African-American Women Series 1

African-American females are often seen in the media with either bone-straight hair or with hair with a slight wave to it. Many people of many other races often believe that this is our natural hair texture because this is how we show ourselves in the media. However, there are very few women seen in the spotlight with their natural kinky-curly hair texture.

Hair has always been and will always be a big deal in the African-American culture amongst females. As an African-American female I often see females with a relaxer and Brazilian, Malaysian, and Filipino weave. I not only observed this in adult television, but also in children’s television. One of the television shows I am very familiar with is That’s So Raven. As a young girl, I was absolutely obsessed with this show. Raven was a black female with great style, personality, and amazing hair. She was so versatile; however, she always had the silky straight hair that I died for. She had versatility with her hair in a sense that she would wear long ponytails, have different color hair shades, or have her hair in beautiful soft curls that would flow down her shoulders.

            Yes, I know Disney had to make Raven an attractive character, but what kind of message is this sending to our young black girls? I often hear females, specifically female teenagers; refer to their hair as either bad or good. Good hair is usually long and silky; it flows in the wind; and ridiculously soft. Bad hair is usually characterized as “nappy”, short, and dry. And this idea of “good” and “bad” hair not only comes from our environment, but the television shows our young black females are watching.

            I am a newly natural 16 year old female, but I wasn’t always gun hoe for the natural hair. I lived for the beautiful straight hair that I always seen in television shows like That’s So Raven. I was addicted to the flat iron; if my hair wasn’t flowing I was pissed. I wanted to be like Raven so bad, but as I aged and watched all the natural African-American females on YouTube I saw how beautiful and healthy our hair can be if we treat it right. As I continued to watch these YouTube channels I learned that there’s no such thing as “good” or “bad” hair. We learned these notions that hair is either good or bad, not only from our environment, but from the television shows we often watch as a child. Many people can’t change the things shown on television; however, I encourage parents and family members to teach their young girls about natural hair and how beautiful it is. If a child doesn’t want to be natural, by all means give them a relaxer, but at least they’re exposed to the beauty of their hair and they are posed with an option.