Hair: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (Hbo)
- Posted on 10 May, 2021
- Clip-in Hair Extensions
- By Anonymous
John Oliver discusses the importance of Black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.
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Moving on our main story tonight concerns hair, specifically black hair, the subject that gave us the single greatest real housewives entrance of all time when kenya moore crashed, marlo hampton's wig launch with a marching band to promote her own line of hair products and porsha williams reacted. Like this, even if i did agree with kenya and the fact that people's edges matter, they don't matter today, you are wrong. This is absolutely insane okay, so today i don't agree, but tomorrow, yes, my edges matter and i'll be using the product. You know what, as per usual, porsche is right about a number of things there. Kenya is wrong, edges do matter and i, like porsche, will also be using the product tomorrow. Monday is my wash day and look. I realize i'm not the ideal person to talk about black hair. I look like i still go to an old timey barber named valentino and ask for the tidy liza minelli, and i also know that the danger is when a white guy on tv starts confidently talking about black hair. Even with the best of intentions. It can end something like this. I didn't want the little tea light to overheat and then all of a sudden we've got breaking news here at the channel. I told you the sprinkler system's come on, i'm done for the day. Yeah there you go. That is sitting up here. Looking like a mop yeah, you don't want sprinkler system and a beautiful weave because they do not go. Oh wow, you're beautiful. You said it was a weaver. It'S not oh wow. That is the exact right reaction to announcing your black co-workers. Hair is a weave, live on air, getting up from your desk and just running away, running forever running until your life fades behind you and your feet touch the ocean. Now you should know those two co-workers seem to have gotten over that incident. Putting out a video, titled, blaine and layla discuss hair weave a rebuttal where blaine says he's learned the difference between quick weaves lace, fronts and sew-ins because of their friendship. But the fact is, on the whole white people, don't really understand a lot about black hair and by the way, if your first reaction to that was hey, not all white people, maybe look inside yourself and figure out why that is your response to things, but importantly, That lack of understanding and lack of interest in understanding can have real consequences from the personal to the professional, as you probably know, either from experience or from seeing stories like this chastity jones was tangled in a nearly 10-year legal battle. After she says, an employer took back a job offer at an alabama call center because she refused to cut her hair. She said are those dreadlocks in your hair and i just looked at her and i was like these and she said yes, i said yes, they are, she said. Well, we can accept that here. Can you imagine turning someone away who wants to work at a call center, the university's, most thankless job, a place where you answer the phone and immediately there's an angry woman screaming at you, because some of the broccolini in her hello, fresh kits, didn't smell right and Now she wants to speak to mr fresh. If you have someone who wants to do that job, let them what's on their head has nothing to do with it. They could show up to work in a wig made of living ferrets and they deserve not only that position but double whatever you're paying them. The point is black hair and hairstyles are frequently yet another pretext for discrimination. So tonight let's talk about it and, let's start by understanding why black hair is so important for centuries, black people in africa innovated ways to protect and prolong the health of their hair and that practice has continued and evolved into beautiful and distinct hairstyles. With a deep connection to culture and heritage, and for as long as that has happened, white people have been unable to handle it. One of the first things slave traders would do was shave. The heads of enslaved people, which erased their cultural identity and black hair, has historically been described in dehumanizing fashion, with racial typologist, charles hamilton smith, describing his hierarchy of three main types of people, the bearded caucasian type, the beardless mongolic type and the woolly head tropical type And the only time wooly head tropical is an acceptable term to use is, if you're talking about madagascar's woolly lemur, a tropical little sweetie, who always looks like he just accidentally, replied all other than that. It'S off limits. Now, by the late 19th century beauty companies were advertising products like skin lighteners and hair straighteners, reinforcing the idea that black hair was dirty and unkempt and the closer your appearance was to whiteness the better like in this ad from 1900 from magnetic comb. That promised to destroy the hair germs on your head and take you from a curly head black person to a straight haired white one and the desire to make black hair, smoother and straighter was so strong. Just listen to the sheer delight this british newsreel takes in showing you the process. Combs come into play, kept constantly heated. They are passed through each section of the hair until all trace of kinkiness disappears. It'S not all plain sailing naturally, and it's not quite a permanent permanent. If you follow me, if the hair gets really wet or steamed up it unstraightens itself and back come the kinks. Oh no hearing that beauty standard reinforced in that particular voice is definitely a sign that something has gone terribly wrong and i know for some viewers passing a hot metal comb through the hair to straighten it might look like a curio from the distant past, but i Guarantee some of you were just transported back to being eight years old sitting on a high stall in the kitchen at six, am on school picture day, holding your ears down, while your mom or grandma gets the hot comb uncomfortably close to your scalp. For some, the smell of burning hair is a sign that something's wrong, but for others it brings back memories by the 1960s and 70s, though the embrace of black hair's natural texture and culturally significant styles had become a radical act of self-acceptance and political power. Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair, who taught you to heat the color of your skin, to such extent that you bleach to get like the white man are white people? The answer is white people that question answers itself. Just like the answer to the questions who lets their dogs kiss them in the mouth, who wants to pick apples for fun and who's coming to dinner on einergarten show. The answer is white people, but despite the natural hair movement, white, people's discomfort and ignorance, around black hair has very much remained. One study found black women were 80 percent, more likely to agree with the statement. I have to change my hair from its natural state to fit in at the office and another found that black women with natural hair styles will perceive to be less professional, less competent and less likely to be recommended for a job interview. The point is the way your hair is perceived and therefore the way you are perceived can manifest in all sorts of ways. I know the anxiety that people have after getting their hair done. Then, like okay, what's gon na happen, when i go to work, are they gon na say anything? You know it's a big thing in the workplace. A lot of people don't want to draw attention to themselves, but they try to do the norm a lot of the time. I would always get people just like saying how like soft my hair is and everything and like wanting to touch it. That'S like always a big pain and like adults, doing that too. I'M like wrong with them. I can't touch it. You know you don't touch, no black women here. No, you already know that i feel like you're in a zoo. Look. You obviously shouldn't be made to feel like you're in a zoo ever for any reason. Also - and this is clearly not the point - but if you are touching animals at the zoo, you're doing the zoo wrong, don't be stressing out the otters by shouting unwanted questions and trying to sneak your hands into the cages to cop a