The View Talking About Good Hair

[Cheleigh]

Well I believe Barbara knows the deal, i think she's just trying to contribute to the convo...she's not that ignorant.

But really, why wouldn't the average white person think that straightening our hair would be "trying to be white"? We are straightening hair for "manageability"....where did the idea come from that straight hair is more manageable? Not from kinky-curly ppls. In indigenous cultures that still exist hair is managed according to it's properties.....it's braided or locked or left fluffy or cut short or whatever. Having a kinky texture and relaxing or straightening it for manageability is to emulate other cultures.

When you talk to white ppl they naturally assume we are trying to be like them but if we were talking to Asian or Indian ppl they'd assume that we were trying to be like them.

My point is that the idea of "manageability" IMHO is not from the traditional curly/afro-curly perspective.

With that being said i am going to flat iron my hair later so I have no beef with it...lol. I'm just saying how I see it.

LOL, my hair has been flatironed for the past week, and it's not for manageability, trust me! Folks have to remember that a generation or two ago, people WERE straightening their hair to be like white folks (we were not checking for Asians or Indians). Barbara Walters grew up in THAT environment. Since black hair is manageable, I just guess that people who relax or straighten do it because they prefer it. For two weeks, I will prefer straight hair to natural hair, until I wash it. No biggie. People shouldn't have to justify their preferences, nor should they try to excuse them.

 

[Mizz Diamonds]

With the whole "why would you want to put chemicals in your hair?" comment going blonde hurts too bleach leave that on for too long it falls out hello
My white friends who are emo dye their hair blonde and blue and pink and yeah it hurt I was there holding dude's hand. Bleach, Relaxer, BKT all can be dangerous if not used properly DUH!

See this is the ish that happens when things aren't explained in detail. The protective styling thing that's good I'm glad to know that was mentioned.

If they want to know this history then they can read the book HairStory and I think the book was mentioned on Tyra's show.

Ladies please brace yourself for a onslaught of questions from non-black people.

 

[BroadstreetBully]

I don't understand why it's always an issue of black people trying to look like white people. There are so many other races with straight hair, Asian, Indian, American Indian, Latina, etc.

It seems quite arrogant Barbara to think that when we relax we are trying to look like whites.

If anything I'd expect Indians to point fingers since everyone, black AND white, is wearing their hair!

I do think it's a mixture of stuff. Hair as well as the culture preference for those of mixed racial ancestry. How many natural black women are sex symbols within our community?

 

[luckiestdestiny]

I was thinking to myself, I didn't realize Barbara Walters was that ignorant to say "I thought black women were trying to be more like white women"? How long have black people been in this country? Clearly, white folks don't have a clue about our culture. I don't know of any black women that straighten their hair for the sake of trying to be white. Should black people also ask the question if white women are trying to be black by getting tans, lip injections, butt implants?

That's exactly why I was a little uneasy about this documentary coming out "good hair". I don't want the perception to be (which could easily be assumed) that we want to look like them. And also that ALL black women are rocking weaves! Now if you rock one, fine, but it's a styling option just like white women with extensions (can I say weave?), and also dying their hair every five minutes. Are they trying to look like anyone? So I wish that this documentary didn't appear so one sided, and could address the issues associated with WHY we relax, and why SOME of us are wearing weaves, and how that's not EVERYONE (like we are a collective). This reminds me of Pamela Newkirk's class. She won a Pulitzer for "Within the Veil" that explains some issues in the black community. Anyways she was saying that there is a perception that we are perceived as a "collective". That if for instance a white guy shoots up a store, it's not seen as "all whites", just that Bob did it. But if a black guy does the same it's seen as a "collective" action and that black people as a whole are viewed as violent by white counter parts because of this collective association that they have gathered about minority groups. She breaks down the whole history of this country and other studies. But the main point in her class is correct here to. It seems that whites like Barbara and I'm sure others are going to see this and think it represents "the whole black experience". Also because they are seeing from the eyes of the "Majority" and they are already assume everyone wants to be like them. Her books, and others in that class went on to explain that minorities feel pressure to assimilate because of the pressure from the majority, to be like the majority and are better received when they do. As such it is no surprise to me that Barbara Walters would believe that we want to be "like" them. Coming from HER (eurocentric) mindset.

So I am still going to see the documentary in HOPE that their is light at the end of the tunnel. It is my hope that Chris Rock also sat down with scholars, and went into more detailed description then stereotypes. We are already categorized collectively by the majority (most of the time) so it would be ashamed if more collective stereotypes were put out there.

