Can White Women Be A Part of the Natural Hair Space?

By Aph Ko on July 3, 2014

Sarah Who Was Featured on Curly Nikki

There’s been a storm brewing over at Curly Nikki, a site dedicated to showcasing black women with their natural hair. Under the “about me” section, the site states:

“CurlyNikki.com was created to serve as an online “hair therapy session” for those struggling to embrace their naturally curly hair. It not only serves as an educational tool, but as a platform for each of you to share your experiences, frustrations, and triumphs of being Naturally Glamorous.”

Many black women have flocked to the site to read narratives from other natural-haired black women about their hair journey. The site spotlights different women all the time; however, on June 26, 2014 they featured a white woman with curly hair. The white woman’s name was Sarah and she talked about her own journey of learning to embrace her hair. She labels herself “natural.” She states:

“There’s something very freeing about accepting your natural hair. I feel like I have a lot of inner confidence, regardless of whether my curls are looking amazing or not so great that day, because I love my natural hair either way. I love the unpredictability of my hair and how unique it makes me feel.”

Many of the readers who commented were irate at the fact that a site that regularly caters to black women featured a white woman who appropriated the language of the natural hair movement to describe her own journey.

I also find Sarah’s feature to be quite problematic.

Natural hair was never meant to only focus on texture. It’s a political movement that’s framed around a particular type of identity resisting white supremacy. To have white women join the movement is counter-productive because they still benefit from white supremacy, regardless of their hair texture.

Images of natural-haired beautiful black women rarely get spotlighted on television, which is why so many black women flock to the internet to see themselves represented. It’s OUR space. To have white women populate this space of resistance is pure co-optation. They are already represented in mainstream media…we are not. I purposefully go to natural hair spaces to see BLACK women. If I wanted to see white women’s hair, I would just turn my television on.

Additionally, I hate that white women are attempting to relate to black women by framing this hair issue as though we all have the SAME struggle. I can’t tell you the amount of times white girls with curly hair told me they could “relate” to my struggle. While they were attempting to build solidarity with me, their loud admission of understanding my hair drowned out my experiences with systemic racism. In my head I would think there is no way you could relate to my experiences as a black woman, regardless of your hair texture.

Black bodies and white bodies possess differing amounts of social capital. So, a white woman with a “natural” hair texture will never be interpreted in the same way as a black woman with natural hair. While white women too possess curly textures, they in no way can possibly understand the struggle of being a black woman in a white supremacy.

Featuring white women means the natural hair movement is solely about hair texture, which it isn’t. It’s rooted in a political struggle of agency and identity. The mainstream capitalist marketplace would love to turn the movement into just a space to sell hair products because then the mainstream will profit.

While I’m certain the Curly Nikki site had great intentions featuring Sarah, and while I’m sure Sarah really has learned to embrace her hair texture, I don’t know too many black women [myself included] who want to read about a white woman’s struggle with her hair in a white supremacy…the same white supremacy that has made black women feel so ugly with their natural hair to the point that they would rather cover it up with wigs and weaves that are straight. We purposefully made the natural hair movement for this reason…

Privileged folk always want to act as though black people carving out their own spaces of empowerment means that we are being segregationists. Privileged people are normally granted entrance into every space, so they become enraged when they’re not granted access into ours. They feel entitled to join without even really understanding what the space represents.

Suddenly inclusivity becomes a project for minoritized people where we have to accommodate others while they don’t accommodate us. Because white supremacy alienates us, and excludes us, we are forced to start our own spaces for empowerment purposes. This is a symptom of being excluded from the mainstream, not a project of segregation.

Again, the natural hair movement was never just about hair. It’s about being black and feeling comfortable and beautiful, considering the mainstream only privileges white skin and straight hair. The movement is rooted in consciousness raising. While everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin, including white women, that doesn’t mean our natural hair space is open to them.

I don’t want the movement populated with white women like Sarah who think that natural hair is simply just about having a curly hair texture because it strips away the political core of the movement. Feeling comfortable with your hair as a white woman shouldn’t have to transform into colonizing a movement. When it does, you need to check yourself.

Having white women in the movement transforms the natural hair space from one that was about consicsourness raising for black people, to a post-racial de-politicized movement about hair only. Natural hair is uncomfortable for the mainstream because it resists it…so…if white women feel compelled to be a part of it…there’s a deeper agenda involved. The easiest way to destroy a political movement is to have the mainstream appropriate it and turn it into a de-politicized nothingness that can be commodified.

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Kamala Oruamabo

I understand stand every race has issues with hair. I just think that the natural hair movement for African American women gives us an edge that we’ve struggle with for so long; self-acceptance. It’s really a beautiful thing to see all of these different hair expressions and the confidence that radiates from us; African American women.
Marie

I see your point and where your focus goes beyond hair concerning the natural hair movement. Yet as a white women with a Haitian husband and mixed children, I include myself in the movement not by my own hair personally but my love for hair. I grew up around African Americans, I started braiding in 6th grade and to this day, I get compliments for being a white girl who can braid. I wonder to myself, as if my skin color would make my hands defective. In your defense of white women never understanding your struggle, I wasn’t given a great childhood to say the least and yet I seen ethnic friends of mine have a much better life given to them at home. In certain instances that I will not go into detail with concerning government help and judgement, I was discriminated against as a white person by African American women whose hands I was put in during those instances. For you to make such claims its an insult to some.Therefore I’m confused about this white supremacy that I didn’t seem to reap benefits from. If its about hair then hair but you don’t know every individuals struggle in life to make such calls. I will be involved in the natural hair movement as a white women, proudly, for my loved ones. As well as someone who understands current struggles, along with people of any color and I will do my best to understand the struggle that has gone on in the past in which was overcome by admirable individuals so that if I may be of any encouragement to someone whose been taught they aren’t pretty, I will. My color of skin will not hinder my love and encouragement for any young women struggling. I understand you don’t welcome me but that’s okay with me.
- Kei
  
  Because you see white supremacy as material “privilege” shows you do not get what the article says. White privilege goes beyond economical status, although that plays a major role, it spans many other factors/spaces. Name the last time you have been followed or pulled over for being white. Or being told you “fit the description” and harassed bc of your color. How about being told you are trying to be “white” bc you speak proper English. Or being the only black in an AP class and constantly being accused of cheating bc “blacks are not that smart and can’t be smarter than whites”. Discriminated against for housing or a job simply bc of your name/race and the list goes on. There is something significantly different about being economically discriminated against and racially discriminated against. What I find more troubling is that you “identify” with the movement bc you can braid and have bi-racial children but can you relate when your child asks why there are no Barbies/action figures that look like them, how it feels to be called a Nigger for the first time, why when hanging with a group of black friends they were harassed, why people always want to touch their hair and asks how they manage it, why there are little to no blacks on TV unless they are bad people etc…. You, bc you have white privilege whether you know it or not, cannot understand this writing and the struggles of blacks and your own children so you take offense bc you are not “welcomed” or “included” as the article states. Once you realize, if you realize, what was expressed in the article hopefully you will understand the unique position black women are in, why this movement is so important, and come to terms with your own white privilege. I would suggest reading Tim Wise and listen to him to begin on your journey to understanding white privilege. Good luck
  - Jim
    
    Kei,
    
    Although your response was not directed to me, I would like to take a moment to fill you in on a few of my experiences.
    
    Having grown up in a neighborhood that was predominantly black/Hispanic, I experienced racism on an almost daily basis. I have been explicitly told I’m not welcome in the neighborhood, I’ve been called a honky and cracker by neighborhood kids and adults alike, I have been beat so bad by local gang members who explicitly told me it was because I was white that I was hospitalized for 3 days due to a broken jaw, nose, and severe concussion… When I got my first job in high school as a cashier at a local convenience store, I was the only one who cleaned the bathrooms… My boss told me he always keeps one white boy on his payroll to clean bathrooms and mop shit. Additionally, I have been pulled over several times by black cops who told me that the only white people who roll through their neighborhood are looking for drugs.
    