field. Yes, the bald eagles feathers are late, but don't shout yes queen and try to pet her. Unlike your co-workers, the eagle will snap your fingers off and you will have it coming. Unfortunately, though, white people's biases and ignorance are often just laying in wait for the right moment to strike. Jonathan sutherland is a penn state football captain and a dean's list student, but what people are talking about tonight is his hair. That'S thanks to this letter. The author is a proclaimed alumnus from decades ago named david peterson, he called sutherland's hair awful stating his locks are disgusting and are certainly not attractive. He also writes. We would welcome the reappearance of dress codes for athletes. Everything about that is upsetting from the racist attitude to the hurtful language, to the fact that he chose to express moral outrage over something in college football, but it's not that the ncaa makes millions of student athletes instead, it's i can see your hair outside your helmet. Now that man later explained that he only wrote the letter, because i was just disgruntled about some of the hairdos that we're seeing you think of penn state as a bunch of clean-cut guys and you think of penn state, as is just not a sentence that ends Well, under any circumstance, especially when you realize that man actually got a degree from penn state in 1966, the same year as jerry sandusky, who somehow, despite his short hair, turned out to be a heinous sex criminal. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's almost like the haircut doesn't matter and it starts way before college. You may remember the terrible case of high school wrestler andrew johnson, who was basically forced to cut his locks off or forfeit an important wrestling match by a referee. That case made national news, but there are hundreds of others that don't from the school in kentucky that once banned - and i quote - dreadlocks and corn rolls two twin sisters in massachusetts that received hours of detention because of their braided hair to this daycare in suburban chicago Mom may like the smell, but according to this note, tiona norris posted on her facebook, page amaya's teacher didn't like it basically saying your child stinks, don't put the coconut oil in her hair. The kids were teasing, her norris says: amaya was the only black child in her preschool class at the racquetian learning center in elmhurst. I was just hurt from my child, especially after noor says she met with a teacher and school administrator and learned the children in the class never complained. It was just a teacher who didn't like the smell. We called the school and left several messages we visited and got this hi, i'm dorothy tucker from channel 2 goodbye wow that feels like a perfectly staged. Five-Second play encapsulating the history of race relations in america. A black person trying to discuss racial inequality with a white person then immediately says goodbye. So black people from an early age are often told that their hair is unattractive and needs to be corrected, and that is already just a lot before you even start getting into all the ways that society makes it difficult to navigate the world because of your hair. Even just buying hair products can be an unnecessary challenge with black hair products routinely locked in a case where someone has to come with a key to get it for you or maybe even walk it to the register in the same aisle where products for white people That cost just as much or more, are simply sitting out on the shelves and the explanation for this is never great. So i went and found the manager, and i said, i'm waiting for the key for shampoo and conditioner. I said, but let me ask you: why are the black hair products locked up and not the white hair products? He said um um and another associate said well. People have been stealing yeah now that walmart claims that it was based on data of theft in the store. But when a town council member asked to see that data the store instructed her to call 1 800 walmart and just out of interest on a touch tone phone which button? Do you press to hear the data used to justify locking up four dollar eco styler gel? Is that like number seven or do you have to ask for an associate first, so it is already hard enough to get products to do your hair at home, but finding a qualified stylist can be even harder. The cosmetology industry mostly revolves around and trains four caring for straight non-textured hair, so there is no guarantee that a stylist in your area can work with black hair. Just watch one tick, tocker call 23 salons in their hometown and get nothing. But responses like these. I was wondering if you guys worked with african-american hair specifically for c-type uh. We do not none of the girls do here. No, we don't really have a lot of experience, so i would say that you're probably better to keep looking around. I was wondering if you guys were able to work with african-american hair, specifically for c-type oh hold on just a moment. Let me ask: is yeah, that's not great, but i do love that that receptionist is asking the entire staff like she just got called as a phone, a friend on who wants to be a millionaire, hey donna, it's the 25 000 question. Can you do a silk press and bump those ends final answer? She can't, and this isn't just a problem in salons, even in hollywood. Stylists, who are both familiar with black hair and who are in the stylist union are rare and actors definitely know when their production has failed to hire one i was on this show they made me a series. Regular, i was hella pumped, walked in a hair makeup. Trailer first time, oh i'm about to like get paid. Let me see homegirl this white lady. She tapped my head, yep not lying. She tapped it sprayed some water, didn't brush, didn't calm and left, and i was like oh wild now. I actually recommend going back and watching each actor in that clip, as he tells that story, because you really get the sense that every one of them identifies with what he's saying there. And it's not ideal that for a lot of hairstylists, their strategy to deal with black clients is the same that you would use to get your cat off the kitchen counter, give them a little spritz and they give them a pat on the head. So they know you're not mad and when you consider all of the obstacles to get placed in the path of black people, it's understandably pretty hard to take. When white people wear the exact same hairstyles that they get judgment for from bo derek famously wearing braids. In the movie 10 to adele and miley cyrus, trying on black hairstyles for fun to this con de garcon fashion show at which the models wore lace, front cornrow, wigs, which were awful in every possible way. I mean just look at that thing. There is enough room between each braid to land a plane there, and you don't even have to look closely to see the model's dark hair through the lace come on. You put a wick cap on first, then, you put the wig on you grab your got. Ta be spray or wig glue. You melt that lace and you lay those edges down so well. They fall asleep. There are only two situations where the appalling level of wig application is acceptable, either you're in the middle of hosting an episode of snl or you're, posing as a british nanny to stay close to your children after your divorce. That is it, and the thing is white people appropriating black hairstyles isn't just infuriating. It can directly make it harder for black people to fight discrimination concerning their hair. There was a court case in 1981, a discrimination suit filed by a black woman named renee rogers she'd work for american airlines and she wore her hair in cornrows. Her legal argument was that her hairstyle was a part of her cultural heritage. The judge ruled against her in federal court because he said she got her hair done soon after the movie 10 came out and therefore there was no legal basis for saying it was cultural heritage because she was doing something that essentially was imitating. How bo derek styled her hair yeah? It'S true. Among the reasons he dismissed her case, the judge suggested that a black person wearing a traditionally black hairstyle was just copying a white celebrity who stole it from black people, which is just ridiculous. Hairstyles have cultural roots. They don't just come out of nowhere to sweep the nation with the sole exception, of course, of