Good Hair

Good Hair (2009). Chris Rock does a documentary on African-American hair. What is good hair to African-Americans? It's a simple question but the answers are painful.

I watched this movie last week but couldn't find the right words to review it. A part of me wanted to do it justice because Chris Rock is sort of doing some good in pointing out the dangers in perming hair, the amount of money spent on weaves, and the problem with holding a Eurocentric ideal of beauty. Another part of me doesn't want to exploit black people. I was fascinated by the deep seated desire by black people to have straight hair. It is surprising to know that a black man will look at a black woman with straight hair and think that he can't date her because her hair costs too much. Or that black men know never to touch a woman's weave. Basically, attitudes towards straight hair affect social relationship in ways that limits intimacy and affects standards of living among black people.

Now I look at Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu differently. As far as I can remember, they have always worn their hair in dreads or fros. I understand now they are women who truly don't give a shit about social pressure or stereotypes -- that having nappy hair means you are poor or stupid.  Good for them.

You know. I've always thought dreads were cool and now there are good reasons behind it.