For Many Black Women, Hair Is Identity | Elite Daily
It’s never “just hair.”
In more than 40 states, it is legal for Black individuals to be sent home from school or fired from their jobs for wearing their natural hair. While legislation is currently working to make hair discrimination illegal in the United States, the Black female experience is greatly impacted by the Eurocentric standards of beauty that are introduced to girls at a young age. “Just Hair” explores Makeba Ross’ journey of growing up with Black hair and her ultimate decision to wear her natural hair with pride.
Born and raised in Newburgh, New York, Makeba moved to Brooklyn at the age of 18 to pursue her dreams of becoming a filmmaker. After graduating from the Brooklyn College film department in 2017 and launching her freelance career that same year, Makeba has gone on to produce countless narrative and non-narrative projects for clients all over the tri-state area. Recently, her focus has been on Black female hair and discovering new ways to showcase it in a positive and empathetic light. She believes storytelling and open conversation are key in demystifying and de-stigmatizing Black hair and is eager to test this theory in her upcoming projects.
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( upbeat music, ) Hair is confidence. Hair is beauty. Hair is art. At some point in time. Somebody somewhere said the phrase ,''. It'S just hair.'', I'm not sure who originated that phrase, but I'm inclined to believe that they were not a black girl, because all black girls know that hair is not just hair.. Hair is a very big deal in the female black community.. Miss me with that whole hair is just hair., Whether it be Bantu knots or corn rows or box braids or dreads locks. Whatever it may be. You can tell a lot about a black girl based on how she chooses to wear her hair.. Our hair is just so versatile that we really can do anything with it. ( upbeat, music ). A black girl's hair is an extension of her personal identity.. When you go through life as a black girl, you spend most of it being told how you should look. If you wan na be deemed acceptable or attractive in society., When you hate your hair or view it as ugly, it's really hard not to view yourself in that same negative light.. When I got my very first perm back when I was 12, that was the first time in my life that I ever felt pretty. I went to school thinking like yo. This is great. My hair is straight. I look great. My crush is gon na notice me today. The kids not gon na bully me at school for my hair anymore.. When I got to college, I was starting to reject those Eurocentric beauty standards that had been ingrained in me. My whole life.. Instead, I just wanted to look like myself, but because I had spent the last decade getting perms. I didn't even know what my natural self looked like anymore.. I wasn't really excited to go natural but at the same time it felt necessary., (, Upbeat music ). When you decide to completely ignore all of these societal expectations that everybody is putting on you and just rock your hair, naturally it is an act of rebellion.. It'S saying that I don't really care how you think my hair should look. This is how it looks naturally - and this is how I'm gon na wear it.. I know my freaking hair looks good. (, soft music ) To be comfortable and confident in your natural hair is a very powerful feeling.. I feel powerful as hell right now. 10 years ago. I would have never ever ever even left the house in my natural hair, let alone allowed myself to be filmed on camera in it.. This narrative that hair is just hair is wildly inaccurate.. Overcoming hair discrimination is a huge obstacle that most black girls have to overcome in life. In order to reach this place of peace and self-acceptance. The say hair is just hair. It completely dismisses that journey that we go through. Not to mention if hair was just hair. We wouldn't need literal laws in place to protect our hair from society.. Hair is power, hair is self-expression, hair is experience, hair is freedom. Hair is magical, especially black hair. ♪, But for what it's worth ♪ ♪, You won't see me complain ♪ ♪, I'm me ♪,
Comments
ArtemisDD: Can women please just love themselves and all other women around them? We need eachother to fight for our rights and maintain those rights we've already acquired. Bashing eachother for our looks and appearances is not needed. We should stick together and have eachother's back! Sincerely, a fellow woman
arionne: I'm stealing whatever that treatment was: 2 avocados, egg, apple cider vinegar, and what was that oil? olive oil? Also love the hair and hair talk!! *insert empowering black woman with afro emoji*
S Cole: I cut my hair at number 2 and bleached it and then dyed it rose gold. For me it’s expression and freedom and clearly IDGAF attitude
Jeannette Lee: Love this video
Nicole Kravchuck: It's not just black women it's all races if u listen to yourself it's sounds like an everyday problem that has been with women for many many years. Just like white girls can wear extensions and braids or box braids or pony tails . Come on I've had them all my hair had braids dreads extensions. I love the fact that your confidence and you FU attude. But in reality that hair problem is for every women .