Note: I do discuss some specifics about the movie
Just the title of this documentary makes me cringe but I went to see it anyway 
. It’s a good movie that takes a humorous look at a subject that has long been taboo in the African American community. I’m so glad Chris’ daughter asked the simple question, “Daddy, why don’t I have good hair?” We (African Americans) never talk about this topic in mixed race settings. Now it’s out there for the whole world to discuss. In the documentary, he brings out the good, the bad and the ugly.
I was somewhat disappointed that the documentary does not discuss natural hair. Most of the discussion is about weaves and relaxer.
The Good
Just bringing up this subject and taking an in-depth look at natural hair vs relaxed hair vs weaves. The movie gives at least a modicum of understanding to why black women don’t want men to touch their artificially enhanced hair (my term not Chris’). Most black men already understand why most black women don’t want their hair to get wet. With the rise in mixed race relationships, it’s more than time for this “good hair/bad hair” discussion to come out of the closet.
The Bad
I was totally unaware of the cost of getting a good weave. Some of the stylists who were interviewed charge $1,000 for the weave – the hair is extra. One of the stylist lets her customers put their weave on lay-away. We are not talking about women who make lots of money, we’re talking about women who are students, school teachers and other low to middle income jobs.
Even though I’ve been a black woman all of my life, I never spent a lot of money at the hair salon. When my hair was relaxed, I went to the salon every six weeks to get my relaxer touched up; got a hair cut every three weeks and styled my own hair in between.
The Ugly
Mothers are taking toddlers to the salon to get relaxers. Need I say more?
For more than 50 years I’ve listened to people point out the kids with “good hair” aka hair that is straight or wavy. It’s hard to believe that a race of people still place so much value on the length and texture of hair.
My Hair
As a young child I wore plaits just like every other little girl in the community. From my pre-teen years until age 17 my hair was pressed with a straightening comb. At age 17 I went natural and wore an afro until I was in my mid-twenties. For at least 25 years I relaxed my hair. Not necessarily because I thought it was more beautiful relaxed but because of my career and my husband’s career in corporate America. He was an account manager for a Fortune 500 company and I was an executive assistant for the same. I don’t know about now, but then natural hair styles were seen as radical or militant and could be a hindrance to your career and your spouses career.
Side note about hair and careers: S. Epatha Merkerson, Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on Law and Order wears a wig on the television show. In real life she wears her hair natural. Also, Judge Maybelline, the former judge from Divorce Court had a dispute with the shows producers about her hair.
Two years ago when menopause hit and hot flashes took over, my hair was out of control. My solution – I cut it all off and went natural. Not only is it less maintenance, but it’s much cheaper and less time consuming for me to go to the barber shop and get a hair cut. I don’t care if it’s humid outside or if I get caught in the rain. My hair is wash and go. It’s short, neat and cheap. I’m finally free of caring how other people categorize me or my hair.
For me, Chris Rock’s movie, was further confirmation of what I was beginning to feel about myself and my hair. I made the decision to go completely natural 2 years ago a) because I’ve always looked at hair as an accessory so I’m forever changing it up and b) because my then 5 yr old daughter told me that my hair could look pretty like hers if I stopped relaxing it…talk about a wake up call!!! The transition I must say was grueling, but now that I see the beautiful texture of my natural hair, how healthy, thick and strong it is and the “funky” ways I can wear it (all of which were hidden from me from over 20 years of relaxing it), I’ve personally decided that I will NEVER relax my hair again. When I choose to wear a relaxed look, I will just put a weave in it (for much less and much better looking than the $1000 weave job in the movie might I add). I’m thrilled with my look! Going natural makes me feel totally empowered and liberated which is why Rev. Al Sharpton’s comment in the movie about us literally putting “oppression” on our heads was very heavy to me, (even though I thought it odd that he would make that comment since his hair is relaxed). This is not to say that those who choose to relax their hair dont feel empowered as well, I just thought that his comment was thought provoking and made total sense for my choice. Having said that, I guess the bottom line is to “do you” and feel confident about your choices…I know I’m confident in mine.
I here what your saying Mrs. V but do you think that if you are your husband where still in the Fortune 500 company you would still be saying ” I’m finally free of caring how other people categorize me or my hair.”
Kesha – If Fred was still working for that company in the type of job he had, I would probably still have relaxed hair. One thing you learn is to not bite the hand that feeds you. Because of the positions that Fred had with the company we were able to travel most of the U. S. and overseas; and put two children through college with no debt to them or to us.
Was it worth relaxing my hair? Yes. Am I glad to be free? Absolutely!
Joy – I wondered the same thing about Al Sharpton’s statement. Maybe he doesn’t think the “oppression” applies to him. One thing I will say about his hair is that shortly after James Brown died, Mr. Sharpton said he wore his hair that way as a tribute to James Brown who was his god-father. So, maybe that’s it.