the rachel which wasn't appropriated from any culture. It simply sprang forth fully formed from the concept known as the 90s, and i wish i could say that that is a thing of the past, but you know it isn't chastity jones. The woman you saw earlier spent years appealing her case only to lose in part, because judges interpreted civil rights law to protect against discrimination based only on immutable or unchangeable characteristics associated with race like skin color. So for decades, courts have found that hairstyles, even though they are deeply tied to racial identity, are not covered, and all of that means that a younger generation can still end up having to deal with this nineteen-year-old destiny. Tompkins has worked at this banana republic store at the westchester mall in white plains. For just about a month. She was called into a meeting with her manager on wednesday caught completely off guard by what happened next, he was like yeah, so the district manager came in. She pointed out something about your hair and i'm like okay. So what's wrong with my hair, he said it's a little too urban and unkempt for our look and for our image we were just wondering like if you could just take them out. Okay, putting aside the use of the word urban there, a level of tone deafness on par with naming your store banana republic just take them out. Those are words from someone who has zero idea of what it took to put them in in the first place. That is coming from a man who i'm guessing has never spent seven hours in a salon chair with an ipad full of movies and a backpack full of stacks. Now you should know the store called that unacceptable and the manager was fired, but the problem is since professionalism gets defined by white standards and expectations. Black hair is more likely to crash into those expectations. So what can we do well for some of the smaller issues? You'Ve seen tonight, there have been changes. Some chain stores, including walmart, have announced that they will no longer be locking up black hair products, which feels like the least that they can do. But it is a start. A bigger change would be to pass laws like crown acts or creating a respectful and open world for natural hair versions have already become law in these 11 states, and while the language varies generally, they expand the definition of race and anti-discrimination laws to include traits historically Associated with race, like protective hairstyles such as braids locks and twists, unfortunately, crown acts. Bills have repeatedly met with republican opposition in utah in one recent zoom hearing on their bill state senator darren owens, who voted against it, made a point of first addressing the bill's advocates. Like this, let me make a comment: you people are beautiful, i and i don't normally do this, but i'm going to show you in a. I was in the store the other day and i don't think you won't be able to see this picture. But this gentleman in front of me with my black man, had two young children and they were just having fun around up and down the island. And i don't normally take pictures of children, but they were adorable to black children because they're just the cutest kids in the world, one has cornrows and one of them dreadlocks. I wish you could see them. What are you doing you, exceptionally weird man? Just to recap, he started off there by telling a group of black women you people are beautiful, then proceeded to say i don't normally take pictures of children, but a perfectly acceptable sentence until the butt part then launched into a story about how he keeps photos of Strangers children on his phone, all of which evokes a response, perhaps best summed up by this expression, which i'd argue, is an absolute master class in how to say the using only your eyebrows and if you are wondering how he got from that to voting against the Bill his argument was that he felt existing laws were sufficient and that it almost looks like we're trying to do something that doesn't exist, but this discrimination isn't something that doesn't exist. It'S something that doesn't exist for white men. Who'Ve never had to think about it before the consequences of hair based discrimination are very real. Just listen to connecticut state senator gary winfield make the case for his state's crown act in the run-up to it passing into law. By talking about his three-year-old daughter right now, she runs through life with all of the energy that she has with all of the beauty that she has with her hair natural. That'S who she is it's not just what sits on top of her head. It is who she is, but i want her to be able to participate in this world fully, and so, even if she runs through this world with her natural hair, there will be a discussion about what it is to run through this world with her naturally, and What she will have to learn whether she makes the choice to run through this world with her natural hair or not? Is that a part of her is not acceptable? That'S awful! It'S infuriating that black children have to add hair discrimination to the long list of things that they're already forced to think about, like the threat of police, violence, the danger of harassment by racist white people and, of course, the very real risk of getting photographed by utah State senator darren owens in a checkout line that man's daughter and all black people should clearly be able to make choices about their hair, based on what they feel like doing with it. Rather than will this get me harassed or fired, if you want to have natural hair great, you want to straighten your hair, great whatever you like. The point is black hair shouldn't be viewed, corralled or judged by white people's comfort because it doesn't belong to white people. It doesn't affect white people and white people really don't need to have an opinion on it, and our laws should reflect that, and i know that there may be limits to what crown acts can accomplish. Even if one passes at the federal level, there could be cases where a white judge is asked to decide whether a specific hairstyle is associated with race and completely it up, but they are a start and look if you're, not a black person. It'S probably easy to hear these stories and think. Well, it's just hair, but the thing is it's not it's not at all black people aren't getting hired or are getting fired. Black students are being teased, taunted and removed from school all because of their hair and crown acts. Laws could make a real difference there and while social stigma and unrealistic beauty standards aren't going to go away overnight. There are a few things that white viewers in particular might want to keep in mind going forward and to that end, if you are one there's a message that you should probably hear: hi white people, i'm uzo aduba, i'm craig robinson hi white people, i'm leslie jones. What'S up black people, brothers and sisters, you good your mama good, all right! Listen! I got ta talk to these white people for a second i'll, see you at the meet all right. Look: white people. I know you have lots of questions like maybe too many questions. Like how often do you have to wash black hair, what is the silk press? What does a do-rag do? Well, the good news is. We are about to fill you in we're about to give you the answer to all your questions about black hair. You ready for it you ready for it you ready for it. Okay, here it is google, it google, it google, it google it i mean it doesn't have to be google, it can be bing youtube wikipedia. I don't give a the information is out there and once you get the information you can appreciate all the beauty and hard work it takes to keeping my hair laid and looking good okay and, if you're not interested in googling it. There is another option off. Leave us the alone off, it's always an option and look white people. Don'T tell me you can't figure this out on your own. You figured out settlers of catan. You figured out sourdough bread last year. I think you can google the word wii. You can learn what the a box braid is. Okay, i think that just about covers it. Basically, just google, it don't touch it and there's one more thing: don't spray, my hair with water and tap my head, i'm not a cat, bye, goddamn white people, you
Comments
V Smith: As stupid as firing someone for having locs is to begin with, imagine firing them from a job where the customer can't even see them.
Karian: Tell me you have black, female writers on staff without TELLING me you have black, female writers on staff. We see you Mr. Oliver <3
Pineapple Stickers: Who works at a pre-school and of all the possible smells involved in the job, chooses to complain about Coconut oil?
Aki Yamada: Not just Black hair either, I know a story of a daycare asking the mother to cut her sons hair because she wanted him to look "like a boy". His mother explained that, being Native American his hair/braids are sacred and not to be cut, but the daycare still didn’t understand. The cutting of Indigenous hair was always born from whiteness
Pack Sam: Of all the smells that toddlers smell, I am surprised that they had an issue with coconut oil, which is like the best smelling oil there is.
Talon: Can we just appreciate that he puts a British accent on his British accent?
Aly: I'm currently in Cosmetology school and I'm happy to say that my school teaches how to do textured and ethnic hair. I, as a white woman with zero previous exposure to black hair, have learned a lot and have a new understanding of cultural hair styles. I still have a lot to learn but I want to be able to make everyone who sits in my chair feel good about themselves and leave feeling beautiful, no matter their race.
Porsche Abraham: FIRST OF ALL, who are the writers for this show? I need answers. They’ve outdone themselves. Thank you; this is Premium Content!
Marcus Clifford: Every time I watch these videos I get simultaneously happy (because of John) and angry because of the subject. A person's hairstyle is their own bloody business anyway, but for it to be used as yet another way to oppress Black/African Americans is disgusting. Thanks John for raising awareness!
The Sneezing Picture: "The Banana Republic at the Westchester Mall in White Plains" is front runner for whitest sentence I've heard this week.
KoiPuff: A little girl I used to babysit was biracial and had a big afro. It was clean and well maintained. Her white teacher sent home a note saying she either needed to shave it off or get it braided. When her parents refused the teacher called CPS on them. She said that it was obvious they weren't caring for her properly. Her parents were two of the kindest people I ever met and this killed them inside. They won against the teacher and to this day that girl (now 14) has a glorious afro.
S Milo: I have European curly hair and I get the “look” when I dare walk in to work with my air dried curls. It is perceived as “unpolished”. Therefore, I can ONLY IMAGINE what black women endure when they honor their natural beauty. Why should I get a half hour less sleep than others just to “fit in”? This is the empowering lesson I have taken from bold, black women rejecting conventional expectations. I want to thank them - I get to clock in more sleep now. Unfortunately, my sister has not yet learned to appreciate this valuable lesson.
DefilerWyrm: I will never understand the level of solipsistic entitlement that must be required to try to touch a stranger's hair without their permission. That's so CREEPY. You don't know them, keep your creeper hands to yourself!!
Karen Saunders: I recently got a tiny taste of how this might feel. A few days ago my mother who has beginning dementia (with visual/audio hallucinations) called me up to tell me my hair looked absolutely horrible, and that even her neighbors had commented on my appearance. She had transferred money to me and demanded I get my hair cut a certain way (she described the "Karen" ) and said that I also had to dye my hair blond as that would improve my appearance. She was very insistent and kept going on about how ugly and embarrassing my long hair was. I was crying non stop and pretty much in chock the rest of the day.. I have of course forgiven her now as she has a pretty good excuse for saying weird shit, and she felt really bad later when she realized what she had said. But if this had been my boss or a colleague and keeping my job depended on having the hairstyle they deemed suitable, I would have been absolutely devastated.
QueenieMouse: I have seen this video so many times. I just love how John Oliver riffs these punchlines that take me straight back to my childhood something about being transported back by someone with that face truly entertains me
Onalenna Vuyokazi Nhlumayo: Shout out to John's black writers because I know they worked overtime this week teaching him concepts like laying edges. You could tell how proud of himself he was for nailing those jokes lol
VanDaysha taylor: You did it John! This is why you get the Emmy’s! I laughed so hard when you dragged the horrible wig at that fashion show. I live in Connecticut. My family has been here for 12 generations and freed for 7. I am Egyptian Southwest, Ethiopian Jewish,and Geechee Cherokee. My hair is my crown. I got tired of people telling me even when I wore my real hair straighten to elementary school. That it wasn’t beautiful enough despite it being down my back. So I started my own business. The only black owned and woman owned Fine Art Gallery in Connecticut at 30. Not just because of my passion for the arts but Mostly because with my doctorate and personal accomplishments it wasn’t enough working in a lot of white male dominated spaces. A girl in my school actually tried to cut my real hair. It was exhausting because it always came down to my hair. So I agree “screw off or Google it”! Love and light!