    All of these stories occurred before of was even 18! I’m much older now and moved very far away from that neighborhood as soon as I could.
    
    I have no doubt in my mind that black/Hispanic folks exhibit just as much racism towards whites as whites exhibit towards minorities. Until experiences like mine are brought to the table and discussed, there will always be tension and the problem will never go away.
    
    And whether any of you like it or not, you can hide behind “white racism” to justify your exclusion of white folks all you want, but in the end, it only causes more anger, misunderstandings, and racism in this world.
    
    I’m just thankful no one takes websites like this seriously and that this blogger will never have a mainstream voice and will never have any real impacts on the world.
    - Aph Ko
      
      There’s a difference between being systematically hated because people think you’re inferior[as people of color experience it], and then being white and treated with hostility as a *reaction* to your privileges. Again, black people cannot be systemically racist towards white people. While people of color can be prejudiced for whatever reason, they cannot be racist. Again, a black person who is hated by society because people think they’re naturally inferior is COMPLETELY different from being treated poorly by minorities because you receive so many privileges. That doesn’t excuse mean behavior, but there is a MUCH different intention behind it. You’re NOT the victim because brown people dislike the privileges you receive. It’s funny how you can spend time discussing the ways that you’ve been victimized, but you don’t have the patience to listen to people of color share their collective experiences of being screwed over in a white supremacy. “white racism”= racism. Minoritized people talking about systemic exclusion IS mainstream and will continue to be. sorry. If you don’t agree, then you can go to some other racist part of the internet-sphere to discuss the ways that the “blacks” are taking over…i’m sure there are tons of spaces like that. We don’t coddle privilege here. Sorry.
      - Jim
        
        If I don’t agree with you, then I can go to a racist part of the internet?
        
        Please correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you are saying that if I don’t agree with you, then I am racist…
        
        Also, to clarify, I was only responding to Kei’s response to someone else’s comment, not anything specific to the article. Specifically, Kei asked “Name the last time you have been followed or pulled over for being white. Or being told you “fit the description” and harassed bc of your color.”
        
        Kei seemed to be implying that these things absolutely never happen to white people, therefore I felt it was appropriate to share my experiences as someone who has experienced every example that was given.
        
        … And I would appreciate it if you would replace “white” with “Western-European American” when referring to me.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Thanks for commenting Marie. The goal of being an ally is not to BECOME the minoritized person in question…it’s to support us and learn how your privileges directly connect to our oppression. Though you were raised about African americans…and though you have a haitian husband…you are still white. While you can support your sisters, I don’t think it’s your place as a white woman to act as though you can understand what it experientially means to be black. You are not black. There are many white women who support black women who go natural…who subscribe to our page because they want to support the movement, but that doesn’t mean the movement is for you. Similarly, men who want to help out feminists need to know their place in teh movement because it first and foremost privileges women…
Syreeta

This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post.
Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Thanks Syreeta! I appreciate the compliment! We try our best to produce critical material for our readers 🙂
neenee robinson

Thank you, well stated. I don’t understand why(some)African Americans believe creating our own collective is racist. Many races and create their own spaces for economic or culture purposes.I love to see black women who started business from the natural hair movement. We can have our own collective without being racist. My white coworkers asked “Why are white people included in BET awards?” They saw nothing wrong with BET Awards being exclusively African American. Why? Because they belong to exclusively white groups/clubs.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Exactly. If black and white people were socially, economically, and politically equal, THEN we can say that certain groups are being racist if they purposefully exclude others. However, when black people are not socially equal, and when we are strategically excluded from dominant culture, carving out our own spaces is a tactic of survival, not a project of segregation.
  
