NNQueen
04-25-2003, 06:35 PM
First of all, this is not an original idea. I came up with this topic after reading the thread asking women who wear their hair natural to identify themselves and share their reasons for choosing to be "natural."
While reading the responses, I really became more curious to know are there any Black(men and women) that get offended if someone referred to their hair as being "nappy"?
When/if someone says that, does it hurt your feelings and make you defensive?
Is anyone willing to admit that they are bothered by the natural curls that spring tight to their head and you just don't like them?
lBlack women:
Has a man ever told you he liked your hair better permed and weaved?
Has he ever named a "movie star" to give you an example of the type of hairstyle he would like you to wear?
When I was much younger, I used to get offended if someone told me my hair was nappy because that was meant to be an insult. Today, I've been long past that form of ignorant way of thinking and have developed a more caring relationship with my hair. I'm no longer insulted if someone refers to my hair as nappy. In fact, I am starting to think that it's one of the highest compliments a Black person can be paid.
As I look at how Black women express themselves through their hairstyles, I often wonder what reasons lie underneath their chosen style. When they look in the mirror, what do they see? I see a Black woman's hair as an expression of who they are and it says a lot about how she thinks of herself and views the world in which she lives.
I think a Black woman's hair is uniquely and wonderfully versatile. It can signify social, political, economic and spiritural connotations. It can be shaped, styled and manipulated in as many different ways as the mind can conjure up ideas. Our hair can reflect so much about us. They say that the eyes are windows into our souls. Maybe our nappy hair is a reflection of our souls.
Here's a website that I found interesting and wanted to share with all my nappy haired sisters! I hope you enjoy it.
:toast:
http://www.geocities.com/jywanza1/Blackwomenshaira.htm
While reading the responses, I really became more curious to know are there any Black(men and women) that get offended if someone referred to their hair as being "nappy"?
When/if someone says that, does it hurt your feelings and make you defensive?
Is anyone willing to admit that they are bothered by the natural curls that spring tight to their head and you just don't like them?
lBlack women:
Has a man ever told you he liked your hair better permed and weaved?
Has he ever named a "movie star" to give you an example of the type of hairstyle he would like you to wear?
When I was much younger, I used to get offended if someone told me my hair was nappy because that was meant to be an insult. Today, I've been long past that form of ignorant way of thinking and have developed a more caring relationship with my hair. I'm no longer insulted if someone refers to my hair as nappy. In fact, I am starting to think that it's one of the highest compliments a Black person can be paid.
As I look at how Black women express themselves through their hairstyles, I often wonder what reasons lie underneath their chosen style. When they look in the mirror, what do they see? I see a Black woman's hair as an expression of who they are and it says a lot about how she thinks of herself and views the world in which she lives.
I think a Black woman's hair is uniquely and wonderfully versatile. It can signify social, political, economic and spiritural connotations. It can be shaped, styled and manipulated in as many different ways as the mind can conjure up ideas. Our hair can reflect so much about us. They say that the eyes are windows into our souls. Maybe our nappy hair is a reflection of our souls.
Here's a website that I found interesting and wanted to share with all my nappy haired sisters! I hope you enjoy it.
:toast:
http://www.geocities.com/jywanza1/Blackwomenshaira.htm