Aussiescotsman: I honestly never really thought about it in such a fashion. LWT has profoundly changed my view on life in numerous issues as a white dude. Really good stuff as always mr oliver
AljHere128: John Oliver is MY DUDE!!! I play catch up watching his show on demand. Dude did a whole azz segment on his show on Black Hair. Shout out to this on awkward ally and his fantastic staff of Beautiful Black People who helped him with such a segment!!!
buttercup: I really appreciate how the writers made sure they included language that didn't assume that all the people watching don't have personal experience with this
Olivia Schneider: It's wild that there's such a discussion about it when it really should just be "wear your hair however you want because its none of anybody's business". I guess I can maybe see why someone would talk about un natural died hair, like pink or blue if its dealing with customers. but its insane to say that someone should change how their hair naturally is and how they wear it best.
Side Hustle Vikki: I remember being told that my hair was unprofessional when I wore it natural on time at work but yet these same business have welcomed pink purple and blue hair into their professional work environment. lol
GuyWhoPaysTheRent: I have a foster child who’s African American and my fiancé and I have done extensive research and tried to find a salon or barber shop that could give us more advice on how to keep her hair nice. We eventually had to go to another city an hour from where we live to get any help. It’s some bull shit.
sugarwaterpurple: I never knew I needed to hear John Oliver describing how to apply a lace front
Amari Boxill: I burst out laughing every single time John goes on an incredibly specific tangent on black women’s hair (that was definitely written by a black female staffer).
Krystle Barnes: This happened about twenty years ago but I remember sitting in class and my friend turns to me with lotion in her hand and straight up asks "Do white people put lotion in their hair?" She was surprised when I told her "no. It would make it greasy" and I was equally surprised to learn that black people did that. So after that, we would start asking questions about each other's upbringing. I guess that my point is, how hard is it to learn about each other's cultures? We did it as kids. Good 90s memories. Miss you Latoya. Hope you're doing well.
Sonia: I was born and raised in Siberia, Russia. I have straight hair, and growing up I was SO IN LOVE with Gloria Reuben's hair (from ER). Since we used to go to the steppe during summer and there were not many options to shower, my mum used to braid my hair. It was not a fashion choice (though it looked amazing), it was more of a necessity. One of the girls made fun of my hair, it affected me, but then I overcame that. We didn't have people of African decent in my city, and I've never actually expected this to be that harsh... But remembering my one and only judgemental interaction... I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Please, remember, your hair looks amazing, be proud of it!
Nikia Brown: I have now used 3 of your videos to explain and answer questions about my experience as a black woman. Twice I sent them to a coworker after repeatedly saying "ghetto" for things broken in the lab! Now I have this ammo.. Thank you!!
Fidgey: I once had a friend from School suspended because he started combing his hair out into a massive afro and apparently it was too "Gang affiliated" to be accepted in our school, and he could only return when he'd return it to something "normal". smh...
Abena: As a black woman with locs I’ve had since the 4th grade, all of this hit really close to home. My hair is one of my biggest sources of pride, it’s my favorite feature. My hair is beautiful, and I’ve spent nearly 11 years growing it out and taking care of it with everything I could. I’ve also been denied a job at a smoothie place because I “didn’t fit the aesthetic.” I’ve watched my father shave off his hair after starting a new job several times growing up because he “needed to make sure this job stays.” I watched my mom be mistreated and passed over for several promotions while working retail because of her own locs that she had had my entire life, and her finally making manager almost immediately after cutting them off. I’ve watched my dad try and convince my 11 year old brother that he has to get a hair cut despite never having one since he was born because “I don’t want you to be held back in life the day when you’re forced to do it.” Not if, WHEN. I’ve seen my younger sister flat iron her hair before big pictures and events because she thinks that’s cuter and better suited than her natural beautiful curls. Hair discrimination is a real thing, and it needs to come to an end.
Nina Jansen: i love that when john says all these terminologies and he 100% knows what they mean
bunny: john oliver communicates this beautifully, but it's such a shame that it has to be communicated at all
Emil Koch: This was another great episode by John. I've noticed there's still not a ton of hair care products out there at Wal-Mart aisles for blacks like there is for whites. John is one of the few individuals who actually spends time studying and researching the topic he'll be talking about and it shows. He does a great job of being serious and making jokes through out his show. His writers did an excellent job with this episode writing the jokes.
Mass Fractal: I've watched this more than once and it remains terrific, fantastic, and timely. You go, sir! Drop that knowledge!
Ashley Irvin: Shout out to the black woman that wrote that for John Oliver, describing with complete accuracy me at 8 years old on picture day holding my ears down while my mom used that dang hot comb he took me all the way back.
Hannah 🌻: Thank you for the call center appreciation John!!! My job allows us to bring blankets to the office. Black people should be able to wear their hair however they want to wear it.
C Hep: Honestly something I’ve never thought about. Bloody great segment. Thanks John!
miss Anie Bananie: 1) Box braids: a style done by taking a pic comb, separating a square area of hair, taking a small section of that, braiding it, and then picking up the rest of the hair section with the 3 segments and braiding it down so that it is tight and lays with the natural flow of the hair 2) 2 strand twists: twisting words strands of a squared off segment of hair with the natural flow of the hair separately and then twisting them together tightly until the mass is tightly curled enough to make into a small bun and letting it rest around your head 3) corn rows: the same step as a mix braid with the addition of collecting more hair every rotation to all 3 strands (usually with the natural flow of the persons hair pattern but not always) often done as a stand alone style, as the base for a sew in weave, or as the bases for a bald cap/wig cap to go over before laying down a lace front because the braids are tight to your head 4) dreadlocks: sections of hair rolled between the hands or styled into cylindrical “tubes” of hair. Often times extra hair is added for colour/length. 5)Lace fronts: a wig where in small segments of hair are pulled into one lace cap, and bonded together but another layer of beige lace to mimic a natural hair line. The hair underneath is laid flat and then a wig cap is added to that followed by the lace front. A thin layer of adhesive of some sort, then you lay the lace down flat to the head (some people use a pic comb, a spoon, or just their fingers so that the wig lace is perfectly flat) then the lace is trimmed off, and styling begins That isn’t even half but it’s a good start for white people. If I have anything wrong please correct me in the comments. I used to style hair and my mission was to be able to work with any hair type and request so I was taught by my black stylist friends
Brooke Cookie: When that ref cut off that students dreads, my heart broke. I remember it so vividly, that wasn’t about safety, or discomfort, that was about humiliation and dehumanizing A CHILD who in the actual fuck?!?!
