Black Hair

It’s time to normalize black hair.  Not the color but the kinky, curly, and/or straight hair on the heads of African  Americans.

I saw a play in the 60’s called “Hair.”  The musical   was all about all types of hair, long, stringy, straight and kinky.  I loved the play and saw it several times, on Broadway in New York, in Detroit and

in Cleveland. 

This play comes to mind because of all the talk lately about hair, but the talk is focused  just on African American hair. 

Hair like mine that  law makers had to legislate in order to allow women in the workplace not to be penalized for wearing their natural hair.  

Hair like the young student in Texas who is banned from attending class and graduation because of the length his dreads while girls at the school have hair longer than his.  So why single him out?

As a young girl my hair was washed and straightened every week.  Then braided and adorned with clips and ribbons.  

When I was a teenager I got my first perm and I hated it because it burned my scalp.  But I continued to perm my hair because it was different and I thought I looked cute.  

There’s a saying that when you know better you do better.

So I grew to know better and learned to appreciate my kinky, curly hair. I stopped perming my hair and cut it short to get rid of the remaining chemicals.  And, I would have it hot combed to straighten the natural curls, if I felt like it.  

Now, I wear my hair in it’s natural state, most of the time.  Sometimes, if I choose, I blow dry it and use a flat iron.   

The common denominator in this hair raising issue is  African Americans and our kinky, curly and/or straight hair we African Americans were born with.  

Hair that can be braided, knotted, corn rolled and twisted into styles.  Hair that can be straightened with a blow dryer, chemicals or hot combed.  

The bigger question is why so much attention on our hair?  If those who choose to take notice of how African Americas wear their hair would take a closer look and really see the whole person, perhaps they would see someone much like themselves.  And, if they engaged in meaningful conversation, they just might come to realize that the needs and wants are the same.  

It’s hard to ignore hair that you’re born with. It takes creativity and style to fashion it the way you want to wear your hair. 

For those with hair, it’s a gift, no matter how it grows out of your scalp.

By the way, I still have the soundtrack to the 1968 Broadway musical. It was a long time ago.  But from the looks of what is going on today, Hair, the musical was way before it’s time.