Comments on: Chris Rock’s ‘Good Hair’: A Humorous Deconstruction of Stubborn Beauty Standards

By: N0el

N0el — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:54:31 +0000

It matters because “good hair” is not just the butt of jokes — it comes from a social justice issue which nearly destroyed this country, and continues to mean intensive conflicts in our society.

It matters because young people today who choose to go “nautural,” instead of trying to have “caucasian” hair, are receiving flak from their own families. Sometimes the older generations — parents, grandparents — believe they have fought long and hard to make things easier for young people, at work, in society, at school — and having to attain “caucasian hair” in order to make things easier…. but now, here's these “kids” throwing that in the older generations' faces by 'going natural.' In some families the young adults are not only being snubbed by their families, but their relatives (even their own mothers) are refusing to introduce them in public, because older relatives are embarrassed and feel their “kids” don't look presentable. (Their words, not mine.) This is a conflict within the African-American community and something we all need to be sensitive about. All of us are still recovering from slavery — trying to figure out how to put our society back together.

By: N0el

N0el — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:54:31 +0000

By: Jesdisciple

Jesdisciple — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:28:31 +0000

Interesting… but why does that matter?

By: N0el

N0el — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:19:55 +0000

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/10/i-know-a-lot-abo...
“I wish that instead of using the complicated relationship black women have with their hair as the butt of his jokes, Rock would have taken the time to explore where this obsession with “good hair” actually comes from. It is not simply a “wanna be white” pathology as the film implies. The term “good hair” harks back to antebellum America, when slaves knew that the less African they appeared, the better treatment they would receive from slave owners. … slaves worked tirelessly at making their hair seem less foreign to their white masters. In return, they hoped that their straightened locks would aid them in being chosen for the coveted house jobs instead of working in the fields …. access to better food, living conditions and a chance at an otherwise illegal education. Even more importantly, working in the house brought with it the possibility of a closer relationship with the master, which could translate into freedom upon his death. So yes, if your hair was long and loosely curled it was “good hair,” because it literally meant it was good enough to get you out of the fields. It wasn't about beauty – good hair was about survival. And make no mistake; men wanted that good hair too.”

- Lori L. Tharps, in *Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America* (2001, St. Martin's)

By: N0el

N0el — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:19:14 +0000

- Lori L. Tharps, in *Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America* (2001, St. Martin's)

By: Jesdisciple

Jesdisciple — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:43:28 +0000

Yup, we guys do think going to such lengths for hair is absurd. While Paul thought the length was good, I doubt he would like all the competition. Glad someone put effort into talking about this on a large scale.

By: susanl224

susanl224 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:04:53 +0000

Thank you for your wonderful column!

It seems to me that a lot of pressure is placed on women to look perfect, and that includes their hair. A bad hair day can ruin your day. As a white woman, I was exposed to just a bit of what my black sisters go through daily in the quest for perfect hair while sharing a house with a black woman. I was astounded at what she went through daily, not to mention when it came straightening time!

Chris Rock's film seems to completely expose this quest and sometimes complete insanity. It just makes me wonder why any sane woman goes through all sorts of BS to fit into someone else's definition of beauty. I hope his film, and the ensuing discussions, make us all question what beauty is, should we allow someone else to define beauty and at what price should beauty come? (Just a hint as to what it isn't - beauty isn't what we can see with our eyes. It is what we see with our hearts and souls.)

By: realitysurfer

realitysurfer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:38:30 +0000

Please take a moment to check out my documentary film BLACK HAIR

It is free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.

It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..

The current situation makes it hard to believe that Madame C.J. Walker once ran the whole thing.

I am not a hater, I am a motivator.

Plus I am a White guy who stumbled upon this, and felt it was so wrong I had to make a film about it.

self-funded film, made from the heart.

Can it be taken back?

Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE

By: orthodox_a

orthodox_a — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:58:14 +0000

It boggles my mind that this is still an issue in the 21st century. People in various parts of the world have had tightly curled hair for thousands of years with none of these supposed problems with styling and maintenance. Please don't indoctrinate your daughters into this madness. Would you encourage her to make her other features different to fit in with society standards? Find a good beautician that can teach you and your daughter how to manage her hair without chemicals. There is a plethora of styling options available to us. Teach her that her hair *is* beautiful and good!