MarTimator: Ah yes, another episode of "I thought this wouldnt be a problem but I underestimated the stupidity of humanity so it definitely is" with John Oliver
C Mauro: And this is why I love this channel...thorough...clever...and advocating on the necessary changes in society.
Brandon Davidson: I worked at a beauty salon for exactly one day because I got into a discussion with the Asian manager who called 4C hair "ethnic", "coarse", and "rough". My wife is an Afro-Caribbean woman who very much loves her natural hair.
dieyng: Can I please point out, how insane it sounds to talk about hair, like it is something magical that some people can't understand. The only thing that ANYBODY needs to understand about hair is: do not discriminate people because of their hair and don't talk disparagingly about it. It is both a testament to the extent to which racism permeates through our society and for the insane intensity ANY topic can be raised to, that someone felt the need to make a whole show about it. And I'm not saying that it is wrong to make a show about it, just that it is sad that there seems to be the need for it.
God Tier Lee: I had to cut my hair for my high school graduation. Definitely one of the dumbest things I've had to do. Fortunately I didn't have it grown as long as I do now but I won't ever be cutting my hair cause someone else wants me to again.
jjsvizard75: The irony of saying a kids hair is unkept in a school called "raggedy anne" when that doll's hair was literally a dreadlock styled hair do!
Lolly Holmes: I have curly hair and I'm in groups all over Facebook and I see the difficulties that black people go through with regards to their hair. There isn't enough education about hair care, especially for those with beautiful curls, coils and afros! For a lot of people their hair is part of their identity, we need to understand that!
Elizabeth Hazel: Thank you. I learned a lot from this episode. I cannot imagine experiencing employment discrimination because of hair. Just reinforces that taking apart discrimination requires a lot of continual learning on the part of white Americans. Striving for this every day. Bravo!
Nutmegz: John is invited to the picnic. He spitting facts so hard.
Njoroge H. Muganda: In memory of Paul Mooney; "When black people's hair is relaxed white people are relaxed, when its nappy, they are unhappy."
capnbuh: "I don't normally take pictures of children but..." is the kind of statement that makes your skin crawl
OmarNicole Surjit: I am so in love with this episode! Applause for the writers and John!!! This was awesome. Now, how do we get everyone to watch AND understand?!
William Vaux: Imagine judging people for literally having hair. Another form of racism.
Ra Rah: Thank you for this episode! Been a fan of this show for a long time. Y'all never disappoint!
Agent Orange: I caught myself there , saying I'm so sick & tired of racism , my apologies because if its stressful for me can't imagine it for those of color , u have my word I'll always speak out and act
Irving Spyderman: The last bit with the celebrities is just precious. Never have I seen such a situation where a group of people want to be left alone, but if it happens they become incensed because they no longer have the opportunity to respond with self righteous outrage.
Natalia Evans: Wow, this has to be the most clearest way of explaining hair discrimination and why hair styles matter.
RoseisoutofherTOGA: I love that he prefaced this by acknowledging that a white man bringing up this issue is going to be not great on some level. This was so well researched and heartfelt. I’m a white woman, lost all my hair due to alopecia and GOOGLED solutions. My black friends were amused after I told them, but they’re not an effing resource to solve my problems (although a couple stepped in because I was crap at melting lace )
geezyX 333: It’s always crazy to me how American society is structured around racism. I’ve worked in a formal setting around Asia For 7 years (4 in China) and I rock my hair like that. Fade, locks, short locks you name it, and I’ve never got a single complaint. Rather, I end up being bothered by kids and old ladies on the bus or subway asking to touch my hair and asking what I put in it to make it look that way
DragonReborn: As a Sikh, this episode hit home. As a culture that has to face hair-based discrimination (sometimes brutal/visceral) for our entire history, it was refreshing to learn that we aren't alone in this world. For my fellow humans, who are ethnically black, don't give up, stand up for our own crown. The fight is hard, but worth it. For our own history, we have had to give up our lives for the right to keep our hair. Bhai Taru Singh was literally descalped for not cutting his hair. Protect your heritage and culture, regardless of their misunderstanding.
Luana Moreno: This video reminded me of a hairdressing event I've operated (I'm a sound engineer). It was a brand event where they recreated reference trends in hairstyling onstage. One of them was a bleached afro, and they achieved that by teasing a white model's hair! The hairdresser even said onstage they couldn't find a black model to use for that style. Now that was in Melbourne and I'm guessing they did not search in Sunshine, where a friggin HUGE South Sudanese community resides. Talk about cringe ♀️
Mason Bobro: I honestly dont get how people think it's "unkempt" when most of those hairstyles are very neat and literally gorgeous?? Not to mention it probably requires way more upkeep than white hair. It's just racism and any attempt to rationalize it is just... objectively incorrect.
Sophie Rabalais: I was sitting here wondering why the fuck Darren Owens took a picture of children in a checkout line. The way he spoke about that experience makes me think that he’s truly proud to tell people (specifically people of color) this story which makes me wonder why this moment was so significant to him. My theory is that for the first time in his life, he looked at African American children and saw real children and not alligator bait. That, to me, is frightening.
The Creoledoll88: This touches home. I remember the first time this was The super reinforced I was 11 starting 6th grade at a Private Christian School and our hair was literally not apart of the dress code. It stated no locks, no braids, no urban hairstyles, and no distracting hairstyles, right along with navy socks and plaid skirts. This continued well into adulthood where none of these hairstyles were deemed professional.
