I wonder if the " hair divide" in the US black community is a result of slavery?

Lik3 · May 25, 2014

I love having natural hair. It is very versatile and not too hard to take care of. I tend to wash and go sometimes and I don't have to be concerned with too much shrinkage. According to the Naturally Curly website, my hair is 3C, or curly coily hair. My hair is thickest at the crown and my hair tends to grow the fastest around the ears and in the back. I am not worried about the hair in the front. I have what some black people call "a good grade of hair". I have come to realize that while those who say that meant no harm, it is rather an unfair, unkind thing to say. I wonder then, who has bad hair. What is bad hair? Why is some hair labeled good, pretty hair and others not? I have noticed that I have an issue with my own hair texture because it is not labeled "bad hair".

I think that we live in a society that is permeated with images of people who have a certain look, yet many people on television look nothing like me, even most black people in mass media. I think the whole "good grade of hair", "good hair", "bad hair" thing is rather sad. Good hair shouldn't mean black hair that is closer to a more European, non-African slant, which is an insult to people who have thicker, curlier hair.

It is similar to how people are defined by skin tone. Some people think that a person who is lighter skinned or "mixed" is more attractive than one who is darker-skinned or "more African", whatever that means. The truth is, there should never be such a thing as good hair or bad hair, or "more African" or "less African". There is just too much division within the black African diaspora, especially in the US. I have noticed those subtleties ever since I was a child. I remember the relaxers and the hot combs that have gotten me more compliments because of my "pretty hair". I wonder now if I were to get those same compliments from the same people if I were to wear my natural hair in view of them. Would they still say I have "pretty hair"? Or would it be "bad hair"?

Should we even use the phrase "good hair", even if the definition of "good hair" is that of well-conditioned hair that is properly taken care of? I wonder about a lot of things, but that is something that has opened my eyes. I have learned much about myself with the natural hair that I have. I love my hair just the way it is. I have grown more confident going outside with this hair. You know what makes me really happy? It is the fact that with natural hair, I can finally be who I want to me. I am freer than I have ever been and I can finally be myself.

*** I wonder if this is really an ethical/morality thing, so mods, if it is not, then go ahead and move it please. Thank you.

seashale76 · May 25, 2014

Well, not being black, I'm missing some cultural context that one would gain from personal experience on this matter. However, I think your initial question over this concept of 'good hair' being a result of slavery is likely on the money. I don't think there really is such a thing as 'good hair' and 'bad hair'. There is simply hair you have to deal with differently to get the best results for you.

By the standards you mention, I don't have 'good hair' either, as my hair texture is combo 2C/3A and a good friend of mine is a 3C easy (we're both white). Both of us don't just walk into regular salons and ask for anybody, but have specific people we go to when we get our hair cut.

I always felt under a certain amount of pressure to straighten my own hair growing up (family always made fun of my hair getting frizzy). However, when I got older, someone talked me into embracing my natural hair texture and it looks better than it ever has. I, personally, love to see when people of all ethnicities embrace their natural hair (even if they think it isn't 'good hair'). I don't know what it is, but I think it just suits people better when they do (but it is a personal decision).

I taught middle school for a few years, and I always got the impression that hair was a really big deal among my black students, and some would sometimes share stories about the time that goes in to simply dealing with their hair on a regular basis. I got the feeling there was a love/hate relationship involved.

theophilus777 · May 26, 2014

Some of this discussion has moral undertones, at least. All my ancestry is northern european, but in the summer when I was younger and working outside some parts of my back would get darker than any black person I've ever seen. My point being that making any kind of value judgments based on skin tone is clearly beyond ridiculous. So wear your hair! I'm bald enough I shave mine, otherwise it too is ridiculous.

Chany · May 26, 2014

I guess one could trace back the divide to slavery, but I would say it has less to do with slavery itself and more to do with simple racist remnants. Because of the white dominance in culture, the physical traits of a white person are held in higher regard. The cultural standard for beauty and normal appearance is set up by whites. Because whites not only create the standard of beauty, but also are, traditionally, socially and economically higher, almost everyone in society gravitates, either directly or indirectly, to meet that standard. So, relatively straight hair, light skin, and certain facial features are treated as good. They are not only good in terms of cosmetic appearance, but also represent the higher social class (you want to be like these people because these people are the high rollers, etc.).

Of course, people from non-European descent do not really have those cosmetic appearances genetically. However, because the social standard is in play, people will sometimes go to great lengths, such as spending massive amounts of time on hair treatments or bleaching one's skin to be lighter.

Ken-1122 · May 26, 2014

Lik3 said:
I love having natural hair. It is very versatile and not too hard to take care of. I tend to wash and go sometimes and I don't have to be concerned with too much shrinkage. According to the Naturally Curly website, my hair is 3C, or curly coily hair. My hair is thickest at the crown and my hair tends to grow the fastest around the ears and in the back. I am not worried about the hair in the front. I have what some black people call "a good grade of hair". I have come to realize that while those who say that meant no harm, it is rather an unfair, unkind thing to say. I wonder then, who has bad hair. What is bad hair? Why is some hair labeled good, pretty hair and others not? I have noticed that I have an issue with my own hair texture because it is not labeled "bad hair".

