So, I’ve just posted a review on my blog about the little known Chris Rock documentary called, Good Hair.
Good Hair is about black people’s hair… to be more specific – black women’s hair. Now believe it or not, it is just as uncomfortable for a black man to speak on this subject as it is for white folks. There is a scene in a barber shop which pretty much confirms this point.
Here is a little snippet:
I remember having a not so serious conversation with my youngest sister about why she doesn’t afro her hair, why she constantly relaxes it and why she wears waives. Her answer was short, brutal and effective: “why do you only date white women?”
Now, I just wanted to add to the above a little bit. A couple years ago after the controversial radio-DJ Don Imus called players from the Rutgers University team “nappy headed hoes”, I tried to broach the subject with, not only my sisters, but other black women in my life. Every single one of them brought my dating of a white woman into the conversation and implied that I was part of the problem.
Now I’m not here, nor am I interested in defending myself – but what those conversations showed is how important it is to have a full and frank debate about black beauty in the wider western community, let alone amongst black people.
I really wasn’t angry at my sisters or the other black women who brought up my future baby mama into conversation – you just have to look at what we consider to be a beautiful black woman today. ‘Beautiful’ black women today have straight and highlighted hair, not curly, wild and natural locks. Just Google Beyonce.
So I applaud Chris Rock for at least trying to start the conversation. I truly think people of all races should seek out this film and give it a watch. It is a funny, brave and important piece of film-making.
Just a normal everyday bloke writing about films.