To my information Chris Rock’s film, Good Hair, doesn’t have a health aspect to it, no. Though I did catch a clip of Raven-Symone (I feel?) saying that our hair prevents us from “doing sure issues,” I’m unsure if the subject will likely be in there. I’ve requested a few individuals who have seen non-public screenings to this point, and nobody has unequivocally advised me “Sure.”
To me, that’s… humorous.
For various causes.
Make no mistake about it, I’ve stated on right here that I put on relaxed tresses. My very own hair is a 3rd of the way in which down my again, extraordinarily thick, and I normally toss it up in a ponytail. I used to put on sew-ins, as a result of they allowed me to do some insane issues to my hair, nonetheless look good, and never handle to burn all of my hair off. For me, in addition to various girls, enjoyable our hair is a manageability challenge.
And, actually.. I’ve received to confess: it’s completely a manageability challenge for me as a result of though I loosen up commonly, I nonetheless have the posh of having the ability to rock my ‘fro. Fairly frankly, I’m not fascinated by flat ironing my hair on daily basis. Not within the least.
Nonetheless, the dialog that this film is forcing us to have entails the Black customary of feminine magnificence. IS there a premium positioned on girls with straight hair? Is that this a wholesome idea for us? By wholesome, I don’t imply health-wise, however extra so when it comes to what it says to us about ourselves? Don’t fear, this isn’t about to show right into a rant of pure vs relaxed.
I can’t assist however surprise, although. What’s on the market that’s so highly effective, it will probably persuade our girlfriends to spend an entire DAY within the salon to get their hair styled, however it’s too tough to spend a half hour a day strolling? The place is the message that tells us we should spend THOUSANDS of {dollars} every year caring for our hair, sacrificing total days in magnificence salons, and why isn’t the message of being extra bodily match getting by? Can somebody measure the power of THAT message for me?
What’s it? I imply, if I take a look at the TV, the identical photos of ladies with straight, shiny, silky hair additionally include photos of ladies with stick skinny figures and single-digit gown sizes. If I take a look at {a magazine} advert of a girl with attractive straight hair with lengthy curls, she’s as a rule going to be rail skinny. I’m not saying that “rail skinny” is the way in which to be by ANY means, however I’m hoping for instance some extent right here. If the small figures are discovered within the identical locations we discover the photographs of ladies with straight hair… why isn’t the message convincing Black girls to place forth a gang of effort into shedding pounds getting by?
Now, I can’t establish or confirm these numbers, however verify this out:
Sadly, 46% of African American males and 57% of African American girls are sedentary, with no time scheduled for train. – Lottie’s Well being N Wellness
No time scheduled for train, however on a regular basis on the earth for the almighty touch-up?
Hear, I’m not railing in opposition to girls who DO hit the salon at 6AM ready to ensure they’re out by 2PM. I’m railing in opposition to girls who can stand up at 6AM for a hair appointment, whereas loudly complaining about having no time for the health club. A half hour a day strolling helped me lose 18lbs in a single month. Perhaps we overestimate what it takes to truly put money into our private well being. Perhaps as a result of we get so few tidbits of recommendation on how one can look after our bodily selves, we’ve let commercials and infomercials and trainers with one thing to promote educate us improperly. Perhaps we’ve been led to consider that it requires greater than we are able to afford in time in addition to cash. Perhaps, child.
I feel it’s humorous that the film may very effectively NOT handle health within the slightest. Is it as a result of the subject is wholly uncomfortable for at the least 79% of us to speak about? Is it an excessive amount of to consider why we discover such consolation in seeing heavier set girls in our group? Earlier than somebody tries to take offense, don’t take my phrases as saying there’s something offensive to society’s sensibilities by having chubby girls round. I’m saying that there’s one thing that makes it acceptable for us to dwell an unhealthy way of life, however would make us sacrifice an entire day (in some circumstances, an entire weekend) for various hair.
What’s it going to take for us to re-educate and enlighten ourselves? Will it take our males to begin overtly and loudly shunning chubby girls, versus nonetheless giving us consideration? Is that what it’s going to boil all the way down to, to get us to focus equal-if-not-more consideration on our bodily well being? What are your ideas?
