Good & Bad Hair

If I had a dollar for every time somebody (without the same hair texture as mine) asked if they could “touch” my hair, I would probably be a millionaire. They are so astonished that you sat in a salon for 5 hours getting micros, they marvel over the fact that you can wash your hair once every two weeks, they are befuddled when seeing braids that lay right against your scalp (cornrolls) and they are baffled after finding out that “that” isn’t your real hair. African American women have textures that many other races cannot achieve successfully. Our hair is the most versatile and we have so many hairstyles to demonstrate it.

Our hair separates us from any other race, placed on this earth. Whether it is very long or short, as a race we should appreciate and enjoy the hair that God has given us. It’s a shame because I know many men & women who are so insecure when it comes to their own god given hair. Now don’t get me wrong, I love weave as well. But I don’t use that “artificial hair” as a crutch to my beauty. Anybody can be beautiful with any amount of hair on their head. Society has poisoned peoples’ minds into thinking the longer the hair, the more beautiful you are. It is a shame because I have actually seen men pick women with weaves over natural hair because they simply don’t like “black” hair. They would rather pay for their women’s sew in weaves every month, instead enjoying their god sent hair follicles. I mean, look at the African American actors, actresses, models, singers, rappers, artists, etc. How many times have you seen these famous women with kinks & natural curls? I believe society wants African Americans to not embrace their afro or tightly coiled coifs. We should love our natural kinks & curls on your head.

In the musical School Daze, directed by Spike Lee, there was a rivalry between the “lighter skin blacks” vs the “darker skin blacks”. There was an actual scene where the ladies performed a song entitled, GOOD OR BAD HAIR. Spike Lee was not only entertaining the audience when he chose this song, he was actually letting society know what goes on in African American world (referring to hair – stereotypes). Till this very day, I have seen & experienced men being shocked, once they found out an ebony complexion sister has a long, flowing mane and a fairer skin sister has short curly hair. There has always been this indirect hate towards the dark vs light complexion amongst African Americans and I believe it is very ridiculous. Society has set the belief that the darker you are, the more chances that Goody fine tooth rat tail comb will break.

An artist by the name of India Arie released a track in the 2000s by the name of “I Am Not My Hair”. This song exuded dry humor and the admiration of hair types. It also explained as to how your hair should define who you are and what you stand for. This was a very powerful song.

Whether you are black, white, tan, yellow, red, etc. we should all embrace our hair that was placed on our head & enjoy each and every follicle.

"Good & Bad Hair"
School Daze

Directed By Spike Lee