Kismet Caffet: In Canada, when lockdowns started, only necessary products were allowed to be sold in some provinces. Well, for some companies, black hair products made the list of items not allowed to be sold. Can you image trying to buy shampoo and seeing the shampoo you can use blocked from purchase while every other shampoo is available for purchase? It took a bunch of black women to speak up for those list-makers to realize that they were being stupid. Those women got told that it made no difference, to just use what was available. They also were told that black hair products were "specialty" items above and beyond regular hair care. It took push-back for them to finally understand that they were actually just being ignorant. Can you imagine lecturing a black woman about the care for her hair? For that matter, why should any non-hairdresser lecture anyone on their haircare? It seems like a conversation to avoid.
Alan Doodles: When I was little, my hair was really curly and my mom would straighten for activities such as church. I grew up thinking my hair looked nicer when it was straightened since my hair would be naturally less frizzy. As I got older, my hair straightened out a bit naturally, so now it's just really wavy for the most part unless I cut it pretty short causing it to poof up again a bit. Heck, I'm not African American or anything. I'm just Hispanic and have thicker than average hair. When I'm going to get my hair cut, it's often a hassle in the US because just having thicker hair can scare the typical hairdresser. When she cut my hair, my mother and I realized that she cut my hair pretty unevenly. Fortunately we found a lady who knows how to cut thicker hair. It must be so much worse for black people. I really do hope things do change.
Charles Bordy: Okay, can I just go out there and say that as a straight, white, cis gendered male with very long, "unprofessional" hair, I have never had a problem in a job interview or in meetings with legislators. The worst that happens is sometimes, when I walk past a barber shop, the barbers yell discounts at me. This isn't about hair, or professionalism. It's another way to put barriers in front of black folk.
Kyrian Rahimatulla: Knowing the origin of the phrase Banana Republic makes you, firstly, confused as to why someone considered a traditionally black hairstyle to be in conflict with the store's image, and secondly, wonder why someone thought that Banana Republic was a good name for any company, ever.
Yura D: Go Oliver! I appreciate that you and your team has taken the time to do the segment on black hair. It's real in these streets regarding black hair these days.
Omari Coleman: Shout out to the black woman who helped him with that “6am holding your ears” part lol this is why I love this man. I clapped three times on this
Aunty Connie: John Oliver, I thank you for covering this issues. In Africa, there are diversed black people with different textures of hair. The same is true with our color. Black Africans are not one size fits all. White people may not know this about Black Africans and our culture. Though black were suppressed by colonial rules, we are very proud people. By the way, I do my own hair any style that I want. I have lots of beautiful black people's hair because I am a Black person. To me, it is easy to braid and manage my natural black people 's hair by myself. My mom, and sisters used to style my hair into beautiful African braids when I was a child. In secondary schools as a child, we were not allowed to braid our Hair earlier on in secondary school. It might be Colonia shool rules. As time went on, the rules changed.
isdel: a few years ago, an interviewer for Brown University really centered on my afro, referring to it as unkempt hair a few times. i wore a hat and then just cut it for my other college interviews, but it really made me insecure about my hair for a long time.
Willow: I was already on your side but this was also pretty educational, lot of good realities to know.
NoElle: I loved this, he was on point as usual and it seemed like he had the inside scoop on everything
Phat Cat: My old boss straight up told me I needed to straighten my hair to make it "pretty and sleek like the other girls". I told her to talk to my lawyer about it. She never brought it up again.
Fairy: My grade 4 teacher was a white lady with dreadlocks. When I was nine I told my white dad I wanted dreads because she had them and he said "they'd smell disgusting and they look bad". I thought he was saying this because white people with dreads were associated with being hippies who didn't wash so imagine my surprise when I learned dreads are African and South Asian...
Ryan Brophy: This episode showcases the reason I love this show. Oliver really makes sure he knows what he is talking about.
Juan Solano: As someone who has never had to think about my hair being the target to criticism from others speaks as to how uncomfortable and hurtful it might be by people of color to deal with this. I have to say that what we must do is to simply respect, and have understanding and awareness of what people of color has dealt with this for decades.
Ransak Teh Elder: I like how all these American problems get generalized to all white people.
EchoJae: Can we thank the writers for giving John impeccable understanding of black hair care terms and seamlessly weaving them into The Facts & The Funny?
Funkopedia: I was nervous for about 2 seconds at the beginning, but yes, the makers of this show are very very careful and thorough with their research. You can tell John doesn't just read the lines, he actually learns this stuff before passing it on to the audience.
Verdugo Arulaq: “You lay those edges down so well, they fall asleep” BRUH
Mollusck Scramp: I remember in grade school, a boy I liked telling me he thought that I and "girls like me" smelled like burning hair, and being heartbroken later seeing his romance bloom with a straight haired caucasian hair, feeling somehow inferior and ugly.
Dr Ilknur Tulunay: Thank you for spreading the awareness. Another "hair" discrimination towards to females above 50s with their natural hairs (i..e. without hair coloring). Unlikely to be employed! Society behave as they are senior and so assumed not being mobile and active etc!
Patricia Samo: Black woman here...Am I the only one who is impressed by John's depth of knowledge on the topic of our hair? I was laughing so hard throughout this video. Thanks John!
Francisco P.: I've had a lot of these problems. They go to cut my hair thinking it's damaged and end up cutting it all off. Also had white people at the school I went to say my hair is like pubic hair. It's impossible to live in a small town and find someone who can cut my hair right.
Cathy Akins: I'm black. My older sister wanted to become a nun in the 60s. She went to them and they said "We wouldn't know what to do with your hair." I've been angry on her behalf for decades -- what did being a nun have to do with HER HAIR? And this was when they were still covering their hair with wimples!!! And please don't get me started on my fight with retail stores for "flesh" colored underwear and stockings. Apparently there's only one "flesh" tone and it's pink. Even really pale white women have trouble getting their skin tones! I was told that my medium brown flesh tone was considered to be a winter shade. I had to wait until November and buy a year's worth of underwear and stockings even though I told them that I was brown all year round.