I think that we live in a society that is permeated with images of people who have a certain look, yet many people on television look nothing like me, even most black people in mass media. I think the whole "good grade of hair", "good hair", "bad hair" thing is rather sad. Good hair shouldn't mean black hair that is closer to a more European, non-African slant, which is an insult to people who have thicker, curlier hair.

It is similar to how people are defined by skin tone. Some people think that a person who is lighter skinned or "mixed" is more attractive than one who is darker-skinned or "more African", whatever that means. The truth is, there should never be such a thing as good hair or bad hair, or "more African" or "less African". There is just too much division within the black African diaspora, especially in the US. I have noticed those subtleties ever since I was a child. I remember the relaxers and the hot combs that have gotten me more compliments because of my "pretty hair". I wonder now if I were to get those same compliments from the same people if I were to wear my natural hair in view of them. Would they still say I have "pretty hair"? Or would it be "bad hair"?

Should we even use the phrase "good hair", even if the definition of "good hair" is that of well-conditioned hair that is properly taken care of? I wonder about a lot of things, but that is something that has opened my eyes. I have learned much about myself with the natural hair that I have. I love my hair just the way it is. I have grown more confident going outside with this hair. You know what makes me really happy? It is the fact that with natural hair, I can finally be who I want to me. I am freer than I have ever been and I can finally be myself.

*** I wonder if this is really an ethical/morality thing, so mods, if it is not, then go ahead and move it please. Thank you.

I believe during the Jim Crow era there was a big issue of blacks trying to pass for whites because they were allotted better treatment if they could pass. The arguments of good hair vs bad hair is just an extension of light skin vs dark skin. I dont believe it is much of an issue today as it was back then, or at least I dont see it so much. It may be because I am a man and it is more of an issue with women than men, or it might be because of where I live.

My cousin was a beautician and she said there is a distinct difference between types of hair; some black hair is more difficult to style than others; and some hair you just cant do much with at all! (she told me this approx 20 years ago things might be different now) If you have the type of hair that you cant do much with, I can understand someone calling it bad hair. It isnt that they are insulting the race, or are somehow brainwashed by some white standard of what is good, they are just calling it how they see it. After all white people can have thin stringy hair and they arent afraid of saying that without letting down their race; they can get suntans, collagen in their lips to make them look thicker, packets in their butt so it doesnt look so flat and they just call it self improvements they have no fear of selling out their race or trying to adhere to some standard created by black people.

I think black people of today who didnt have to live through Jim Crow and never experienced the paper bag standard and all the issues around light skin dark skin, straight hair vs curly hair; they want to be able to do whatever they want to improve their looks without being judged by those who did.

To answer the question, I believe the divide is a result of slavery and treatment many years after slavery.

Kern

Gadarene · May 26, 2014

Isn't it that straight/straightened hair is seen as more of a white thing? Sounds like it might be a case of not "acting black" enough.

PsychoSarah · May 26, 2014

My hair rebels against any attempts to tame it, so I don't bother. It's going to frizz and be crazy without hours of my time, and I just don't feel it is worth it. I don't wear make up either, I don't care enough about how I look to other people to bother.

Autumnleaf · May 27, 2014

I think it is. It is one of many consequences of that evil time in our nation's history.

Annabel Lee · May 27, 2014

Chris Rock did a documentary Good Hair a few years ago. Very informative.

Good Hair - Chris Rock documentary Official Trailer [ 2009 ] - YouTube

Inkachu · May 27, 2014

I find this topic fascinating, since I'm not black nor have I been immersed in black culture much. The idea of someone critiquing my skin tone or hair type is just bizarre to me. I think it's both interesting and sad that black people do that to each other. It seems counter-productive and shallow. I hope more people respond who have firsthand experience of this, since I'd like to learn more about it.

poolerboy0077 · May 27, 2014

I suppose there are indelicate and perhaps even incorrect ways of communicating aesthetics. Saying "I personally prefer Asian women" is quite different than saying "Asian women are better." The former expresses personal preference while the latter suggests objective beauty. Personally, I don't think it's wrong for a person to have certain preferences based on skin color or physical characteristics generally attributed to an ethnic group. I would, however, caution those who have such preferences from coming off tactless and offensive in how they express such preferences.

Ana the Ist · Jun 1, 2014

You try wearing no makeup and shaving your head. See what people say then.

Ken-1122 · Jun 1, 2014

Ana the Ist said:
You try wearing no makeup and shaving your head. See what people say then.

It worked for me!

Ken

I wonder if the " hair divide" in the US black community is a result of slavery?

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