 

[BroadstreetBully]

LOL, my hair has been flatironed for the past week, and it's not for manageability, trust me! Folks have to remember that a generation or two ago, people WERE straightening their hair to be like white folks (we were not checking for Asians or Indians). Barbara Walters grew up in THAT environment. Since black hair is manageable, I just guess that people who relax or straighten do it because they prefer it. For two weeks, I will prefer straight hair to natural hair, until I wash it. No biggie. People shouldn't have to justify their preferences, nor should they try to excuse them.

I talked about this in another thread. Manageability for socially acceptable and fashionable styles. If natural styles were in, things would be different. Straight styles are in, and relaxers are the easiest way to maintain straight hair.

 

[ImFree27]

Barbarba Walters, is an old white woman stuck in her ways, and she prob will still have her same views, even after Whoppi told her repeately, she still asked chris rock again..no one wants to look like her, it's the other way around....

 

[MonPetite]

I do know people, in my family no less, who relax to look as white as possible.

They terrorized me the first time I went natural and still try to get their digs in today.

They played a large part in my relaxing a year later, which is why I had to BC again this past July.

I used to relax to apologize to society for how "ethnic" my features are. People for years told me how much parts of me looked like those of a variety of animals.

Being natural was truly one of those "embrace myself" scenarios. I can't ever imagine why I would, but if I ever go back to relaxing, this time, it would be because I want straight styles, not to look more Euro.

However, once I have length, I'll be able to do any style with my afro hair WITHOUT straightening and I look forward to doing it and breaking some stereotypes while I'm at it.

 

[Duff]

Barbara is too ignorant to even say that out loud even if she thought it!! if I was Whoopi or Sherri, I would have given her one of those 'you are ignorant' looks and then said 'Barbara that's like saying that white women get a tan to look like black women.' and kept looking at her sideways for 2 more seconds while that registered.....

 

[jetbeauty09]

What I don't like is that he is solely talking about black women....He is not informing, he is exploiting...

(Exactly Babs.....What is he going to tell his daughter? after this?)

What does his wife think of this? I don't feel like he has honored Black women in any way shape or form......

I was hoping he would continue w/what he saying on the Oprah Show. I stood up applauding in my living room when he called out a whole row of blonde white women saying, "IT'S NOT JUST BLACK WOMEN, ITS EVERYONE! THAT'S NOT YOUR REAL HAIR COLOR!!! WHITE WOMEN GET FAKE HAIR TOO BUT THEY CALL IT EXTENSIONS!" They were blushing hard!!

We are not the only race to alter our hair, whether is color, texture, length or whatever! People need to get over it and accept that we are just unique and we love to try new things. I for one change my hairstyle like the weather in Atlanta Ga and I'll be dang on if someone thinks I'm trying to be white. No way Jose! l

ETA: Remember when all the other races were copying us wearing flat twists in the front??? I can't remember how many white woman and girls were wearing this. Look who the biggest style icon is right- RIHANNA. They cannot get enough of her. Please, they want to be like us when it comes to our style and swag. Chris Rock is not doing us justice but I guess since I'm sure there's some important white dude at the top of his money chain, he has to water it down. Puh-leeze!

 

[FluffyRed]

With the whole "why would you want to put chemicals in your hair?" comment going blonde hurts too bleach leave that on for too long it falls out hello
My white friends who are emo dye their hair blonde and blue and pink and yeah it hurt I was there holding dude's hand. Bleach, Relaxer, BKT all can be dangerous if not used properly DUH!

See this is the ish that happens when things aren't explained in detail. The protective styling thing that's good I'm glad to know that was mentioned.

If they want to know this history then they can read the book HairStory and I think the book was mentioned on Tyra's show.

Ladies please brace yourself for a onslaught of questions from non-black people.

I feel a sudden urge to revive the strawset

 

[fyb87]

Honestly, I'm pissed that Chris Rock made a movie entitled, "Good Hair." That in itself offends me. I guess I will be the only one NOT seeing this movie. Fom the sound of this thread and from the two people that I know that went to a screening I will not be missing anything. Apparently he has a one-sided view and wants to clump ALL black women together.

The not so funny thing about it is I want to see the movie so I can dislike him own my on merit. But, I would be MAD AS HELL if I agreed with my friends who saw the movie and go see it and pay for it with my own money.

 

[brownbean96]

I am sooo sorry that you had to hear such foolishness!!! Oh my goodness. Never in my life has anyone said anything so mean (to my face) in all my life and I have full (big lips as some would say). How dare people be so curel. I'm giving you a BIG Hug . Why should we be ashamed of our God given features. I know it's all about what was told to us long, long time ago but we need to wake up. Each race has differences that other races appreciate. We are no different, our skin color, our features, don't tell me that people areon't out there trying to get what we have. It just burns me up to hear of insensitive, completely ignorant comments made about our ancestory. We have so much to be proud of!

