Why Are People Upset About "Good Hair?"

I think I know why....

Thus far, I've been trawling some of the other natural hair blogs, and while I've seen some critiques, the general consensus is the movie is a good one, and is funny.

I've also come across some scathing reviews, like this one from EW's Alynda Wheat, and they all seem to have at least one thing in common: the authors have relaxers.

In the post by Alynda at EW, she seemed mighty offended that anyone would lampoon women with relaxed hair, and resorts to the age old bullshit ass myth that her GOD GIVEN HAIR is less manageable than her relaxed hair. That is where I had to stop reading....

There isn’t a black woman I know who sits down in a stylist’s chair to get a relaxer because she, as Rock posits, wants to look white. Not one. I have a relaxer. I have one for the same reason that I don’t wear makeup, don’t have a gym membership, and can usually be found in jeans and a Gap tee—I’m lazy. I like getting out of the house in a reasonable amount of time, and don’t cope well with a lot of hassle over what I consider superficial things. So why bother fighting my naturally nappy hair on a daily basis when every 8-10 weeks I can pay someone else to do it?

7. The whole idea of “good hair” is pretty moot these days.

If “good hair” is that which is silky and manageable, what’s the difference if you’re born with it or your hair dresser gets you there? In its natural state, my hair is kinky and difficult to comb. With a relaxer it’s long and holds curls pretty nicely. So do I have “good hair,” or not? Here’s the fabulous, freeing, culturally uncomplicated answer: I don’t care.

*blank stare*

You know what? I'm going to need for black women with relaxers to stop pretending like they are "so over" the racism behind relaxers, and stop fronting with me. When a sister says that she has her hair relaxed because it's more "manageable" that way, and that she doesn't have a relaxer to look white, she's inadvertently admitting to harboring sick notions that "nappy hair" is unacceptable., because it does not do what straight, "white" hair does. The root of that thought is steeped in racism and self-hatred.

So what if you can't comb it through like Becky? Who the hell cares? That's not why your hair is beautiful. Becky's hair is beautiful because it works for Becky. It's what hers is supposed to do. Yours? Ours? Ours is supposed to grow out and curly, or kinky, and like a fucking halo. That's what it's supposed to be doing (and that's not even being generous enough, as our natural hair can do so many things).

Furthermore, when I let go of the shackles of hatred for my hair because it wasn't doing what "Becky's" was doing, I realized that I didn't want long, flowing, straight hair. I want a big ass afro, that matches my charisma, and my sexiness. Straight hair is way too subdued for moi.

If I'm wrong, I want someone to prove it. I'm not worried about being proven wrong, because I won't be.

While the sister is not openly talking about wanting to look white, or wanting to have good hair, she doesn't have to. It's implied in the statement when she says that her hair is "unmanageable" in it's natural state, and therefore a hassle.

I will never understand how one's own freaking hair could be deemed unmanageable. What the f*ck? My hair was harder to maintain relaxed. Ugh...

This is why I am not interested in reading reviews, and will see it this weekend. I have a feeling that I will not be offended because with the exception of a caveat here or there, he's not talking to me. It's kind of like those who jay-walk and those who stay in the crosswalk. If you're in the crosswalk, move along. You're doing what you're supposed to be doing. If your ass is jay-walking, then you JUST MIGHT get called out.

I have a serious problem with black people who bitch and moan about portrayals that are on the money, or are pretty damned close. I also hate to hear the whole "white folks are doing it" or "what will white people think" arguments because I don't give a damn what they are doing. I care about what we are doing.

What if white women are getting weaves? They weren't told for centuries that their hair is gross, disgusting, ugly, and too "nappy."

So what if white women go out and dye their hair? And? There was no movement so damaging to white women as the relaxer was to black women, and all the attitudes that come with it. This includes the constant pressing of hair.

I am not going to question whether or not a sister hates herself if she has relaxed hair. Chances are it's pretty evident when a sister has self-hate issues, and uses chemicals to aid in that hatred. But don't tell me that the belief that nappy hair is "unmanageable" is anything but asinine and steeped in the very same ignorance that spawned it.

Girl, bye.

If one is offended at the movie, I strongly urge them to really examine their reasons. If you feel as though he's talking to you or about you, then you may want to examine your reasons for relaxing your hair.

A relaxer is not and should not ever be one's ONLY styling option. If a sister wears a relaxer for several months, and then transitions to natural, and so on and so forth, then it's a styling choice.

Replacing the "creamy crack" every month with NO end in sight, is a problem.

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