"Among Black people, 'good hair' is defined by its length and texture. I grew up with the idea that long, straight hair is beautiful...and kinky, thick hair with nappy roots is unacceptable."
By Bianca Butler
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to this Commentary!
As Youth Radio's Bianca Butler heads off to college, she's preparing for
another big change in her life - deciding on a new hairstyle... Should she rock 'locks, braids, or stick with a press? In this personal reflection, Bianca explores the long-standing connection between hair and African-American identity politics. (August 15 on NPR's Morning Edition)
Whenever I discuss college with my relatives, instead of
asking me about what classes I'm taking, the first question is always,
"What are you going to do with your hair?"
Since I was nine years old, I've been spending time and God knows how much
money on getting my hair chemically straightened. Among Black people, "good
hair" is defined by its length and texture. I was raised with the idea that
long, straight hair is beautiful...and kinky, thick hair with nappy roots is
unacceptable.
AUNTIE DEBORAH (on tape)
This was you when you were six to nine months. When you were a baby, a little girl, we didn't
really concern ourselves with combing your hair, we just kind of brushed it.
BIANCA
That's my Auntie Deborah. I grew up with her and the rest of my family
admiring my naturally wavy hair that they'd press out so it would be more
"manageable".
AUNTIE DEBORAH (on tape)
It was fine, we just put a little oil in it, and pull it to the back - it was pretty.
BIANCA
I'm used to getting comments about my hair, and inquiries
about my ethnic background - people walking up to me, asking, "What you mixed
with?"
I have no problem with people making assumptions based on my appearance. But I am starting to feel like I've been brainwashed to dislike having kinky hair. And here's my dilemma now that I'm going off to college. I want to have an easy hairstyle that still looks decent.
I could rock my hair braided, grow it out, or groom it into dreadlocks. I sat down with my friends Lauren and Leah to discuss all the pressure and the immage we're bombarded with of the ideal Black woman.
LAUREN AND LEAH (on tape)
Lauren: Naomi Campbell!
Leah: Halle Berry!
Lauren: But why Halle Berry?
Leah: She's everywhere... Every magazine. Halle Berry, Halle Berry. Halle Berry got nappy roots,
y'all.
Bianca: I just wanna' know, is that a weave?
Leah: She has a perm.
Bianca: Is it a weave? Is that really her hair though?
Leah: My hair kinda’ looked like that, when I had had a perm. I vote perm.
BIANCA
Even though I love gossiping about hair with other black women, I also
realize our obsession with our hair brings up questions about whether we're
willing to conform to the mainstream culture.
When my family and I talk about adjusting to college life, they say, because I'm light skinned and speak proper English, it will be easier for my classmates to accept me. I don't know if it's that simple.
Right now, I'm thinking more about identity, and leaning toward getting my hair locked. For me, dreadlocks represent a liberated black person who made a choice not to conform. OK... It's not like I'm trying to be earth mother afro centric like singers Erykah Badu or Lauryn Hill. But I may be ready to reinvent myself on my own terms.
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