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I finally saw Chris Rock’s Good Hair documentary.
One of the movie previews was Precious based on Sapphire’s book Push. When I read that book in high school, my perception of life changed. That movie/book highlights serious issues we have in our community such as child abuse, and self-hatred. I hated reading the book because it was so painful. By the end, I did believe there is hope. I am definitely going to support this movie by going to see it!
When I first tried to purchase my ticket online last Thursday the theater was sold out. I went back on Friday, and I was able to buy tickets. Conspiracy? We arrived at the theater about 15 minutes early expecting to see long lines and crowds. None of that. We walked in the theater to see plenty of open seats. Looking for a seat, I was greeted by event organizer Ansylla of myhairitage.com and natural hair writing queen Laquita. Without ever meeting face to face Ansylla and Laquita seemed like old friends. I glanced the audience to see diversity, but only saw us throughout the room.
For the most part I enjoyed the movie. I have to admit, at times I was very sad. Our business was put out there. The movie really put weave-wearers, and relaxed heads on blasts. The movie explained it is normal for Black woman to pay $1,000 for a weave, even if there is no food in the fridge, or her rent is not paid. It is normal for a Black woman to get chemical scars throughout her scalp to straighten her kinky hair. Parts of the documentary highlighting our unhealthy obsession was just plain embarrassing. While this is normal for us, what would other ethnic groups think of our self-hatred?
Of course I would have liked to see GOOD HAIR talk about the Black Natural Hair community, but I think that’s a separate documentary in itself. 
The movie had Tracie Thoms speak for naturals, and yes homegirl was wearing extensions. While I wish it was her hair, it was great to see kinky textured hair. She did a great job representing. I loved when she said:
Yes girl I wanted to shout, THAT IS SOME SERIOUS BULLSHIT! Natural hair should be considered normal instead of burning your damn head with a toxic chemical! I would have liked to see more representatives, someone like T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh . She has written a book on hair, has a product line, and been in the limelight for some time.
I wonder, after doing this documentary, how Chris Rock will limit what his daughters do with their hair. I also wondered about his wife, Malaak Compton. She has long straight hair, does she have a $1,000+ weave? How did her perception change after watching the documentary?
All the women who permed their daughter’s hair at the age of three made me cringe. This is really child abuse! I thought I had it bad because I had my first perm at 7. My mom always said she regretted it. My hair was much nicer before she did it. Then at 7 I had to deal with stinky burning touch ups. It took years of being natural to get my soft kinky texture back. As a little girl into adolescence, I wanted the perm, I wanted to be beautiful with long flowing hair.
I laughed our loud when an actress spoke about tumbleweeds in the desert. She then said, any black neighborhood Harlem or Crenshaw Blvd, you will see tumbleweeds of the hood, weaves blowing on the sidewalk. I laughed so hard, because it is soo true.
Sheila Bridges had an amazing story—she was so beautiful with her bald head. It was breathtaking.
I put a lot of time into Kinnks.com and I think, is this really doing anything? Natural hair is more prevalent than ever, you have 100s of natural hair blogs—is there really still a need for mine? Yes Yes and Yes! The movie really shed light on how serious and prevalent our self-esteem issue is. We would rather put our child through chemical burns instead of learning how to manage kinky hair. We still have a lot of work to do!!
I read on a few blogs/forums that people are boycotting the documentary. I complain that I do not see ME on the big-screen. This is a great opportunity for us as a community to see US on the big-screen, not representations of us directed by someone else. If you are interested in Black hair, this is a must see documentary. Just remember it is a comedy.
I learned about Black Owned Beauty Supply Manufacturers Association. The list of Black-owned, Black Beauty supply companies is slim, a minority. There are maybe 6 companies total. Do you think someone that owns a company, but doesn’t use the products would be concerned about whats ingredients they use?Sounds like their only concern would be profit margins.
I am not really a big fan of Rev Sharpton but I enjoyed some of his stories. I loved hearing how he got a relaxer to look like James Brown in the process of getting Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a Federal Holiday. Rev Al Sharpton spoke about Economic Retardation. It is retardation that we allow Asians to monopolize the Black hair industry. We spend and spend on our hair, even though we can not afford it. We suffer from foreclosures and other economic hardships, and put on our economic retardation everyday.
Asians, mostly Koreans own the majority of Black beauty supply stores, distributing channels, etc. We are the only ones that use Black Hair Care, yet they have the industry locked down. I know one lady at my job that has a few Beauty Supply stores her son runs. She has a son that is half Black. The Beauty Supply store I use to go to in Philly, they had Black children too. Do you think they have Black kids to help their business? Just an observation I’ve noticed over the years. We are 12% of the American population, yet we spend 50% of the 9 billion hair care industry. WEAVES make up 60% of the industry! Why do we allow other to monopolize our money?
Bronner Brothers show was impressive and amazing! It made me proud of the Black owned production. Ansylla made a great point, constantly using straight hair lacks in there diversity of look. If they threw in a number of different hair textures the show would have been even better.
