In Mark Smith’s book, How Race is Made, the reader is presented
with an observer of Southern race relations thoughts that Blacks “wanted to
look white—have straighter hair” (100). Whiteness set the standard, and efforts
to “become” middle-class (read: White), coupled with the recognition of Blacks as
consumers, created a market, as well as an avenue, for Blacks to obtain hair straightening
products. The texture of one’s hair could be altered to silky, soft and more “white,
thus undermining a commonly held white stereotype about the natural coarseness
of black hair” (101).
The texture of Black hair is used to further
the false ideas of inferiority. Whites employment of this racist belief is not surprising, considering the many other racist sensory experiences determined substandard. And Blacks “who did not wish to ‘whiten,’
and were proud of their looks, were often the target of criticism”
(100). Sadly, that criticism and discrimination
is observable today.
For example, young Tiana Parker was removed from her school for having
dreadlocks. The schools policy states that dreadlocks, mohawks, and afros are
not allowed and considered distracting. Tiana is accused of being a distraction. This happened in September 2013 and smacks of the racist logic from the Jim Crow South Smith presents in his book.
A similar story is that of Vanessa Van Dyke. A young girl threatened with
expulsion from her school for wearing her natural hair in a “distracting” manner-- just this past November. "Distracting" is beginning to remind me of a word Smith highlights: "crowding."
The history of race and its
construction through the senses has affected the way society operates today. The current state of race relations in the U.S. has improved, but there is still work to be done. I would like to end on a positive note from one of my favorites, Mellisa Harris Perry. Her message to Tiana Parker, and other girls with hair deemed 'unacceptable,' is uplifting, inspiring, and one that needs to be heard.
It saddens me when I hear stories like this about Black hair. Black hair is another heavy topic in the Black community. Black women for years have constantly been ridicule for different ways we choose to wear our hair. We are not only getting ridicule by those that are not apart of the Black community but even the men and women within the community. If a Black woman wears a weave she is said to be someone who is trying to hide who she really is. If she rocks a natural or dreads, she is too ethnic and has to worry about if she is professional. If she gets a perm every 7 weeks, she is accused on "trying to be white." Why can't I just wear my hair how I want to ? Why is Black hair in it's natural state seen as a distraction ? My heart aches for the two young girls, for someone to say that culture is a distraction to others education is hurtful. What blows my mind is the school's rule (in Tiana's situation ). That rule in my opinion out rules natural wearing Black American students to even enter the school ---- “Hairstyles such as Dreadlocks, Afros or Mohawks and other faddish styles are unacceptable.” What does that really say about the school ? Dreadlocks and Afros are not a "faddish style" ! IT'S CULTURE !
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is just too sad. Some schools are foolishly restrictive with regards to hairstyles while others are rather liberal in their allowances. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop with hair. Same sex couples have been forbidden to attend their proms, while another school voted in a transgendered prom queen. Tattoos, piercings, and colorful hair also make their way to the list. Some school systems are strictly against any combination of these and some schools just roll with it, but lets get back to hair.
ReplyDeleteChris Rock made a documentary called "Good Hair." He looked at the hair industry and some of the ideas about black hair. Natural or straight? Your own hair or a weave? Some women had careers, such as actresses and dancers, and were concerned about putting forth a particular image. Some women just wanted better manageability than what they felt they had with their natural hair, and some like the freedom of being able to change the length and style of their hair at will with wigs and weaves. However, I will say that "none" of them seemed upset about it, although one women said it seemed more natural to have straight silky hair. I'm not entirely convinced that this is "always" a white thing, because I have known people who had a hard time with their hair and enjoyed the effects of a perm or flat iron. However, it could be a residual effect from our nations past. Something we have integrated into our way of life, but discrimination against natural hair is always wrong and that's where the line should be drawn. In the documentary, even Al Sharpton weighed in on the topic and spoke about the amount of money some women spend on their hair when they have other needs. I feel that is a need to be educated on the importance of keeping things properly prioritized, and how ironic that Al would comment on women's hair since he has a perm himself and has worn one for decades.
Sadly, the ones who associated natural hair with an unkept look or a drawback in society were children and adolescents who tend to be overly concerned with status and appearance. Most of us have been there. I have a daughter who enjoys straight hair, because her hair is very thick. It is easier for her to manage on the mornings I am still at work when they get ready for school (their daddy don't know what to do with their hair.) My other daughter is more like me in that we change our hair from natural to straight and back again, sometimes in the same week. It's only hair and no one should use it as a cause for hurt and discrimination, especially against children, because they are impressionable and learning lessons about the world through how we treat them.
A quick sidenote: In light of this post, I boosted my hair into an afro and posted it facebook to see what type of response I would get. 28 people "liked" the photo and 6 people commented. Only one of the 6 comments was from a white friend, and she has a bi-racial daughter. Of the 28 likes, only 4 were white and none of them were my age (they were younger and good friends with my son). I have white friends who typically always like the photos I post but none of them responded to the fro. Interesting.....
It saddens me to see what these two young ladies faced, I can only imagine what they felt like after being shunned for something as simple as their hair. After reading How Race is Made, I believe that in many ways stereotyping minorities, especially blacks, was a part of the foundation for creating the social "norms" (hint the root word of normal) that we live by to compare things and people in society today. It is too often that you hear the phrase, "Oh he/she is acting, looking, or trying to be white!" I can speak first hand to the issue of hair. My hair is naturally curly so the moment I decide to wear it curly I am constantly question, "What are you mixed with?", "Is that your real hair?" These questions arise from the notion that black people hair is looked as cores, kinky, or nappy, so when that stereotype is proven not to be true for all blacks a suspense of your true race comes into play. I guess you can say that there is never a win win situation with hair when it comes to black women. In agreement with Bri, If we add weave we are looked at as trying to be white and if one chooses to wear their natural hair, despite the texture, they are looked down on or belittled. Like R&B singer India Arie states, I am not my hair!!
ReplyDelete