Comments on: Good Hair Days http://likethedew.com/2009/11/27/good-hair-days/ A journal of Southern culture and politics Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:07:53 -0500 hourly 1 By: Maisha White http://likethedew.com/2009/11/27/good-hair-days/comment-page-1/#comment-7289 Maisha White Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:03:07 +0000 http://likethedew.com/?p=6780#comment-7289 It's funny that this debate is still going on long after the days of "paper bag tests" determining entrance into certain black institutions. When I went to Atlanta to study theology, my hair was a constant struggle between my mom--who insists that her hair be kept bone straight--and me with my wild locs. She claimed I'd never be able to find a job, but I told her that if any employers value hair over enthusiasm, ability and intelligence, they didn't deserve to have me there. Now that I'm back in Louisiana, several women at the church that I attend have followed my lead: cutting off their straight ends and wearing their natural hair either in afros, braids, dreadlocks or twists. They have found that they love the freedom and versatility of not having to hide their hair, or fry their hair any more. And, contrary to what their mothers might have told them, all of us have been able to find and keep employment. It is a shame there are still black women out there oppressing other black women by being so negative about their hair, but it just goes to show that we have still not gotten to the point where we could all collectively echo India.Arie's refrain that "I am not my hair..." It’s funny that this debate is still going on long after the days of “paper bag tests” determining entrance into certain black institutions. When I went to Atlanta to study theology, my hair was a constant struggle between my mom–who insists that her hair be kept bone straight–and me with my wild locs. She claimed I’d never be able to find a job, but I told her that if any employers value hair over enthusiasm, ability and intelligence, they didn’t deserve to have me there.

Now that I’m back in Louisiana, several women at the church that I attend have followed my lead: cutting off their straight ends and wearing their natural hair either in afros, braids, dreadlocks or twists. They have found that they love the freedom and versatility of not having to hide their hair, or fry their hair any more. And, contrary to what their mothers might have told them, all of us have been able to find and keep employment.

It is a shame there are still black women out there oppressing other black women by being so negative about their hair, but it just goes to show that we have still not gotten to the point where we could all collectively echo India.Arie’s refrain that “I am not my hair…”

]]>