Combating Negative Ideas About Black Hair

beauty by lee

After going natural 3 years ago, and seeing all the amazing benefits of doing so, I began to wonder why it had taken me so long to do so.  What kept me from learning and accepting my hair in its natural state?  Where did I get the idea that my hair had to be straightened in order to look presentable?  After some deep self-reflection, I realized that a lot of it had to do with how I had been influenced to think about hair.  I wanted to know what those influences were and how they affected me. 

With a degree in Psychology and a background in social justice, I knew that ideas can multiply and become normalized once one or two powerful people believe it, start to promote it, and influence others.  Their ideas go from two people believing it, to four, six, eight, ten…until it becomes a part of our cultural fabric.  Depending on the goal of those ideas, it can have either a positive or a negative outcome.  What I came to realize was that I had been negatively influenced about my natural hair.

Part of why I started the blog was to fight against the idea that black hair was ugly, unsightly, unmanageable, and somehow wrong.  Negative ideas about African textured hair started many years ago and was spread by those with influence to become the predominate opinion of today. A historical quote by Martin Freeman in an 1859 article in the Anglo-African Magazine gives an example of how this happened based off the socialization process of young children:

“The child is taught directly or indirectly that he or she is pretty, just in proportion as the features approximate the Anglo-Saxon standard.  Hence…kinky hair must be subjected to a straightening process-oiled, and pulled, twisted up, tied down, sleeked over and pressed under, or cut off so short that it can’t curl, sometimes the natural hair is shaved off and it’s place supplied by a straight wig.”

Things have not changed much since 1859.  Freeman made this quote with the individual in mind, but it also takes structural racism to create ideas that weave themselves into the fabric of our culture and become normalized.  Examples of structural racism include hair discrimination in the workplace, school systems, and most recently in the military.  Each of those institutions has labeled black hair as “unprofessional,” “against the dress code,” or “a safety hazard.”

Overcoming internalized oppression and structural racism can be hard to do.  However, William J. Wilson gives us a way to triumph over them by writing in the 1853, Frederick Douglass’ Paper:

“We must begin to tell our own story, write our own lecture, paint our own picture, chisel our own bust, acknowledge, and love our own peculiarities.”

I want other women and men of color to know that you are beautiful, you are worthy, you are perfect, just the way you are!  

I am glad to know that today we are in the midst of a natural hair revolution.  Many people are embracing their natural hair texture.  You can find natural women in TV commercials, on the cover of magazines, starring in major films, and walking fashion runways.  Naturals are celebrating themselves all over Instagram and Facebook with selfies showing off their new cut, color, and coils.  There is no shortage of YouTube videos of natural hair tutorials, product reviews, and hair journeys.  We are everywhere and we are here to stay!

The pride that I see in other naturals inspires me to keep pushing past all the negative messages that are still very prevalent.  There are still times when I think we are not represented as much as we should be.  Making sure that our image is present will be something we will always have to strive towards.  It is like trying to put on makeup without a mirror: some spots will be missed.  It is up to each of us to know our beauty and value even in the face of negativity and misrepresentation.  Together, we can combat negative ideas about black hair.

[Contributor, Honoring Our HAIRitage is my platform to tell our own story, re-frame those negative messages, and spread a more positive affirming understanding of African American beauty by starting with understanding our history.]


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