Changing Up

[CurleeDST]

OK I was listening to sports radio today and one of the sportscasters said that brothers will sport the locs and cornrows and everything UNTIL they get in trouble. Then they cut all of that stuff off.

Why do you think this is and do you think if they do this then they are keeping it real? Whatever keeping it real is?

 

[BeaLady]

Some people feel that cutting off there hair is associated with a cleansing, either spirtually or mentally.

They also see it as a fresh start.

 

[PaperClip]

To conform to non-threatening standards of appearance in order to gain empathy/absolution of their actions.

 

[ClassicBeauty]

To conform to non-threatening standards of appearance in order to gain empathy/absolution of their actions.

That's exactly what I was thinking! They want to appear as less threatening as possible to all of America!

 

[CurleeDST]

hmmm, so it sounds as if people are willing to compromise. my hubby and i were discussing it as well and he said that is why the hip hop bs goes out the door as well bc it is not appropriate evertwhere.

 

[ClassicBeauty]

hmmm, so it sounds as if people are willing to compromise. my hubby and i were discussing it as well and he said that is why the hip hop bs goes out the door as well bc it is not appropriate evertwhere.

It's not just a race thing either. I know that I could NEVER have brought a guy with braids home to meet my family. They would have thought I lost my mind!!! They would have also thought he was a "hoodlum" or a "knucklehead." Especially my grandmother! She was the most conservative of the whole family.

I think that most older blacks would want Michael Vick's hair cut just like most whites would. (I'm young, and I like it cut too. I'm also not much of a hip hopper.)

 

[CurleeDST]

yeah i do not like men with braids. i do like men with well maintained locs.

It's not just a race thing either. I know that I could NEVER have brought a guy with braids home to meet my family. They would have thought I lost my mind!!! They would have also thought he was a "hoodlum" or a "knucklehead." Especially my grandmother! She was the most conservative of the whole family.

I think that most older blacks would want Michael Vick's hair cut just like most whites would. (I'm young, and I like it cut too. I'm also not much of a hip hopper.)

 

[Cheleigh]

To conform to non-threatening standards of appearance in order to gain empathy/absolution of their actions.

ITA. Their attorneys tell them to cut it to gain sympathy and show that they're not mavericks anymore--that they are now willing to tow the company line.

As an aside--I doubt my SO would cut his hair to show conformity, so much for that strategy with him.

 

[Poli]

To conform to non-threatening standards of appearance in order to gain empathy/absolution of their actions.

I agree jsut as Mike Vick as done, we will see if R Kelly does the same thing.

 

[SunnyDelight]

That's exactly what I was thinking! They want to appear as less threatening as possible to all of America!

EXACTLY!!

They don't want to "seem" thuggish or like they could have possibly done whatever they are being accused of (for goodness sake - don't I look like a choir boy with my haircut???) I consider them a sellout when they cut for an image - especially dreadlocks - if they really understand what dreading symbolizes and they cut anyway.

 

[SunnyDelight]

Not to contradict myself but my son is 20. From ages 14 to 18 he wanted to grow his hair for braiding. I never told him NO, I just told him about all the people in this world who would think differently of him based purely on his hair styling choice. There were several occassions where we me and his dad had to go down the whole list; school teachers, church members, employers, coaches, women, parents, grandparents . . . !!!

I didn't want to pull and punches about the kind of world we live in. Sadly it' s Image above Character in a lot of instances. I told him that if he were to get braids and be able to live knowing that every decision about him was based purely on his character and capabilities - then sure, do you and get the braids. He didn't ever get them. He is working hard, in college and the kind of young man I'd be proud for my daughter to bring home (and not just because he is my son either!!)

 

[CurleeDST]

I simply do not think braids look good on males - MEN in particular. I hate seeing men with what I would consider braid styles for little girls with boletas (ball barrettes) and all! I hate seeing men with braided pony tails all over their head and I despise seeing grown men with cornrows! ICK!

My nephew grew his hair out and wore it braided. I didn't think it was cute eventhough he is a handsome boy. I just didn't think it represented him well.

 

[CurleeDST]

I also hate when they wear half of it braided and the other half out.

ICK!

I agree jsut as Mike Vick as done, we will see if R Kelly does the same thing.

 

[jtsupanova]

I can totally see where you all are coming from but I do not judge people men included by there hair styles. My uncle who is white (no I'm Not mixed but adopted by my stepfather) is a basketball coach. He descriminated against the black players on his team that wore cornrows calling them thugish and unkept. This eventually forced them to cut there hair so they would be able to play in the games. My issue is... What does my white uncle know about black mens naturally nappy hair? NOTHING! Anyway you look at it its discrimination and its wrong. If a white player were to have long hair which he choose to style in a ponytail would he be consider thugish and unkept? A rocker maybe but certainly not thugish. Braids, twist, cornrows and dreds amougst other things are the styling options that we have for our highly textured hair. I'd be highly offended if somone were to judge me by coily,curly nappy frizzy shake n go that I wear everyday (which I sure that they do... some negative, some positive) but if that judgement came to the point where I have to change or cut my hair I say "SCREW EM!"

 

[Naturallong81]

Their lawyers probaly tell them to. the world seems to think blak men look intimadating, and scary with locs and braids.
R.kelly needs jesus!

 

[cmw45]

hmmm, so it sounds as if people are willing to compromise. my hubby and i were discussing it as well and he said that is why the hip hop bs goes out the door as well bc it is not appropriate evertwhere.

Seems more like survival to me...but as you contiually say...different people value different things.