My blackness is defined by my actions. my knowledge of myself and my people. my love and respect for myself and my people, and all the energy i invest into my community. It has nothing to do with my hair. Just because a woman is sporting a natural does not mean she is in touch with her "blackness". Actually if someone has changed their hair to a natural just because they think it will make them more "black" then they are very much out of touch with their "blackness" and it will take more than tossing out a relaxer to bring them back in touch with themselves.

[DirectorDST99]

Soror the411, hopefully when my now 3-yr old turns pre-teen and teen, she will be so in touch with her heritage that she can decided what to do with her hair. My intentions now are to never put chemicals in her hair since I know how to take care of natural hair now.

Hey Tinese, good seeing you here my Greek Soror.

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Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[equeen]

Greetings to the sisters of Delta Sigma Theta and those posting on this most interesting topic.

I'm following this topic with interest because it hits so close to home. My ethnicity is Asian Indian...take a look at any TV or print ad in India, and the models are slim, with pale complexions and light (not necessarily brown) eyes. This is the norm, when the average Asian Indian woman is shapely, wheat-complexioned, and has dark-brown eyes! I can't understand this phenomenon, especially since the women in the ads are representatives of the women in the target audience.

Here's a humorous experience I've had with respect to skin tone: I was at "Welcome Fair" for incoming freshman, where merchants from around the community gave away free samples of product to the incoming freshman. An ethnically Caucasion lady whose skin ought to have been more pale than mine (but in reality, she was about 5 shades darker than I am at my most sunburnt), was representing a local tanning salon. I didn't really stop by her booth, so she ran after me with tanning oil samples, saying "Well, you're off to a good start...here are some samples to get you started."

LOL!


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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies