10 JUL | African Hair (What are Women of African Descent without It?)Posted: July 10th, 2008By: Treasured Locks |
by Frederick Alexander Meade (Guest Columnist)
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African hair and related styles have largely seen an increase in acceptance by women of color around the world. Many women of African descent determined to redefine present day standards of beauty (many of which find their origins in Europe) have shed the wearing of perms and straight hair weaves, instead insisting on and embracing what is naturally theirs – African hair. In the face of this growing trend however, no such movement from those African American women belonging to what may be considered to be the “power elite” has surfaced. Oprah Winfrey has not (even on occasion) worn an afro during the taping of her popular show. Tyra Banks has never filmed a season of America’s next Top Model in which she, week in and out, wore her hair in African locks. Lastly, the dawning of an African hair style by Michele Obama would be deemed by many (even in the African American community) as an affront to beauty and subsequently an act unworthy of that of a would be “first lady.” With this pervasive and pathological rejection of this feature of African beauty prevailing from those who are widely considered to be our communities’ role models, one question must be asked. What are African American women of influence without African hair?
The answer to this question may yield a startling but valid depiction of what many famous African American women have allowed themselves to become. For a woman of African descent to wear her hair in a manner that is completely foreign to that which is innately intended is to reject in large measure “the self.” This phenomenon is made exceedingly worse by virtue of the fact that these groups of women have not only rejected in large measure themselves but have accepted standards of beauty for which they can never reach. To abuse one’s hair whether by straightening comb or through the use of chemicals in a nebulous and futile attempt to obtain and maintain a pseudo image of a European woman, is to yield to a power which the individual feels is greater than she. An African American woman who practices such a ritual rooted in self contempt has essentially reduced herself to a mere figment of her own imagination. The prevailing image (in relation to beauty) embedded in such an individual’s mind is that of a woman whom she can never become. This paradigm serves to perpetually undermine any feelings of equality (and even more still any feelings of superiority) in relation to the mimicker and that which is being mimicked. Furthermore, this state of affairs merits an especially significant measure of absurdity considering the fact that these African American women of note perpetually chase an image of a woman who is largely void of the financial, social and political resources which they possess. This behavior on the part of many of these women of high regard, suggests that if it were possible for them to become a woman of another ethnicity they would surrender all of their fortunes to achieve this state.
As more African American women enter into the ranks of those for whom resources are seemingly endless, the image of the African woman will continue to evolve. If the acceptance of African hair is continually met with avoidance, then women of African descent will have once again reduced themselves to that of perpetual “runner up†in the world’s beauty contest. The esteems of these women will never fully be realized and an almost timeless scar on the face of mother Africa will again grow deeper. We may only hope that these acts of self denial will one day cease, that we may see mother Africa’s beauty once again.
To read more articles by Frederick Alexander Meade go to the link below.
http://www.myspace.com/fredmeade
These view are not necessarily the views of Treasured Locks. But, we thought Fred’s article worthy of discussion. What do you think?
July 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Let’s get real!!! When people talk about natural african hair, they usually post a picture of a person with an obviously biracial background or a dark skinned woman with a LONG curly afro, something like Diana Ross in the 80’s. I’d be anxious to see if Fred dates an african american woman with a natural short afro or corn rows, etc.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’ve been wearing my natural African hair for about three years now. Recently I saw an old friend whom I hadn’t seen for several years. The first thing out of his mouth was “you used to be so pretty… why did you cut your hair because I was going to ask you out’. Brother, please! African American women have a hard enough time being accepted for who they REALLY are around the way; I can just imagine what it must be like in Hollywood or in the political world. I agree with Mr. Meade wholeheartedly but until we truly love ourselves as God made us others will have a hard time accepting us as God made us. Sad… He really outdid himself when He made us. One day it will be appreciated but in the meantime I am loving my naturally nappy hair because God didn’t pass that out to everybody- just his chosen few.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:33 am
Wow! I wish those words had come from an African American woman first. I am going through the phase of becoming “myself” meaning that I have accepted my natural kinky hair and now I am wearing it as my crown. It hurts me that so many black women have tried so hard to look like someone other than ourselves. I began to look a women such as Jill Scott, Erika Badu and pictures of african women and that’s when I realized how beautiful they were and more importantly,they looked like me. Now when women that are not african american ask me,”Is that what your natural hair looks like?” I just smile and say ” Yes of course! Is your hair processed with chemicals? Did you have to burn it or fry it? Well neither did I.” Learn to love thy self.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I really don’t think that the way a black woman- especially one of influence- wears her hair is that big of a deal. It’s all about choice and they choose to wear relaxed hair-so what?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Scar on the face of Mother Africa???? What???? Thousands of women in Africa relax their hair also man..it has nothing to do with self love or hate…it’s hair…it’s a preference, you burn it, processed it…let it go natural, color, crimp, twist or cut it….it’s my hair..it’s an expression of my personal style, not an indictment…the reason that most women, fry, relax or chemically alter thier hair is that it’s easier to comb for many of us! There is not a Black woman on the planet that straigtened her hair, looked in the mirror and said “Now I’m better than I was before, I’m Barbie!” It’s just hair man..how can you say that I am choosing to look like someone other than myself if I shave my head bald or color it bright red. This is wayyyy to superficial man..I AM NOT MY HAIR!
