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When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head! Director Jeff Stilson’s camera followed the funnyman, and the result is Good Hair, a wonderfully insightful and entertaining, yet remarkably serious, documentary about African American hair culture.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"Good Hair" Documentary
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13 comments:
LMAO
Double L,
Thanks for posting this. I wrote a haiku that fits this. I was thinking about a my daughter and this model I saw who called herself Mixed Breed! I wrote her cause I was offended by the word Breed. Humans Procreate! Animals Breed!
She felt that she wasn't Black Enough and Wasn't Puerto Rican enough so she was just a Mutt! A Breed!
My daughter and some of the Delta GEMS all were told to look at themselves in the mirror and the Delta's watched them. The GEMs all had problems looking at themselves in the mirrors and they all found more than enough things they didn't like. None of them like themselves. We were all disturbed!
Jaycee
I love Chris Rock but don't see the point in rehashing an old issue that black women can't seem to let go. Every parent is responsible for raising healthy, well-adjusted children with a healthy esteem so if your child's has issues with not liking her hair-- another so-called expose on the issue won't help. Spike Lee's Dance number in School Daze didn't and that was done to music. I have what folks deem "good hair" and it's just a nuisance to me because I can't do anything with it.
Mista,
You'll have to elaborate on the GEMS and what they do.
Kim,
I agree that it's an old issue, but until it passes away and is no longer a problem we need to continue to rehash it. I think he decided to rehash it because he showers his daughter with love, but she still has this self-esteem issue surrounding her hair. Where did it come from? How can we address it?
He has raised his daughters in white Hollywood, I'm sure they attend a predominately white private school, and it doesn't help that he cheated on his wife, with a white woman whom he failed to even use protection with...Love is just not words it's action. If we would just stop judging ourselves by white by white society a whole lotta stuff would fall off. Hair is not the fullness of the issue.
I don't agree that a predominantly white environment breeds self-hate. When I went natural I got nothing but good feedback from white people. It was my own community that had an issue.
My point was WE base what we think is beauty by the images fed to us by white society.
Love your blog!
Kim,
I agree.
Saved,
Thanks. Keep on comin' by.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has a little sister rite of passage program. It is in two phases. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Academy which teaches the girls from age 7-13 and The Delta GEMS which go from age 14-18 (high school). Cam, my daughter, was a Delta GEM as I watched as the Delta Sorors tried to teach the girls about self esteem, and pride, and loving themselves. The girls struggled with all the issues such as skin color, weight, body image and hair texture and length. Not to mention striving for academic excellence and social acceptence. The GEMS program helped them with that. It's a good rite of passage program.
Jaycee
I do think this is something that needs to be addressed. Just b/c we didn't 'get it' when Spike Lee did the Wanna Be/Jiggaboo thing doesn't mean we stop ttrying. We're more progressive than that-don'tcha think?
As I sit here straightening my daughter's hair for school tomorrow, I started thinking about (and getting angry about) American Girl Dolls and how the only black historical doll is Addy, the slavery-era doll. This led me to an internet search, which led me to this site. LL, I not only agree with your blog about the Arian Girl - I mean American Girl - dolls, I also really appreciate your blog topics.
Regarding the Chris Rock film: As I am white, I did not grow up with the hair "challenge" and never appreciated what my black friends deal with - until now. I have 2 daughters with my African husband. I don't mind "doing" their hair at all; it's a labor of love. What I mind is the fact that they (and I) have bought into the idea that their hair should be straightened so it can be more like typical white hair. (Remember Whoppi Goldberg's act from the 80's: Bouncin' and Behavin' Hair"?) I am 48 years old, and have seen some great changes since I was their age (9 and 10 years old), namely an African Am. President and first family!!! But why is society still so obsessed with the "good hair" struggle? I actually will NOT take my daughters grocery shopping so that they won't see the unrealistic magazine covers in the isles. All blond and skinny and airbrushed. It's ridiculous. As an ignorant newbie to the hair topic, I welcome the information Chris Rock might have to share. I look fwd to checking back to see what else you have to share, LL. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by @ Lady and Tazie. I think it's just a wonderful thing that we think about our options and accept that they are just that options. So many people think they only have one choice.
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