Sodium Hydroxide the main ingredient of a relaxer was put on a raw chicken and melted through the chicken’s flesh within minutes. The chemist showed how sodium hydroxide started to deteriorate a soda can in just one hour. Chris Rock explained to the White chemist how Black women put the chemical on their hair to straighten it. The chemist was shocked. He explained how the chemical breaks the protein in the hair to kill it at the root. Also the fumes alone, can cause lung damage. One part of the movie a lady was perming a three year old’s head without gloves! After seeing this I knew there was no way in hell I would ever perm my hair again, or let my children do it until they were out of my house.
Intimacy and Hair Black men want White women for the simple fact that they can run their fingers through their hair. Black women do not allow their partners to touch their hair. I have to admit; even though I am natural I still don’t like my hair getting messed up. But there are so many styles that I wear that touching my hair isn’t an issue. It is sad that Black women don’t allow intimacy with their mate because of hair. Hair slaves can’t swim, take a steamy shower, walk in the rain, etc.
Indian Hair is Good Hair- I couldn’t get over how they described hair-burglars that steal hair at the movies or while women sleep. The Indian hair entrepreneur explained that it is a small crime! I was disturbed to see business men exploiting their own people. In a Tonsure ceremony, women give their hair to GOD as a sacrifice or rite of passage. Business owners’ then take this hair and sell it in the good ‘ol USA. These women have no clue the value of their hair, and receive no compensation in a nation that is over populated and struggling with poverty. The guy concluded the conversation to say hair is move valuable than gold.
I was first exposed to hearing about Indian hair by UK Pop star Jamila. She swore never to wear extensions after seeing this process in India. Laquita’s site All Naptural also let me know that European Nations are also being raped of their hair without proper compensation. I was thinking about giving my hair a rest and getting a nice curly weave—but there is no way in hell I will do it now. I don’t think it is good karma knowing that hair is taken inappropriately without just compensation. It is like supporting products made with Child labor. It was also disgusting knowing that a lot of the hair has lice!! Bringing it back to Rev Al Sharpton, it is economic retardation to spend your money on a Black Hair product when no Black people are benefiting from its sale.
After the movie we went to Jasper’s. We spoke more about our hair experiences than the movie. One thing that we could not agree on, is the serious questions “Does natural hair effect your job performance?” I do not think so, but some people at the table thought differently. To get a job she explained, I will definitely wear a wig to the interview. I guess that’s a post for another day :o)
See more pictures on our facebook page
So…What did YOU think of the movie?
**Addition**
Check out these links…
Clutch Magazine: What Naturals Are Saying About Chris Rock’s “Good Hair”
A’Lelia Bundles Review (Madam Walker’s great-great-granddaughter and biographer)
Laquita’s Review
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Great post, Lady Kinnks! Thank you so much for joining us! When I think about women spending $1000 on ONE hair weave that has to be redone within weeks, I can’t help but wonder what could be accomplished for that person’s family. Healthier food choices? Saving for the future? Saving for education? Here’s a thought: How about investing $1000 in caring for your own hair and your overall well-being?
Lady Kinnks I love this post! I enjoyed the movie a lot. Although the topic of “good” hair can be very sensitive, I was glad to hear us laughing at some of the “bizarre” happenings in our own community. The movie and your blog lent to discussion beyond the movie theater, posts and blogs. As we discuss these topics more with our families, friends and associates, I hope that we are able to tear down the negative thoughts that many of us harbor about our beautiful heritage. Thanks Lady!
Lady Kinks..I too appreciated your article. My hubby and I went to see Good Hair. It was funny but it was such a narrow depiction of the natural styles of black women. I would have definitely appreciated seeing more natural styles than relaxed straight styles but I understood his intent, however narrow. I currently wear nubian extension twists and have worn skin fades, low top, high top, weaves, braid extensions; sew-in weaves; glue-in weaves in the past. You name it. I have worn it…I felt the film was too narrow and just gave a bird’s eye view of chemical crack….My neice’s mother began relaxing her hair before she turned six years old..Today she is 20 years old and her hair is till damaged. I am looking forward to seeing a film on natural black hair…natural from root to the end…no extensions…Bald is beautiful too. I like sporting my beautiful nappy hair and my nappy nubian twists extensions!!!I try so hard to avoid the Asian beauty stores but the black owned beauty supply store products are so overpriced they make it unaffordable;;;Sally’s Beauty Supply is limited, and there are just not too many options in Kansas City. If I can find it at Walmart or Walgreen’s that’s where i make my purchase in the meantime, or purchase online from a black owned on line beauty supply store…
Hey,
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but plan to. I am an author doing research for an upcoming book on natural hair and how it is viewed by others and how it affects the person with the hairstyle. I believe it will add to the dialogue that is now occuring in the African American community. I am hoping people like yourself and your readers will help me in my endeavor and to to get the word out about my participation need.
Questions I need answered:
When did you decide to go natural and why?
What was the intial reaction/responses of family, friens, co-workers?
Did you notice a confidence boost or other personality changes?
What do you like or dislike about you hair?
What is the response to your hair style now?
Please send responses to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Subject: (Hair)
I willnotify all participants of the book’s release date so you can read your story in print.
Thank you for your help. Keep up the good work.
I just read Push, beautiful book. Nice site, just found it!
Great post :o) - I agree that the movie was funny and even sad at times. I also agree that I would have like to have seen more ‘naturals’ represented in the movie. It makes me even more curious to see Regina Kimbell’s documentary My Nappy ROOTS.