African American Women Whom HATE Natural Hair
Written by Samara on August 24, 2009I was walking to my job the other day because I left my purse at work by accident and a van happened to drive by with a African American woman whom took it upon herself to scream derogatory remarks at me. I couldn’t quite hear everything she said, but I did hear the word “crackhead”. I did not know this woman and I’m sure she didn’t know me, but what surprised me was the reason for her insults: My natural hair! This isn’t the first time I’ve been insulted for being natural. I’ve been called “nappy head” as well as the “crackhead” word on previous occasions.
I never thought that embracing my natural hair would make me target of disrespect comments from my own kind. Here I am being called names by another woman whom from what I observed was wearing microbraids. She was African American just like me and I’m assuming she had a relaxer, but we both know that her hair is similar to mine if her hair wasn’t relaxed. I was in such a shock that she went to the lengths of sticking her head out the window to scream those obscenities that I didn’t even know how to respond to them.
I continued walking and thought to myself. Where is this world going? Why are black women so conditioned by society that they’ve forgotten their roots? Is it really that hard to accept? The true image of who we are and where we came from. Our hair as well as our skin is what makes us unique and sets us apart from the rest, and now that I’ve learned to embrace it I find myself being harassed by other African Americans.
This really angered me, but it actually saddened me even more. Yes, I was insulted and I was upset for I am human, but I love my natural hair and no one can change how I feel about it, but why do we do this to our own sistas? Who are we to really judge women whom choose to embrace the natural beauty of their true texture? What is so wrong with being true to who you really are?
I have no issue with women whom relax their hair. I relaxed my hair in the past and I blog about the care of relaxed tresses as well as natural ones. I would never down a woman for relaxing her hair, because it’s her choice and no one should make her feel bad, wrong, or inferior for doing so.
Natural women: Have you ever been a victim of harassment due to the texture of your natural hair from other African American women?
Relaxed women: Have you ever harassed a woman for having natural hair?
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3 Responses to African American Women Whom HATE Natural Hair
When I was a little girl back in elementary school, I wore my hair in natural braids. Not twists nor extentions but my natural hair. They were quite long but I had scrutiny from some teachers and certain students. When my hair was freshly done, I’d get so many great comments like the usual “Oh your hair is so long” (I hated that). But what erked me was this incident where the so called “popular girl” who for some reason carried her comb wanted to undo one of my braids to see how long it was. Yet when I washed it and my hair would shrink to a shorter length and look like dreds, she’d call me Whoopi. Not being insulted and knowing that Ms. Goldberg was one of my favorite people anyway I’d say “Thanks”.
Reading your blog brought back so many memories of that. Yeah I relaxed my hair, put in extentions, even had two strand twists, but I always go back to my braids.
I love my natural hair. i think sisters who are natural is very beautiful . but I love my hair relax, why?, because i think it looks good on me, i would never put any women down for what she wants to do with her hair. natural or relax everyone is different and everyone is unique. but you go girl !!!!!! keep being you, and do not care what any hater say!
THIS UPSETS ME ASWELL
MY FRIEND WHO IS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DECENT AND SHE HAD SHOULDER LENGTH BEAUTIFUL NATURAL HAIR
…ALTHOUGH SHE FLAT IRONED IT, IT WAS SO PRETTY HEALTHY AND BOUNCY
I LOVED HER HAIR…SHE DECIDED TO CUT IT ALL OFF AND WERE IT KINKY-CURLY WITH BANDS AND IN A NATURAL FRO
AND I STILL THINK ITS BEAUTIFUL..TO ME MY FRIEND IS STILL BEAUTIFUL
BUT HER OTHER FRIENDS DOWN HER FOR CUTTING IT SAYING IT WAS SO NICE STRAIGHT AND THAT SHE NOW LOOKS LIKE A RAG DOLL AND ITS NAPPY NOW…I TRY TO TELL HER ITS THE SAME HER AS BEFORE
SHE REGRETS IT DUE TO HER RESPONSES
I WISH I COULD CONVIENCE HER THAT ITS JUST AS NICE LOOKING AND SHES JUST AS BEAUTIFUL WITH IT SHORT AND FULLY NATURAL
MY HAIR IS POOFY AND CURLY DEPENDING ON WHATS IN IT AND HOW IT DRIES
I USED TO WEAR BLOW DRIED OUT FROS AND SHE LOVED IT
IDK WHY SHE DOESNT LIKE HER NATURAL FROS
…I HATE THAT SOME WOMEN CANT APPRECIATE THEIR NATURAL BLESSINGS
:shrug: