"You got pretty hair for a black girl"

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

An old white man told me that today at work and I didn't know if I should be offended or not. erplexed It was a compliment I guess. And when I looked around the office at the other customers in line, of the two black women one had an awful and obvious blonde weave and the other's was so dry and brittle that it looked like a breeze could blow it straight off her head. So I can kind of understand where he might get the impression that black women's hair don't generally look good but on the other hand he didn't have to call out a whole race like that. Why couldn't I just have pretty hair PERIOD. But I live in the deep south so I should be used to stuff like this by now.

Yikes. That would make my third fingers start to itch and become erect while voicless fricatives begin to form on my lips....FFFFFFFF!! You know, some folks just ain't got no tact. No kind of home training and absolutely NO PC SKILLZ!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

Just ignore it. He's obviously old school. Maybe it is a compliment in his mind. Hope it didn't ruin your day.

 

[RavenMaven]

People down south will say racist things to me without thinking twice.
You are right this is one of those confused moments. Watch out for the racists that uplift one black person, and try to get them to look down on the others. Divide and conquer theory. . He was slipping in an insult with a compliment.

I totally agree. Couldn't have been said in better words.

 

[blue_flower]

Well, you can't expect White people to be knowledge about Black hair. You even have Black folks who are ignorant when it comes to our hair. Look at these Black hair stylists. They know nothing about taking care of various afro-textured hair. You either perm the life out of it every 2 weeks and then slap a weave on it.

 

[Avaya]

I would have said "For a black girl? lol! okaaaay, thanks."

He was trying to make the OP feel like a magical negro. "You're not like them. You're one of the good ones!"

 

[DozenRoses99]

The sad part is that he probably had no clue that his statement was offensive....

 

[trj1922]

I'll bet our good ole boy didn't have too many wrinkles either... for an old white man.

OP could have pointed this out in her most chipper magical negro voice. One good turn deserves another!

 

[titan]

People down south will say racist things to me without thinking twice.
You are right this is one of those confused moments. Watch out for the racists that uplift one black person, and try to get them to look down on the others. Divide and conquer theory. . He was slipping in an insult with a compliment.

Preach on Preacher!!!!!!!!!