Black women and their hair: It's an art form, a way of expression, and something that separates us black women from everyone else. Whether we have course thick hair or thin banana curls, DO NOT TOUCH IT! The hours spent straightening it, putting in certain products to smooth it down, or the work others have put into it is something sacred.
Black women have been using our hair to make more than just a fashion statement. It's also a political statement and a way to exude confidence. During the early stages of civilization, black women would have wild hairstyles to show their status and make a statement about their class. When African-Americans were brought to America in the slave trade, they were forced to "whiten" their hair. What I mean by that is they were forced to cover up their culture and assume a more American way of life.
Despite the fact that white America was forcing their culture on the black population, black women continued to make it a point to express their culture as a sort of rebellion. Women were forced to wear head wraps to cover their natural hair. From there, these women would start using elaborate head wraps to compete with the new type of cultural oppression.
During the 1960's Civil Rights Movement, black women were so sick of being oppressed that their hair became more and more natural. The Black Power movement later encouraged a natural, black look. THE AFRO IS IMPORTANT! Hairstyles became more free and natural with the general culture change in the 1980's. I mean who wouldn't want to be more natural? The work of Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye and Tina Turner were movements of embracing black beauty and creativity. Turner didn't wear those tiny skirts for absolutely no reason!
By the 2000's, this natural look became more prominent in the fashion world. However, most black women still feel that their natural hair isn't beautiful. This takes me to my main point, DO NOT TOUCH A BLACK GIRLS' HAIR. Self-confidence is the main root of this point. I see it like this: it took me hours to do it, you know that once I step outside it will frizz up because of the humidity, and all I really wanted was to be seen as beautiful. As a black woman I feel that it's important to know about where we come from and what we stand for.
There was a history behind our hair, and there is a history of being put down for our skin. "Our hair is something we can always change," as my mother says. Having banana curls is so different than having course hair. Each girl has her own story within her hair. There is a story behind every curl, so don't touch it. It's as easy as asking to play with one of my perfectly natural curls.
