My Nappy Roots
"Straightening Out the Politics, Culture & History of Black Hair"
Depending on the era in which you grew up, your hair might have been parted, greased and braided. For others, the memory of holding down one's ear as a hot pressing comb was run through your tresses was one of pleasure or pain. Yet other little girls knew so well what it was like to get a touch-up. As your scalp began to itch, you were told; "girl, don't scratch that!" That emphatic statement as you'd come to learn, was an attempt to prevent your scalp from burning during the relaxer process. Yet for others, the memory of Jheri Curl activator on the neck of your favorite blouse was just par for the cause.
Hair in the African-American Community has represented, power, independence, economic clout and in some cases social position. The battle raged on as we described each other with phrases like.. "He got Good Hair or Did you see that nappy headed child?" And so, as "Black History Month" draws to close, I explore the question of Black Hair.
African-Americans in Corporate America have "tousled" with the idea of just how to craft one's hair for work. If I wear braids or an Afro into the office, would that bring the glass ceiling closer to one's head? Will I be seen as militant or anti-establishment if I let my dreadlocks flow? Would it be much better to "relax" my roots and identify more closely with a euro-centric standard of beauty? These questions have sometimes had a direct connection to economics and how one survives in the greater society. In some cases, the question of hair choices has had a direct link to one's power and/or position.
These ideas have been cause for discussion for years in the African-American Community and have for centuries challenged. According to Marketresearch.com, 2004 figures for the black hair care industry show revenues at around $1.7 billion dollars. With numbers like those, it would be fair to say that Hair is huge in the black community.
In 1908, Madame CJ Walker opened up the first beauty college for this market. Up to that point, her Walker Systems had built a reputation and employed 3,000 sales reps and others promoting a miracle hair gro and other haircare products she had created for black folks . According to historical accounts Madame Walker was the 1st African-American self-made millionaire. In today's fast growing beauty care industry there is a corporate take-over trend wiping out family dynasties like CJ Walker's. Larger entities like L'Oreal are buying up companies that were built by black entrepreneurs and the industry is being changed forever. Asians are well known in the black community for owning beauty supply stores and manufacturing products for this market. Some argue that folks are selling out. Others feel that in order to gain competitive edge, better products and even better research and development, they need to make strategic business moves. Others just see the money and want to capitalize of this extremely viable market.
As the dialogue around black hair rages on, Filmmakers Regi Kimbell (an African-American Woman) and Jay Bluemke (a Caucasian male) have placed this argument in the forefront with the release of their new documentary, " My Nappy ROOTS: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage." The film examines the legacy of black hair care through cultural, societal and political issues. It takes us on a trip from Africa to America and allows us to see our passions and obsessions about hair played out on the big screen.
Not just for African-Americans, this film is a history lesson that is taught by celebrities like Vivica A. Fox, Patti LaBelle, Kim Fields, Malcolm -Jamal Warner and others. Authors, journalists, historians, comedians, hairstylists, barbers and black hair care industry business icons were also tapped in order to provide historical, professional, and personal accounts of the black "hair-story." According to Bleumke, Producer, "Talking about black people's hair for a white person is kind of taboo." "You just don't do it. I had questions. I wanted to know things. The process of making this film has been an education for me."
This film should be extremely interesting and in this day and time, Kimbell is hoping to debunk the negative stereotypes often associated with Nappy Roots. From the looks of things, she has certainly started conversation and a much needed cross-cultural exchange.
For more on the film or to view the trailer: www.mynappyrootsthemovie.com
Published by saba,ink
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18 Comments
Post a CommentI just finished watching the wonderful and well presented documentary film clip, "My Nappy Roots". As a 51 year old African American man, watching it really took me back to when I was a kid growing up in Denver in the 70's.
We as African Americans (Black) people have proven to non Black Americans that not only do we come in all shades of skin color, but we can and have styled our hair many various styles over the decades. We have fried, dyed it and laid it to the side, conked it, small afros, big afros, jheri curled it, dripping curled it, braided it, dread locked it and weaved it.
Copying or duplication is the greatest form of flattery. I have seen many young high school age Whites and some young Latinos that have their hair in small braids or dread locks and it is all good. The film maker of this film is very talented and tells it like it is from a realistic historic view point with Black actors/actresses that are familiar faces to us.
The Chris Rock version seems to me to
I am 65 years old. I went completely natural years ago. I grew dreds and I love them. Wash and wear is the way to go. I am very happy with my hair(dreds work better with the nappiest of hair). I get a multitude of compliments.
Very well written, thanks for sharing this interesting and informative article!
Good Article. I like your writing style.
You should check out my article "My Thoughts on African-American Women Wearing Hair Weaves." much controversy and support.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18051/my_thoughts_on_africanamerican_women.html This one has recieved much controversy and support.
good article I just published one similar to this one they are going on tour now
Just an FYI, you know what I think works well on oiling my extremely dry scalp (I have growing dandruff--my hair grows faster than I can blink but with it comes all the Christmas snow side effects :-( )? Parnevu T-Tree Herbal Grow. It has olive oil, sage, sesame seed oil, castor oil, and Vitamin B and B-5 in it. I've used all of those dreadfully smelling oils (Blue Magic, TCB, and Let's Jam) only for people to smell my hair before they saw me walk into a room. But I really like this!
Saba, I washed my hair late last night, woke up, flat-ironed it, and it's still a catastrophe. Answer to all bad hair days: the wonderful ponytail holder! I thought about this article while I was glaring in the mirror at my hair not being combable, and figured I'd stop by. And yes, getting my hair done in less than 30 minutes would be so nice. If I could do that, I'd go more often. I still haven't gotten my ends clipped. I dread going to salons that much. Either everybody is gossiping or you're in there long enough for a birthday to pass. *groan*
Oh, last comment, I've walked away pouting with a crook in my neck many of days from my maternal grandmother washing my hair in the kitchen sink. That was so not fun. By age 5, my paternal grandmother had me going to the beauty salon every two weeks. That's crazy to get a perm in kindergarden. I used to miss girl scout meetings getting my hair permed, and now I despise beauty salons. I learned how to style hair in high school, and refuse to go back to beauty salons more than once a year, and only then to get my ends clipped.
Side note: Jamie, that second message was meant for you. Saba, I wish that video would touch on how black women feel about weave. I think that would be an interesting conversation between those who wear their hair natural, those who wear perms, and those who wear perms and rock weave. I, for one, would never EVER put weave in my hair simply because sistas have an incredible amount of styles that don't require it, that and I don't anybody sticking a needle or glue by my scalp. I really wonder what sistas of various beliefs would have to say about that because I've got into some serious debates about the use of weave.
By the way, trust me, if you were Black, you'd work with it. My sophomore year roommate was white and she loved to mess around in my hair, so one day I let her wash, dry, and oil it. That was entertaining. She was cool on washing it because it was permed so it felt "normal" to her. But when she saw my hair bush up like a fro when dried, she was way too entertained. And she was all but lost on oiling hair. She never did master that but I had a ball letting her learn. College, that was the good ole days!