Check out this thought provoking article posted on Yahoo News yesterday. Thanks Nicole and Tiff for the heads up!
After you read it, come back and share your thoughts!
Check out this thought provoking article posted on Yahoo News yesterday. Thanks Nicole and Tiff for the heads up!
After you read it, come back and share your thoughts!
© 2023 Curly Nikki.
It's not a matter of America being ready because if your waiting for them to accept your hair I guess your still waitiing for your mule and four acres. It's not a matter of acceptance from others but acceptance from yourself. Don't give people that power over you.
Black hair is still a political subject and has it has to do with old sterotypes of that are simply re-inforced through the media and people until believed!When people discover the TRUTH about black hair that is is diverse,beautiful and unique then we can make a start.Until then we have to put up with this.No matter how one styles their hair they still need to embrace their hair and learn how to care for it then things will get better.
To all those criticising the focus on Michelle Obama's hair I ask, don't you focus on hair too? If not, why come to blogs like this? Why tell us of all the compliments your natural hair gets? Is it only good to focus on your hair if it brings compliments? I think *we* as a group are far more focused on hair than any media outlet.
Although the focus of the article was on Mrs. Obama, I was quite unnerved by some comments written from women who wear their hair straight for the first few months of a new job before going curly. This falls along the lines of 'acting white' and not being your authentic self which does no one any good.
This is a great article. I think I have been guilty of watching Michelle and thinking "is it relaxed/natural?" and if it is one or the other what does that mean to me? I love the fact that this article includes Michelle in the plight that all of us as black women are charged to face. This has given me a softer/gentler view of our first lady. She is not a spokewoman for all black women, she is a black woman trying to live in this world of eurocentric/polital/social pressure that we all face, from the board rooms to the lunch rooms. She's doing the best she can and I applaud her, as she is doing a hellofa job:-)
Sometimes, people just need to mind their own businesses. America has already seen what an accomplished woman Mrs. Obama is. She's a wonderful role model for ladies everywhere, no matter color, age, or hair type. So what if she changes her hair style. It doesn't change who she is and what she's accomplished.
www.cchicafrique.blogspot.com
It's quite a shame this writer had nothing better to focus on than Michelle Obama's hair. Chemically straightened or not – she is an intelligent women, who happens to be African-American, she's our first lady and I'm delighted. I've seen her hair laid and whipped, pulled back in a bun, and darn close to a "sister girl" ponytail because the wind just blew it out of place – which makes her just like all the rest of us, chemically straightened or not.
Now maybe we've never seen Michelle with twists or braids, but we've definitely seen Sasha and Melia sporting our versatility. You may see them in cornrows, plats, wash n'go or pressed for a special occassion. That's how little Black girls roll and I love it. Hail to Michelle for keeping it real for the girls! I think that is such a positive image when so many of our little Black girls continue to struggle with the straight hair crap. Sasha and Melia are rocking kinky and straight!
It's just as bad to criticize her for wearing her straight as we feel it is when we are looked down on for wearing our hair curly. She's a wonderful woman and quite a role model and if her hair choice changes that, that is quite shallow.
I don't think all the noise surrounding Michelle's hair/looks/clothes is all about her being an African-American woman. Almost every First Lady's looks, fashion and style gets picked apart. It's a ritual. It starts when her hubby is on the campaign trail and heats up to epic proportions if he actually wins. Laura Bush was mocked for her neverending supply of Easter egg colored pantsuits and her cyclone-proof helmet hair. Some here might be too young to remember how Hillary caught hell for the "too girlish" hair and headbands she used to rock all the time when Bill Clinton was running for president the first time around. VP candidate Sarah Palin's perpetual "corn fed" updo was ridiculed, along with her "Kmart" wardrobe until she went with high-end designer labels, then that caused a big ruckus because many thought it was waste of Republican party funds. It goes on and on. Unfortunately, it's part of being a female in or around high-stakes politics. Meanwhile, the males receive very little –if any– scrutiny when it comes to their looks/style. Only mention of their hair is usually attached to counting all the gray strands that sprout once they're in office.
I don't see why Mrs. O can't wear her hair any way she wants with out the media making a big deal out of it. I know she is the First Lady and all, but really, she is a woman like the rest of us. Sometimes we just want a change or new look… SO WHAT!! Get over it! If someone else doesn't like it, they just shouldn't look at it!
I agree with MissCurly.
So..Is Lady Obama natural or no?? I have always wondered.
Please take a moment to check out my documentary film BLACK HAIR
It is free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.
It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..
The current situation makes it hard to believe that Madame C.J. Walker once ran the whole thing.
I am not a hater, I am a motivator.
Plus I am a White guy who stumbled upon this, and felt it was so wrong I had to make a film about it.
self-funded film, made from the heart.
Can it be taken back?
Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE
I agree with Kay C. I feel they are placing way scruntiny on the Obamas and every facet of their being, all the way down to t-shirts with a peace sign, or the fact that Michelle doesn't always wear panty hose, or even chose to wear shorts in the hot Arizona heat. They pick this whole family apart. Why does it matter about whether it chemically straightened or done so in some other form.
Did they ever bother to ask if Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, or any other first lady had altered hair through haircuts, or chemically treated it through highlites,hair dye because we all know they have all purchased a Nice N Easy kit once or twice in their day… No, they didn't research all that. It's just an issue when Michelle comes onto the scene.
Michelle is strong, smart, graceful,beautiful, and refined. She represents all women well and the media cann't handle that this package comes in the form of a beautiful black woman. Celebrate her as she is, not who she should be in anyone else's eyes.
Touché Quiet Storm! I agree with your first statement. To add to your list, she's also a mother, a wife, a lawyer, a public servant. . .To me, Lady Obama is an amazing woman who has accomplished so much in life and her work has just begun. The last thing I want to discuss about her is her hair.
I totally agree with Kay C, she should be able to wear her hair and clothes however she feels suited for the event, and not have the media make snobbish comments about. I'd say, Michele Obama, the first black lady is in the house NOW! so deal with it, you mean media people.
That is the problem in our society; people will not just get over it. I agree that the White House is not ready for an afro, natural, etc. For example, many Black people still can not accept natural hair (especially kinky hair). At this point, I am just happy to see Michelle representing herself and Black women in a positive light. I could only imagine the type of negative reaction she would get, if she was to wear braids w/ extensions (for an example)
Michelle Obama is a classy, beautiful woman. This is a free country, yes? I'm sure how ever she chooses to style her hair it will look wonderful. With all the problems in this world today, why is there so much focus on hair?? Life is precious and short. God bless you Michelle and Mr. President. Thank you and have a nice day!
I am tired of hair being the controversial topic. Does it really matter how Lady Obama wears her hair? She is smart, educated, statuesque and beautiful. Why can't we just be happy about that?
Your hair is like your clothes, it is YOUR choice. I for one revel in the fact that a beautiful woman of color is gracing the White House with style and sophistication. It makes me want to yell…"get over it already!"
I read this article yesterday too. I saw it on AOL. Honestly that comment about the White House isn't ready for wigs, afro, twists, or weaves I actually have to say I agree with. Its sad but true Americans would not accept the first lady sitting there with some fro. I can just imagine what type of nasty jokes and comments that the media would have if Michele changed her look. We all talk about wearing our natural hair to work or special events but this just shows that it's still not really accepted all across the board.