f*** a perm!

[AfricanGlory]

Hairstyle is a form of 'expression' not a sign of 'consciousness'. It doesn't matter what style my brothers and sisters have as long as they are revolutionary. MUST I REPEAT MYSELF! YES, I SHOULD. PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME, 'WE SHALL NOT CONDEMN ANY BROTHER OR SISTER FOR HIS OR HER FLAWS, WE SHALL ATTEMPT TO SHINE LIGHT UPON THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITH ANY FLAWS AS WE WILL ATTEMPT TO DO WITH 'OURSELVES'.

[cornerkick]

By "natural" hair, I mean the hair one was born with. I don't think that these braids and extensions that people have put in their heads are natural--they're artificial.

I don't mean to attack black women and I'm not trying to exclude or condemn those who don't wear natural hairstyles. It just pisses me off when I see them not embracing their natural beauty and thinking they have to change their hair (by straightening it--trying to look white--or having some braids put in) to be beautiful. I don't see how people who wear their hair like this can be revolutionary. On the contrary, I think embracing one's natural beauty is a revolutionary act, especially in this society.

[AfricanGlory]

We had braids in africa for centuries, we didn't develop that in america. Far as extentions...don't know bout that shit. BLACK POWER

[AfricanGlory]

look what capitalism did to our people.....

[Jahzara]

I have naturally curly/wavy hair. When I wear it like that so many brothers and sisters make comments that I either have "good hair" (like hair can be good or bad) or that I have a curl. Some ppl have even gone so far as to come up to me to check if my hair was real or a weave! grrrr

I think hair is just an expression, like earrings lip gloss and perfume (smile) and not an indicator of one's consciousness.

[NeterHeru]

Blessings of Peace and Serenity,

JAHZARA: "I think hair is just an expression, like earrings lip gloss and perfume (smile) and not an indicator of one's consciousness." I totally agree with that latter perspective of yours. However, certain persons use hairstyles as a measurement of their own consciousness and subsequently use that measurement as the rubric for another person's consciousness too. BTW, have I ever told you how much I admire your mind, well if not I'm telling you now:cheers:

[cornerkick]

Yeah, hairstyle can be sometimes be soley a form of expression. But many sisters who relax their hair do so because they are afraid of having nappy hair. A lot of these sisters think that nappiness is gross and unattractive. They therefore frown upon Africans' natural state. In this respect, hairstyle is not merely just a form of expression. Here, their hairstyles are reflections of their own self-hatred.

[Kweku_Omowale]

black women that wearsa perm knows little about the facts about perm,the chemicals sip into the skulls and destroy the hair follicles,it is said by doctor laila o afrika,now i think,that because the west has createda standardized beauty concept that black woman,have been taught that western style is more acceptable than the african natural hairstyle, locks and puffs, the fake hair industry isa multi million dollar industry that thrives on the knaivity of people,also
so called brothers or sisters,that works in this industries are capitalist thugs,trying to de africanize us,following into the masterplan of their masters,
african woman have been condtioned to accept that blonde is beautiful therefore black women dying their hair blonde,wearing blonde weaves and shyt
beleive me they gots no luv for me,because they have been programmed and conditioned,just like franz fannon said"BLACK SKINS AND WHITE MASKS" YTS PLAN!

[Jahzara]

Originally Posted by NeterHeru

Blessings of Peace and Serenity,

JAHZARA: "I think hair is just an expression, like earrings lip gloss and perfume (smile) and not an indicator of one's consciousness." I totally agree with that latter perspective of yours. However, certain persons use hairstyles as a measurement of their own consciousness and subsequently use that measurement as the rubric for another person's consciousness too. BTW, have I ever told you how much I admire your mind, well if not I'm telling you now:cheers:

NeterHeru,
You always find a way to make me blush. Thank you for your kind words.