  Also, black people *cannot* systemically be racist towards white people considering we live in a white supremacy. We can hold prejudices, but we can’t systemically be racist.
  - Jim
    
    Actually, blacks can be systematically racist. Eric Holder does it on a weekly basis. As AG of the United States, he routinely oversteps his bounds in regards to social issues (white on black racism), then takes a step back and does not do his job when important criminal issues surface that require DOJ assistance (New Black panther voter intimidation).
    - Aph Ko
      
      No, black people can’t be systemically racist. Please read literature about systemic racism before you comment on it.
Darice

I COMPLETELY agree with Aphrodite! Very well stated!
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Thank you so much Darice! I appreciate you reading the piece!
Atiya

I wholeheartedly agree with this article! Not to take anything away from the journey of hair acceptance for white women but it isn’t just about hair! I am so surprised many black women don’t get it!
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Thanks Atiya! I agree with you. People are acting as if black people carving out their own spaces of empowerment is directly discriminating against white women who are represented in mainstream media. Makes no sense! lol.
lynn

i lovvvvvvve this site because when i look at it i see ME in EVERY pic…it would be verrrry disappointing if that were no longer the case…white america has everything they need…they dont need this
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Thanks for reading Lynn. I agree. We need our own spaces of empowerment considering mainstream culture either excludes us, or tells us that we’re ugly! I would be suspicious of any member of a dominant group who wanted visibility in a movement for minorities!
NaturallyMia

I get that white women have different types of hair…but I truly believe ours is a much deeper struggle….for more than texture reasons. I have zero problem with them coming up with a “white women natural hair” page or whatever…but for once in life can white ppl just leave us let us be?!?…they always want to have a hand in everything we do. Always want to take it and make it their own. We’re trying to overcome the mental conditioning and they’re trying to get their hands in that too. It’s enough. I’m sick of the white entitlement mentality, and the fact that they refuse to believe or see that curly, fuzzy, or whatever, they still will allllways have that white privilege. I don’t pity with any of them. Sorry. And I’m a little saddened that as usual, with open arms, a lot of the black community is welcoming this. Sure…we get what the term natural means but it’s sooooo much deeper than not putting chemicals in your hair for us.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Exactly Naturally Mia! Black women struggle with their hair, not because our texture is complex, but because we live in a white supremacy where our texture is either invisible, or marked as undesirable! White women should support our movement, but not try to seek visibility in it. That makes no sense! I am super suspicious of any person from a dominant group wanting visibility in movement for minorities! That makes no sense.
Brookley

I get that you all want a website just for black women. I am half white and half hispanic and I use to not like my hair but now I don’t care what people say. I can’t say that I understand what you go through with your hair because I’ve never experienced it but the way you
talk makes you sound like you are discriminating against whites. You all need to realize (blacks and whites) that your color is just skin deep that it doesn’t say who you are. Everyone is beautiful in there own way and when I say everyone I mean all races. I don’t understand why blacks and whites feel like they have to discriminate against each other because I was brought up to believe that the color of your skin is just that and nothing more. It doesn’t say who you are.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Brookely–if we lived in a culture where black and white people were socially, politically and economically equal…then yes, you can say we’re discriminating. But, we live in a culture where we are excluded, where we’re not equal. That is not because of our own doing…that’s because of white supremacy. So, as a tactic of survival, we must carve out our own spaces of empowerment. If that seems discriminatory, then that merely indicates you don’t understand (or experience) the degradation and systemic exclusion that black people experience. We would rather focus on a group of minorities coming together, rather than turning our eyes to a white system that casts us aside…we are not being discriminatory…the system we live in IS.
jackie