I do know people, in my family no less, who relax to look as white as possible.

They terrorized me the first time I went natural and still try to get their digs in today.

They played a large part in my relaxing a year later, which is why I had to BC again this past July.

I used to relax to apologize to society for how "ethnic" my features are. People for years told me how much parts of me looked like those of a variety of animals.

Being natural was truly one of those "embrace myself" scenarios. I can't ever imagine why I would, but if I ever go back to relaxing, this time, it would be because I want straight styles, not to look more Euro.

However, once I have length, I'll be able to do any style with my afro hair WITHOUT straightening and I look forward to doing it and breaking some stereotypes while I'm at it.

 

[Renovating]

I guess it all depends on your reality, because even though the LHCF ladies don't believe in the concept of "good hair" anymore, most of the ladies I know IRL do. In fact, I almost had got a migraine trying to convince a coworker that hair does not necessarily have to "thin out" as you get older. The vast majority of black women I know still subscribe to nearly every myth about black hair.

 

[MzPrince]

Anybody watching?

I am so glad that Whoopi corrected Barbara and let her know that black women do not relax their hair to look like white people. She told her black women relax to make their hair more manageable.

Barbara also said she thought Sherri wore a wig to look more like white peoples hair. Really??? Anyway... Sherri told her that a lot of the stylist did not know how to handle black hair and would put baby powder in her hair to absorb the oil. She let her know she wears wigs to protect her hair.

Good for them I'm glad they set her straight. where does she get off thinking black when are trying to look like a WW (ok minus Lil Kim). I'm also glad that I remembered to DVR this show today.

 

[Country gal]

I am glad I tape it everyday in case something interesting happens. I am glad Chris did this movie because we need to get over this notion of good hair.

 

[jennboo]

Black women do relax to attain a white standard of beauty. That manageability excuse is a cop-out and we really know what it means. It's fine if you relax, do you, but let's be real about it.

 

[Anacaona]

Response to Barbara:

Why do white women tan (a $5 billion a year industry by the way) knowing the fact that ultraviolet rays of the sun/tanning bed leads to sun damage, wrinkles, sagging skin, spots, and skin cancer just to not look like their natural selves?

 

[bedazzled]

I do not agree when whoopi said majority of black women relax for manageability. I think that is PART of the reason but I think that its also that women want to "fit" in. I'm sure if these relaxed women went to a country in which natural hair was the standard of beauty - these women would eventually quit relaxing (not everyone). Just my opinion - nobody get mad.

 

[TeeWhyAre]

Anybody watching?

I am so glad that Whoopi corrected Barbara and let her know that black women do not relax their hair to look like white people. She told her black women relax to make their hair more manageable.

Barbara also said she thought Sherri wore a wig to look more like white peoples hair.

1.
2.

 

[jetbeauty09]

Well I believe Barbara knows the deal, i think she's just trying to contribute to the convo...she's not that ignorant.

But really, why wouldn't the average white person think that straightening our hair would be "trying to be white"? We are straightening hair for "manageability"....where did the idea come from that straight hair is more manageable? Not from kinky-curly ppls. In indigenous cultures that still exist hair is managed according to it's properties.....it's braided or locked or left fluffy or cut short or whatever. Having a kinky texture and relaxing or straightening it for manageability is to emulate other cultures.

When you talk to white ppl they naturally assume we are trying to be like them but if we were talking to Asian or Indian ppl they'd assume that we were trying to be like them.

My point is that the idea of "manageability" IMHO is not from the traditional curly/afro-curly perspective.

With that being said i am going to flat iron my hair later so I have no beef with it...lol. I'm just saying how I see it.

I have to disagree w/the bolded. I'm thinking of relaxing and it has nothing to do w/other cultures. It has to do w/the fact that my own hair is sooooo curly and thick that it produces single & double strand knots that I have to cut out daily! Its so frustrating to love my natural hair but to have it all over my sink instead of on my head due to these knots. My hair basically curls onto itself. Its a catch 22 for me.

I've tried detangling daily, every coupla days, weekly, conditioning w/protein vs. moisture, you name it, I've tried it. I did not experience these knotting & tangling problems when I had a relaxer. Now that I know about healthy hair care, I'm confident that I can have long, healthy relaxed hair. That doesn't mean I hate my natural hair. It just won't stay out of knots.

 

[Hairsofab]

DISCLAIMER: People have a right to wear their hair curly, staight, braided, weaved, wigged, twisted, relaxed or natural. Straight hair does not equal self-hate (for most of us).


