Why do people think if a black female decides to straighten her hair it's b/c she wants to look white?

Question

I straighten my hair b/c I feel like it...sometimes i want it curly sometimes i don't...
Can I not have that choice?
same with contacts =\
what if one day i want to go out with green eyes?...o.o

LOL i wasn't serious about the green eyes thing though lol...I like dark hair and dark eyes--so mysterious-- =p

I'm just wondering..I wont stop doing what i want...it's just a simple question

now there's something i don't like people thinking...that I'm american 8-B
I am Canadian xp xp xp

Answer 1

I agree with you. People can't do anything without being critisized by someone.

Answer 2

You just answered your own question "you have the choice based on how you feel". They have the same choice based on how they feel (that you want to look white). Some blacks think white people tan "to look black". No matter how tan I get, I will never pass a black & no matter how strait your hair is, you will prolly never pass as white.

That is the funny thing about freedom of choice, LOL we all love that we have it, but hate the fact that everyone else does too. The only way to win that game is not to play & truly not give a **** what other people think (when what you do has no impact on them). Now you go get some green eyes cuz they are hot (lol sorry just my favorite choice of eye color... see how that works).

Answer 3

Hmmm...

Interesting thought.

From the early part of the 20th century up to 1958 Black people were trying to look as white as possible especially the Black women. Then we had a social upheaval during the most of the 60s and part of the 70. During this period "Natural" hair and afrocentric behavior was encouraged, so Black women and some men put a stop to the hair straightening and went for more afrocentric hairstyles.

During the mid 80s Black woman started up the hair straighten process again with gusto, and now straightened hair on a Black woman's head is more of an accepted norm.

I noticed something about hair, Black people and White people. If a Black woman's hair is kinky and in its natural state I noticed that whites behave in an intimidated manner around her. I notice that a lot of whites actually start projecting whatever fears they have regarding Black people into Black woman who do have natural hair. I also notice that when a Black woman starts straightening her hair, whites treat her so much better and are no longer intimidated by her. They relax and can now see her as a person instead of a Black person. This comes from years of just noticing how people interact. It's strange if you ask me.

The same seem to go for the Black man. If he wears his hair in an afrocentric fashion Whites are without a doubt intimidated, but I notice that if the Black man shaves is head bald, or get's dreadlocks, suddenly whites are not so much intimidated anymore. This is strange behavior to me.

If you go to professional environments you will see this demonstrated over and over again. I'm sure that there are a few Black people working in all white environments that do sport a natural, afrocentric hairstyle, but the majority of them have straightened hair, bald head, or dreadlocks.

I started wondering why this was, and then a thought struck me. Forgive me; I'm not the sharpest knife on the table. Black people manipulate their hairstyles to make Whites feel more comfortable. Blacks manipulate their hair styles in order to be able to navigate about white people and not have to be feared.

The best way to survive an all white environment is to down play your blackness as much as possible. You do this and the Whites relax and won't project their fears and insecurities into you. Behaving in an Afrocentric manner makes a lot of Whites feel all defensive. It makes them feel like you are blaming them for something, so in response consciously or unconsciously they start to behave in a negative manner towards you.

Hair is a strange thing and it's another one of society screwed up, unspoken ways of communication.

Answer 4

Girl if u want straight or curly hair just go for it. I dont believe u r trying to make yourself white. If u want green eyes do that too. Have fun.

Answer 5

Girl wear your hair anyway you want to. Sometimes I'm natural like now, mid length, and then I decide to go short and textured. I've worn my hair straight, as a kid, but not now that is only because I don't have time to mess with it, like adding curls or something. Do your own thing, don't worry about what people say. If I don't have chemicals in mine my friends are like "when are you going to get your head done". So just be yourself.

Answer 6

Exactly.

I'm white and I curl my hair and it doesn't mean anything more than the fact that I want a new look that day.

I do think that colored contacts on brown eyes look spooky though. Au natural eye color is best.

Answer 7

Why would anyone think that. It's a choice we have because our hair type allows it to be so. Now the green eyes gurl, um if your dark complected it looks scary but do you.

Answer 8

I don't know. Some people have to comment on everyone's biz.
Doesn't mean anything anymore than us whites tanning and curling or hair means we want to be black. Actually my hair is probably about as curly as some blacks.

Answer 9

even white people's hair isn't straight, some of them get perms too. perms were made for black people anyway it was even invented by a black person. She made because our hair is too thick and makes it easier to comb through. there's nothing wrong with getting perms or having your hair natural. don't listen to what people say, do what makes you feel comfortable

Answer 10

first of all not everyone says that and noone thinks if you sraigten you r hair you want to be white cause im black and i use contacts i straighten my hair i curl my hair i wave my hair i even dyed my hair blonde and noone thinks i want to be white take me advice be who you wanna be do what you wanna do and tell the people that said that to you to shut the hell up beacuse nun of that is true...

Answer 11

I get bored with my hair all of the time. I don't think it means you are trying to look white, it's just what you want your hair to look like at that time!