Why do people still use this good hair/bad hair system still?

Question

"How could a people, black people, actually seriously adopt attitudes that our former masters had fed us for the sole purpose of dividing us and therefore keep us fighting with, disliking, and distrusting each other?"

-Good Hair: Benilde Little

Answer 1

It is a rite of passage for a young Black female to get a relaxer, something that literally strips away a piece of her African culture/heritage. Besides our color and features (which aren't easily changed), having good hair is a way for us to be assimilated into the mainstream 'American' culture. Since the Black anything= bad _____ concept has been drilled into us since we've come to America, it's kind of hard to shake now. The self hatred just comes with the territory.

Answer 2

Great question, it is not a bunch of "racial" crap, as suggested by someone elese here, it is indeed a type of crap that has brain washed and crippled a group of people generally starting with child hood and remaining through out adulthood.

To answer your question much of our socialization is based on what we see in the media, whether good or bad, further many parents and grand parents passed on these misguided notions based on European standards of beauty, self hatred and psychological mis-guidance.
Remember that many African Americans were treated better because of "peculiar things" that happened on slave plantations.So,(this is an over simplification) naturally if you wanted to be treated better or if you wanted your children to be treated better or "look better" then the lighter your complexion or if you had "good hair" then you were more socially acceptable in many families and communities.

There is another factor that may not be widely known, in the south many light complexioned Black who looked white, whether from mixed patentage or passed down from "peculiar relations" left the south and went to other areas of the country to "pass" for white. Sometimes to deny their Black heritage and other times to get treated like a decent human.

So, this is a horrible legacy that continues to be passed on.

If you would like some good references just check out a good Black owned bookstore for some historical and psychological reading that you are not likely to find in mainstream bookstores.
I can recommend some excellent books.

You have heard of Wilie Lynch right?
Whether fact, fiction, legend or mythology the essence of Willie Lynch fits...

Answer 3

For decades the notion of good hair/bad hair has been drummed into the black race. No matter if your African American or just African. To pull ourselves away from takes the same amount of de-activation from this form of thinking. We are taking steps get away from the european ideal of beauty. More and more people are going back to the roots of natural hair care. We have embraced the afro from the 60s-80s. To hair extensions (derived from Africa) and a variety of hair styles. I believe comfort, versatility and care is what goes into how black people choose to wear there hair. Yes some are still burning it out with hot combs and perms. It take time and understanding of one's own self to realize beauty isn't long and straight, curly or wavy. Hell we have other races opening up to using weaves and extensions. Healthy hair is what needs to be stressed to our people.

Answer 4

More racial crap? Geez people. You have no idea what real problems are.

When people talk about this I get the picture that they are really really insecure. So seriously, you look smarter if you talk about something else.