But you have to give the history its due. Black people DID originally apply relaxers and press their hair to look like the white european standard of beauty that they were surrounded by. Maybe nowadays most of us dont think about it like that but that "swang" that we love so much is not native to our (majority) hair culture...but it is to whites. Assimilation happens in all cultures and should be appreciated...ours is just highly charged because differences in blacks were seen as deficiencies. But we do have to admit that when the majority of us slap on a wig or weave for a protective style we still opt for european/indian hair (i.e. not 4a/b). No biggie but lets be honest.

The thanks button is not enough. People are seriously getting history twisted.

 

[FluffyRed]

i'll see the movie, but might consider buying a ticket to something else.

 

[Country gal]

Barbara gets on my and Whoopi's nerves. I wish they would stop making it a "black women wants to be white" issue.

 

[TeeWhyAre]

I was thinking to myself, I didn't realize Barbara Walters was that ignorant to say "I thought black women were trying to be more like white women"? How long have black people been in this country? Clearly, white folks don't have a clue about our culture. I don't know of any black women that straighten their hair for the sake of trying to be white. Should black people also ask the question if white women are trying to be black by getting tans, lip injections, butt implants?

I get where you're coming from.

Recall, if you can, in the movie Malcolm X when Malcolm got his first 'perm/relaxer'. He said to his friend, "it look white don't it?"

When your entire scope of understanding black folks comes from the entertainment industry you would think it was to look more white, too.

 

[KhandiB]

Preach!!!!

I DONT CARE HOW MUCH RELAXER YOU PUT IN YOUR HAIR, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK WHITE IF YOU ARE BLACK.

That's crazy, we're basically damned if we do and damned if we don't, that's why I just do me and to hell what anyone else thinks.

Some white folx out there are probably laughing at us for relaxing our hair, trying to be like them.

Hopefully no one under the age of 50 is still relaxing thier hair to "look white"

This is a mess.

 

[BroadstreetBully]

White people think highly of themselves, and I guess history has given them that privilege. Years ago on another message board, a white girl who was dating a black guy made a comment that her racist white father told her when she was really young that the white woman is the most desired and envied woman in the world. I've seen similar comments made all over the web and seen this attitude express IRL, so perhaps all white people are passing this idea down to their daughters and they think everyone wants to be/look like them. Certainly not me.

 

[AvaSpeaks]

I guess it all depends on your reality, because even though the LHCF ladies don't believe in the concept of "good hair" anymore, most of the ladies I know IRL do. In fact, I almost had got a migraine trying to convince a coworker that hair does not necessarily have to "thin out" as you get older. The vast majority of black women I know still subscribe to nearly every myth about black hair.

Girl please! Some of these members on this board still subscribe to some myths about Black hair

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

Greaterplexed now there will be white people thinking it's pc to ask me about my hair. I recently had to correct the lady at Sally's who said that Blacks use - not can use - heavier oils. I told her that it's not like everybody has the exact same hair. She was talking about argan oil available there now and how her hair is so fine that it's for all races. These are the folks who will usher you to the Black section despite what it is you had in your mind to buy for your own hair.

And another misperception is that Black people have thick hair. We're either all 1 thing or all another...never individuals with a myriad of differences...so now, great erplexed, another reason for somebody white to ask me about my hair just cause they saw The View and that makes it pc.

 

[GV-NA-GI-TLV-GE-I]

I was thinking to myself, I didn't realize Barbara Walters was that ignorant to say "I thought black women were trying to be more like white women"? How long have black people been in this country? Clearly, white folks don't have a clue about our culture. I don't know of any black women that straighten their hair for the sake of trying to be white. Should black people also ask the question if white women are trying to be black by getting tans, lip injections, butt implants?

Honey, when I was little, I'd see these grannies around town with the short afro hair perms. They just thought they were something else. Mind you, they could call you a jigger...but they just thought their afro perms were something special. They looked like poodles dressed in tasteless Walmart polyickster. I'm like, Black people don't have to get a perm for that hair.

 

[CoilyFields]

Lets not forget that Barbara is older and comes from an era that was much more open about racial feelings. (meaning people were more honest about their prejudices). Didnt she grow up in like the 40's or 50's? So we're still talkin about the days when certain skin tones and hair textures did BLATANTLY open doors. It might seem extrememly selfish and eurocentric but guess what...this is AMERICA. No need to front like she didnt have a legitimate assumption. The only difference is that nowadays most white people see so many relaxed heads that they believe this IS our natural texture lol...and we have embraced the prejudice within our own race now.