:Sigh:…Whateve…
Dear NRH Readers,
In case you didn’t know, “African American people are embracing their natural hair more and more everyday,” Coleman Holmes said. This is a quote from Pamela Coleman Holmes who, with her friend Lana Coleman, just opened a hair salon dedicated to women with natural hair.
The Nappy Kitchen opened in St.Louis, Mo and was inspired by the increasing demand for salons that cater to natural hair. Now please tell me why two women from Rock Hill, MO know more and more black women are transitioning to their natural hair but “documentarian” Chris Rock (said very tongue in cheek) in his movie “Good Hair” was completely clueless about this growing trend and acted as if all black women either:
a) Hated their natural hair
b) only wanted relaxed hair so they could look white or
c) only wanted weaved hair so they could have it blow in the wind a la Farrah Fawcett.
The black women who Rock interviewed claim to be addicted to the so called “creamy crack” which makes it seem like they can’t live without getting their hair relaxed which in turn makes them look shallow. Then he goes so far as to go to India and tell a long haired woman there to turn the other way if she sees a black woman coming her way.
Apparently, we have resorted to going all the way to India to get our weave because that’s how badly we need it… really Chris…seriously? SMH. Now I’ll admit, I have yet to see his propaganda disguised as a documentary “Good Hair” but I saw enough of the trailers and his Oprah special to know that he was not even trying to think about giving a good balanced view on black hair care especially as it relates to black women.
The trailers mocked all black women whether they were relaxed, weaved, or natural which is why I wouldn’t pay half a red cent to see this movie. There was one scene in particular that always played vivid in my mind which was where Rock was going around with a large bag full of natural hair and he is trying to see if there is a market for it. Well of course the answer is a resounding No. No one wants hair like that.
The Korean man (I’m assuming) that Chris is trying to sell the natural hair to says he only has a market for long straight flowy hair. I’m sure all of this is supposed to be rip roaringly funny but watching just that 15 second clip alone pissed me off and I can barely sit through the rest of the 2 minute 33 second trailer, so I’m sure watching the entire movie would do my head in.
Now, why is it that Chris Rock, with all his money, power, and connections can’t go to freaking YouTube and see the size of the Natural Hair Community there that is growing by leaps and bounds every year? Why couldn’t he find all the natural hair care forums and blogs that have thousands of subscribers? Hey Chris, there’s this new thing called Google….you should try using it sometime and maybe doing some, ummm, gee, I don’t know, research. Just a suggestion.
He just wanted to reinforce the old stereotypes, just in case anyone had forgotten them. Why am I anything but surprised?
Why couldn’t he talk to women who relax their hair that don’t sound ignorant and don’t sound brainwashed? Why couldn’t he find the black women who wear weave because they are trying to grow their own hair out? Why couldn’t he find the women who wear a weave for reasons that have nothing to do with Farrah Fawcett or Victoria Beckham? Why couldn’t he find the sistas who have long hair naturally without a weave? Now, those would be new and groundbreaking concepts instead of just regurgitating the same old tired stereotypes about black women that have been going around for years. Oh, but color me silly, I suppose that was the point all along :SHOCK:. He had no interest in showing anything new. He just wanted to reinforce the old stereotypes, just in case anyone had forgotten them. Why am I anything but surprised?
More people saw the trailers and shows than saw the actual movie so I don’t care about any possible modicum of reason that he may have thrown into the movie.
Now, I do realize that I have not seen this movie and therefore may be making harsh judgments on this movie unfairly. Maybe some where in this movie he discusses relaxed and natural hair in a more mature and nuanced way but at this point it’s not relevant b/c the trailers and the TV shows about the movie did enough damage to negate any positive conclusions he may have made within the movie.
More people saw the trailers and shows than saw the actual movie so I don’t care about any possible modicum of reason that he may have thrown into the movie. I am biased and not hesitant to admit. However, if there are some glimmers of light within this movie, then let me know. Or if you just flat out disagree with me, let me know that to. Love to hear your opinions on this.
Oh and if you have visited The Nappy Kitchen Salon in St.Louis let me know what you think of it.
Download my free guide to creating your own hair regimen and you too will have “good” hair.
Toodles,
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