Fex: This hits close to home. I'm Brazilian. It's really hard to determine a lot of people's heritage around here, because there's an enormous rate of miscigenation in our population. I, myself, am very undefineable: I'm clearly of black heritage, although people here dispute it when I claim it, because my skin is of a lighter tone. As if I'm talking myself down by stating I'm black. The reason I don't state I'm black very often (I usually check the box for "brown") is because I don't feel I experimented real racism as black people do. Because, you know, my SKIN IS LIGHTER. Is fucking ridiculous, but as people perceive me as white - it's even in my birth certificate - if I do experiment racism, it's subtle and go over my head. I only started to pay attention to these questions later in life, as internet surfaced these discussions. And as affirmative action tries to reparate the historic damage our society inflicted on black people, I don't feel validated in taking advantage of any of those. I don't feel like I paid my proper dues to the racial struggle. The country I went that a lot of natives confused me as their own was Morocco. But they think themselves as white. They call the subsaharian Africa "black Africa". It's stupid as hell. My hair? Curly. Really curly. Like you see in renditions of cherubins, but black. It's not the curliest possible, though. Real black people - the ones who go undisputed and get persecuted by the police - might have real small curls, way smaller than mine. And the term brazilians usually use for this kind of hair translate, literally, as "bad hair". When I was young my mother tried to disguise it by putting a lot of hair gel, combing it really close to my scalp and mantaing it short. I still like it short - less upkeep - but when it grows, I let it grow freely. I like how it looks. And my mother herself does that to her hair, the hot irons, the chemicals and whatnot. It took me more than twenty years to convince her to stop destroying her hair with these straightening techniques - they're very destructive - and just accept what she was: black! Let your hair be as your hair is. Just treat it well, take care of it and it will be beautiful. That's what makes good or bad hair: cleanliness, hidration, proper care. Straightened hair not only looks awful, it enormously restrains the lives of those who live with it. That's what racism does. It strips us away from our identities. I don't know how to present myself: I don't like either denying my heritage nor belittling the struggle of black people. My mother was taught from infancy that being her was just wrong. This is so dehumanizing for reasons so stupid it makes me want to cry. And all this while real shitty people, the ones who trully have all the reasons to be disgusted at themselves, are running the country and stepping on everyone's heads, laughing and feasting with our resources.
Chan Marr: This was fucking amazing! Props to the writers and to Oliver for the great delivery! ☺️☺️
A_H: I don’t know who wrote this episode but they DID THAT. Props to John for talking about this and for giving a writer the chance to really put their experience into this.
Jon Pollock: As always another amazing episode, I just wish we had these updated mkre often, work harder John the demand is there! :)
Pete S.: 13:42 Pretty sure there are lots of natural hairstylists. Even if their aren’t I have seen Afro wash and go’s on YouTube that look great and they don’t seem complicated though I don’t have an Afro. We need to educate ourselves more about our hair and keeping it healthy. To me healthy, moisturised type 4 hair looks great, even when it’s not styled that much. Myself I’m a black man who likes to cut my hair myself.
Ruth Prophete: I am blessed to work for a school where I can wear my natural hair, braids, twist outs etc. I shouldn't have to make my hair look straight to be allowed to make money or be treated with respect.
MarsVenus888 by Marvena White Production: Thank you for using your platform to educate people who may not have known otherwise.
Meko’s Message: I’m amazed at how well he covered this story! He knew all the terms, “melting the lace”, “laying the edges”. Thanks for caring enough to cover this John.
Lauren Walker: I couldn’t imagine getting my hair done and then being told it’s “unkempt” or “dirty”. I don’t think I can comment on this, I’m obviously a white girl with straight blonde hair but It’s really heartbreaking to hear that black hair has been and continues to be used as a form of oppression against black people. I did know about this, but not to this extent. To the black woman who wrote this segment, Thankyou for teaching me about this.
K B: What on Earth is wrong with just wearing your hair the way you want it? My hair is curly and frizzy. It's not exactly Afro hair, but it requires a little bit of work to look presentable in the workplace. I would welcome hair anti-discrimination laws applied to the workplace, because it would protect not only POC workers but also possibly white people who feel their hair is more presentable when bundled into a protective hairstyle, such as braids.
THE REAL SOURCE: The level of knowledge this man has on the topic is fantastic. Good job Mr. Oliver!
Philip Irving: This has literally happened to me plenty of times. I was even told by an older black lady at a state government job that me having my hair braided make me look like a thug and people would be scared of it. It is a real problem and something that will happen for a long time until we all see each other as humans and not individual races. I mean there are people with mohawks, purple hair, etc and they don't say anything about that.
Anne-Marie Thomas, P.A: Bruhhhhh! I’m so done with this whole episode! John’s writers KNOW MY SOUL! I have natural hair and was seriously thinking about cutting it off and getting finger combs just this morning. This video just made me tug on my Afro curls and smile. I think I actually smelled the burning hot comb and felt the pinch of a burn at the back of my neck at one point. This was so spot on, I had to watch it twice.Thank you to #JohnOliver writers for really getting this, for really getting US.
Naxster: So we want to change "dreadlocks and other afroamerican hairstyles are wrong" into "it's only wrong if you are white"? Yeah that will DEFINITELY help easing out racial tensions. That would totally convince hairdressers to learn more about them. Yes. Let's fight racist tendencies with literall racism. Your hair is wrong cause your skin color is wrong. 10/10. EDIT: "and all [...] people should clearly be able to make choices about their hair based on what they feel like doing with it. Rather than: will that get me harassed or fired" but not if you are white and want dreads. You know how you can spot racist? When you remove mention of skin colour and that changes how they feel about sentence. Yes black people should wear whatever they like. Not you whites tho. You go to the corner and think about what you have never done but your ancestors might or might not have done.