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| Bet they talked about hair! |
“Belle, why are you
so obsessed with hair? It's just hair you know!”- Anon via Email
Dearest Anon
As someone who thinks
about hair as much as it is said that men think about sex, I am aware
that not all people share my enthusiasm or should I say obsession
with hair.
However thought I don't
think we need to be as fanatical as I am, black women’s hair is
still something that needs to be constantly discussed, not
superficially but as an important social dialogue, as part of the
discussion of race and gender.
Before and after
becoming a blogger, whenever I encounter a group of black women hair
would always pop up at some part of the conversation, whether it be
negatively or positively it is always on the tip of our tongue, a
conman denominator. All black woman can share some kind of common
ground over hair.
As much as it can be
seen as taboo to say, it's not just hair, there is a whole lot of
history tied up in our kinks and coils and under those wigs and
weaves, a history that is definitely more than hair but is still so
tightly intertwined.
When our natural hair
is still seen as something different and other, when some women still
feel that anything that flows is better than what grows out your
head. Then our hair still needs to be discussed and can never be 'just
hair' until these things are no longer an issue.
If this so-called
Natural Hair Movement has proven anything it is that dialogue between
black woman about hair can bring about changes.
So I will continue to
discuss our hair and it's importance.
Belle
i love this !
ReplyDeleteand in my opinion its not just hair , your hair is your glory !
very appropriate and adequate answer.
Good answer!
ReplyDeleteOne of mt guy friends says women talk A LOT about hair! So, yeah I guess women, in general, are a little hair obsessed. Not to say that guys aren't, but their hair gets more into focus when there suddenly is NONE (baldness).
ReplyDeletePeople take pride in their hair, it's who we are, what we enjoy experimenting with, like we do the same with our makeup, clothes, accessories etc.
I'm glad that you're into hair Belle, I have learned so much through your blog! And yes, there is definitely history linked to black hair. In the end, most women make use of hair colour, extensions, and flattening/curling irons.
Flaunt your hair!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is not 'just hair'.
ReplyDeleteAfro-hair is part of our history, part of our identity, part of what define us as a community.
It took CENTURIES for people (Blacks and Whites alike) to begin to recognize the beauty of Natural curls.
If talking about it, sharing information about it and promoting it can help any girl out there with self-acceptance, then so be it.
It will only become 'just hair' when the entire world will start looking at it as 'just hair' and not as some kind of defect which plagues men and women from Black ethnicity backgrounds.
Vanessa
I left a message using my google account which shows my name, but my comment was deleted anyways. I am a bit confused as to why it would say anonymous.
ReplyDeleteJacquie