I am quite aware that some people use hairstyles as a rubric to measure other people's consciousness. But I do my own thing and do not care who is measuring me. I have to be true to myself and to be quite honest my mood dictates how I wear my hair, not another's perception of me. And to be totally honest, I get the most negative comments from sisters and brothers about my hair when i wash it and let it do its thing. People asking what I do to it and telling me I must have done something to it to get it to look like it does. What if my hair does not go in an afro.....does that mean I am less of a black woman....



I beg to differ.

[Nia Imani]

I personally perfer natural hairstyles. For me personally, straightening or putting chemicals on my hair is the equivalent of saying that my hair is flawed. Artifical chemicals, many of which contain harmful, damaging ingredients or straightening combs and oil (hair frying) are unacceptable for me on a personal level.

[Kweku_Omowale]

this is afrikanwarrior zumbi,reporting sir! yah that picture of al the whore sharpton was hilarious man! lmao! for real man, fuck the al hore sharpton, sell outs motherfuckers, even him,straightened his hair,lets bust dem fouls glory
how are things in chi town,keep in touch with chairman fred hampton jr and iam try gonna join the african socialist international uhuru!

[Freedomlost]

I agree with you that we (as women) are pulled into the white standards of beauty which is the straight long hair, but I do not believe that most men are braiding and locking their hair to embrace the culture base that comes with it. Just as black women have been believing in the white standards most men are doing the braiding and locked hair as to bring themselves closer to the Lil' Jon's and ludracris's in the media. I think that it is done because it is easier to be accepted in the "hip hop" world if you have these things. I am not trying to take anything from the people who are doing it to embrace our culture but I believe there are more people doing it to be "IN" than to be culturally aware.

[rebelAfrika]

Originally Posted by Freedomlost

I do not believe that most men are braiding and locking their hair to embrace the culture base that comes with it.

Maybe not "most"...but "many" are. And also, there are many who are waging "unconscious resistance" through braiding and locking their hair (now if only they would wage CONSCIOUS resistance). Thats my perspective on it.

Originally Posted by Freedomlost

most men are doing the braiding and locked hair as to bring themselves closer to the Lil' Jon's and ludracris's in the media.

And Lil' Jon and Ludacris are doing it because they are unconsciously engaged in resistance to european cultural domination. Thats my perspective on it.

[she_ba]

Cornerkick-

where are you located? u not seeing many black women naturals might have something to do with location...

check out nappturality.com

when i was in brooklyn/manhattan/ny area all i saw were locks and afro's on black women! seeing a perm was a rare occassion. in amerika for any black woman that i know to carry her crown in its original form is a very conscious rejection of european standards of beauty. it may not be intentionally revolutionary-but it is regardless.

it takes so much rejection of euro beauty to see yourself as beatiful with an afro. i know this because my mama has been natural for years and i've never seen her wear an afro...she say's its because it doesn't work with her face. (i think its beautiful). im the only person that she will let see her hair when its blowdried-she wouldnt even let my father see it when they were married because he held such contempt for natural hair (which she (and I both) internalized as a perpetuation of the myth that our hair is ugly. i have been natural all of my life but didn't realize that loose natural hair could be worn into an afro (without it being a bad hair day) until 10th-11th grade.

i dont believe that straight hair determines consciousness or a lack there of-however lets be real...if i had an acre for every sista that has said to me "your hair is so beautiful-but i cant do that" i would have every negro in amerika's "reconstructions promise".

wearing your hair naturally can cost you positions and relationships (unfortunately with our own brothaz), etc..

for me wearing my hair naturally was very intentional in terms of wearing my resistance. in detroit-(the hair capital) i see and am beginning to see many more sistas and brothas taking on our natural crowns.

some sistas are "hood"-obsessed with material things, and all that being an around the way girl means...but when that sista takes on a natural crown she is making a statement about her ability to see that as beautiful.

this is ime (inmyexperience).

she ba

[Jacuma]

Sister Queen She Ba all I can due is salute you