Happy to be Nappy for almost 7 years.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:57 am
One more point, in plain language…You speak of women of African descent and women with African hair…there are many types and grades of hair among both women of color in this country and in Africa..many women in Ethopia have slick black straight hair, as do some Black American women who have a mixed race heritage (most of us do, including you judging by your picture!) So if my skin is dark, my hair is kinky,and if both of my grandfather’s were French and Great Grandmother was a Siminole Indian….and that’s how God made me…then according to you…I owe my hairstyle to which culture? You’re making a ridiculous jump in equating a box of relaxer or a hair weave to self-hate! My mother never picked up that straightning comb and thought that she was making me European/White, there could never be that much power in one’s hair…styles and fashion change all the time, but Black is forever.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I think that Mr. Meade makes very valid points about the image of prominent African American women. While no one would argue that it is their choice to wear their hair however they feel like it, I do believe that it says something that not only they but many other African American women do not prefer the natural state of their hair. There is a certain level of not accepting yourself (even if you don’t want to go so far as to say it is self-hatred) when you spend a lot of time and money covering up or altering what God gave you. I think women in general do this in the name of a feminine beauty ideal/standard, but I think it becomes particularly problematic with black women because in American society the “gold” standard of beauty is based on a Caucasian ideal. Even if you allow for mixed ethnicity, the gold standard is still difficult to achieve.
And to Happy to be Nappy….. yes you can make style and fashion choices based on personal taste and expression that do not necessarily indict you as a “self-hater.” However, I think that he is speaking to the level of feeling that the natural state of their hair is not acceptable or attractive to themselves or to the people around them (especially because they move in very “elite” circles). In that case, your style choice is based more on other’s perceptions and tastes and not your own.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Is Tyra bleaching her skin. Those long blond tresses are not extensions, that is a wig. I have seen Oprah running a marathon without a wig. Her hair is short and kinky
January 20th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I think Mr meade is stuck in the old self hate days. White women have the freedom to perm their hair straight if it’s curly,perm it into a curly almost-afro if they’re sick of their bone straight hair,dye it,flat iron it,tease it, braid it ( including cornrows!), etc and no one says to them “You hate yourself & the way God made you ! You are rejecting your French, Irish, German, Scandinavian, etc heritage!!!” EQUAL RIGHTS FOR BLACK WOMEN !!! Civil rights laws include THE FREEDOM TO WEAR YOUR HAIR ANY WAY YOU PLEASE !! Trying to put a guilt trip on us by telling us we can only wear our hair a certain way is just a new form of slavery. I wore an Afro for years in the 60’s & 70’s after getting ONE straight perm that wrecked my teenage hair. I’ve had curly perms since 1981 & am currently transitioning back to natural to see how the new products for natural African hair
( Curls,Treasured Locks,KinkyCurly,etc ) work on my hair. If it’s good,fine. If not,back to the curly perm.
BTW,if he’s so into the beauty of African women & their natural hair,he needs to get with the brothers that still run after the light skinned curly headed types.How many dark,natural kinky haired girls to you see as Jet magazine centerfolds,stars of music videos, or movies ?? Anonymous is absolutely right when he/she says,
“When people talk about natural african hair, they usually post a picture of a person with an obviously biracial background or a dark skinned woman with a LONG curly afro” and have you noticed the kids in these pictures? The “light & curly look” is in for girls & incresingly for boys.
He should be out there in the FOREFRONT of a movement to embrace ALL OF OUR LOOKS instead of just trying to put more restrictions on us sistahs who have enough to worry about without another brother dogging us about something that’s none of his business !!
March 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Wearing bellbottoms for for a couple seasons is a style. Platform shoes for a season or two is a style. Having curly hair for a year or 3 is a style. Having straight hair for the same period is too. Feeling like you HAVE to have straight hair month in and month out, year after year, running from rain, feeling ugly if your roots show IS NOT A STYLE or trend. Its shows self hate at worst or lack of self acceptance at best. There is nothing wrong with having a perm but if you grimmace when you see someone that doesn’t or can’t bear being without it sad.
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I think the authors makes some interesting and compelling points. I believe black women should have the same option as do non-black women as it relates weaves, perms, relaxers, wigs etc. At the same time, you I do not see Asian and white women changing the structure of their hair to the same degree as I see black women changing theirs. I bet 75% of white or Asian women are not using perms.