Reinventing21
Spreading my wings
[/QUOTE]This argument will result in nothing more than a deadlock...
The women with chemically treated hair will vehemently oppose any rhetoric that remotely suggests an affinity toward white standards of beauty.
The women who wear their hair in it's natural state will assert that white standards of beauty have done a number on black women, thus, the preoccupation with straighter textures.
The shame in one's natural hair is indeed the result of a larger issue, but realize that we are perpetuating and supporting this larger problem by succumbing to idealized standards.
Having relaxed hair makes one more accepted, integrated, and less threatening to the status quo. It garners the approval (and i use the word approval loosely) of the majority more so than a natural would, because straighter hair is less foreign to them.
It will be very difficult, if not darn near impossible, to eradicate this notion of bad hair if we continue to mimic majority ideals.
There is nothing wrong with experimenting, being different, diverse, and the like. However, one must think about the motivation to constantly and consistently adhere to the straight hair ideal. I'm not sure of the exact percentage, but someting like 75% of black women relax their hair?
Then you've got this pathological fear of kinky hair, so much so that it is denigrated, demonized, and viewed as something that needs to be fixed.
Naturals who consistently (all the time, 100% of the time, Can't be seen with their hair unpressed) wear their hair in straight styles and hold the same negative conceptions of kinky hair have also fallen victim to idealized standards.
How can we change the mentality of type 4 hair and show how versatile, beautiful, and lovely it is if it is burned straight all of the time?
*******let the backlash begin!!!!!!******
No backlash necessary. This deadlock that you speak of is because both parties speak opposing truths at the same time, but there is no way anyone can just assume how an individual feels about themselves based on their hair. Natural or not.
Your principal argument is that there is no way we can eradicate the notion of bad hair if people continue to wear relaxed hair. I understand what you mean, because there are ALOT of people who straighten their hair to within an inch of its life to avoid (like the plague) having nappy hair. But again I say the problem is not relaxed hair.
If everyone as a whole wore their hair(however they want) with PRIDE instead of worrying about how others perceive them, then that would speak volumes. I don't think either side has to conform to the other side just to prove they have love for their hair or themselves. In other words, those who heat straighten or relax shouldn't have to change their individual spirit & style just to prove self-esteem nor should anyone be stoned for it either. Just like naturals who have a longer way to go in society to be accepted shouldn't be punished or riduiculed for wearing natural hair.
In the end it's how we talk, how we carry ourselves, how we care for the hair (getting educated about how to care for it) that really says & shows that we are prideful. Respecting & loving ourselves is truly what is key in getting the message across to the world that our hair is just as beautiful & acceptable as everyone else. I do believe that we can achieve this without everyone being 'natural'. However, having more naturals rocking beautiful long, big hair IS key. Having more naturals with beautiful hair be represented in mainstream media IS essential. AND if everyone could achieve healthy hair then its versatility(nappy, kinky, straight, curly, coily, wavy) would become an asset.
On a side note I find it appalling that there is so much hate on each other that we get people arguing over 'texlaxed', 'texturized' 'braidout', waves, curl, hair types etc. Why can't we have it/do it all? We are ALL THAT, & more.
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we all have to be hear stuff. i cringe at the creamy crack & tryning to b white comments all the same.