I am mixed, I have light skin and naturally curly 3C hair. Being both black and white I understand both sides of this argument. Yes, the natural hair movement was originally about black women embracing their natural beauty and standing up to white institutionalism, but the movement has evolved. Many of my white friends have curly and kinky hair and have found that products made for black women work best for them, should they not be allowed to use these products. Or myself and other mixed women who use natural hair products,are we overstepping our boundries? The natural hair movement has become so popular amung different types of women with different types of curls that new products are comming out aimed for a much wider range of curl types. Nearly all the curly girls I know were bullied and mocked during their childhood because of their hair, no matter what their race was. Even now as adults we are faced with discrimination because our hair isn’t socially acceptable. The naturally curly movement shouldn’t should be exclusive to black women, why would you want to leave other women with similar hair struggles out in the cold.being prejudicial towards white women and other non-black women wont do anything to help the movement grow. Instead of fighting white institutionalism the naturally curly movement needs to be open to all women and focus on fighting the notion that natural hair isn’t socially acceptable, and should be straightened. The natural hair movement has been amazing for me. Since I started wearing my hair natural I have never felt more beautiful, confident, and like myself. I think all women should be able to feel this way, no matter what race they may be.
- Sherquana Clement
  
  Whether you are mixed or not has nothing to do with the movement! I understand that you can see both points of view but the struggle that black women have is our struggle alone and I understand if you don’t agree but it is true. If you would like to see a site or a movement that envelopes all women with all different hair types, may I suggest you start your own movement!! I do not believe the movement is against bi-racial or mixed women of color but white women and others have no place in our struggle for this particular movements purposes!! I have nothing against white women or any other race or nationality of women, I love all Gods creation; John 13:34 tells us “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another……”! However some issues are privy to Black/African American women alone and should be kept that way!! I could give you some examples of “white” movements or groups that if any black person would try and join them, not only would it be ridiculous but that person would feel ridiculous just for trying to join it!! Not to mention our figures(for a lack of a better word), we are criticized for our big “butts”, which became socially acceptable when “white” women and other races started imitating us by getting plastic surgery to make themselves look like us, then there is our full lips, which again became mainstream when other races of women begin to imitate us by getting shots in their lips to get fuller lips, and I can go on and on with this but I hope by now you get the point!! This particular movement is our movement alone and in my opinion should not be open to non-African American women, its our struggles, our experiences, and our place to uplift, encourage, inspire, and motivate each other as African-American (Black) women!! One last note:there were white people involved in the Civil Rights movement and in helping to free slaves; but they knew it was not their struggle, they only wanted to help! I do not recall any of them claiming to be anything other than who they were, they seen and believed what was happening to us at that time was wrong and wanted to work with us to make a change; and not to try to identify with us because they knew that would be unrealistic!! History speaks for itself!! 🙂 I speak from a black christian woman’s point of view living in a place where natural hair is not accepted!! 🙂
- Hambone
  
  You keep referring to the products that work for everyone’s hair. That’s the problem. This movement isn’t about hair products but the major cosmetics companies want you to think it is, so they can sell to everyone and everyone can be a part of the “movement”. Black women lose their jobs over natural hair. Do white women face that same threat to their livelihood? I think not. They should create an “I love curly hair” movement. They can occupy that space.
  - Aphrodite Kocieda
    
    Exactly! White women should create a movement called, “i love curly hair.” As I see it, they don’t understand kinky hair because it’s associated with blackness. Natural hair is unpopular in a white supremacy because it stands for blackness….so the root of the issue is blackness and identity….hair merely becomes a symptom of the larger issue. That indicates that white women should not be in the movement becuase they are white…regardless of their hair texture.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Well then you’re taking a post-racial stance to the natural hair movement, meaning that you think it’s rooted in a hair texture alone. the problem is that kinky hair is primarily regarded as a signifer of blackness. Regardless of how curly a white woman’s hair is, she will never be regarded in the same way a black woman is…she will never really occupy the “kinky” hair texture….because “kinky” is grounded in blackness. When black women have “curly” hair, they’re treated better demonstrating that there is a difference between curly and kinky. The more we post-racialize the movement, the more it will lose it’s political power. The root of the movement is blackness…not hair.
Mikimii

I wish we all could just get along as women and share our experiences with each other BUT I have to agree with the feelings of the writer behind this. I know there’s white women out there with hair like mine and hair even thicker than mine but this movement isn’t just about hair. It’s about being of African descent and accepting and loving it. Loving our hair, our skin, ourselves, and getting back to nature. Foregoing what society finds acceptable and going by what WE find acceptable.
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Hey Mikimii,
  
  Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I totally agree. The natural hair movement is a space for black women to reclaim their agency and identity 🙂
Alex

I think that that if anyone wants to get mad at or place blame it should be at Curly Nikki, although I personally don’t see why someone would. It was merely a vehicle by which women (or men) can share their experiences with a particular hair type. It lives to make money and it will only survive if it reaches a large audience. I personally think no one is to blame. I didn’t read her feature because I didn’t think it pertained to me. Even if she was a black person with curly natural hair I wouldn’t have read it either. If the natural community would educate instead of blasting her maybe people would see it as a political movement instead of just a wild hair group. Maybe it could be Naturals and their Supporters much like the LGBT community does.

I am black my boyfriend is also black
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  You use words like “mad” and “blasting.” You’re reducing the issue here. I am not upset with Curly Nikki or Sarah. I’m just saying there’s a larger reason as to why some black women might be uncomfortable listening to the struggles of white woman with her hair in a white supremacy on a blog for natural hair. IF you don’t see a problem with it, then you have that right, but don’t silence the voices who are uncomfortable.
Mary.H

“Struggle”iis the only word I keep reading, but it seems as though the only thing you are “Struggling”to do is keep segregation alive and breathing. And your reply to everyone’s comment is “you don’t understand our struggle”. I am African American mixed (just like you) and I have lived in New York most of my life, and my husband is Caucasian with blue eyes and blonde hair and I have curly Kinky hair and dark brown eyes. My husband washes my hair (not me, him) and every two weeks I cut his hair (not him, me) we probably know each others hair better than our own. As a “Black women” I’ve been naturalfor about 15 years and that was my choice. Today all women and men (all races) have choices to look how,and be who they want to be. There are many African Americans who keep the “Crow” & “Lynch” laws alive and tag our own people with it by making us victims; “What goes out your mouth proves to be”. Why not speak the positive? yes,many people of many races suffered horrible things,but when is it time to let it go? Everyone knows that until the burden is lifted,only then can one truly be free; free to live, free to love, and free to move on. Ms.Kocieda, your stage seems broad and your voice strong, so why don’t you use it for the “Greater Good” instead of teaching all ears who hear to be stagnant,unchanging, and feeling as though we are victims. Yes, undeniable the past is the past, but if we are looking so far behind, how can we truly look ahead? You would never tell a small child to walk straight,but keep a watch behind because he/she could fall and hurt themselves. So we too should always look straight and focus on the positive. This is not about hair, skin color or a struggle, this is about reality. You change the things that can be changed, you let the things that can’t be changed change themselves, and you work on yourself.
Ms.Kocieda, in closing: you say you have a B.A. and a M.A. which are great accomplishments to be proud of, but one you failed to mention is a K.G.L (knowledge of God’s laws) only then will you truly be educated.
Agape, Sis.♡
- Aphrodite Kocieda
  
  Mary–we disagree. Black people don’t keep racism alive….white supremacy does. “This is not about hair, skin color or a struggle, this is about reality.” Right….
Rachy

I loved this post. It was similar to a video I just did about this, and I received similar comments to this about..why is it racial, can’t we get along..blah blah.

The black community has a lot of work to do before we open the forum to others..once those are dealt with then we can include others. When we are classed as equal and not other then we can include others..but like you said this isn’t just about hair. It is much more.
Nicole

The only thing I love more than being black on both sides is having a space to express that appreciation and have support from others like me who can relate to common issues. I think it’s so on point to call out the pernicious infiltration of colonialist attitudes that, if allowed to take root, will water down and weaken the movement. I’m proud of my sisters who recognize this and who take action to SHUT THEM DOWN! No more curly nikki! (Or Carol’s daughter for that matter.)
blackgoddess0

What this is about is the global system of racism white supremacy! Black women if you don’t know what it is and how it works…everything else will only confuse you. Read the book by Neely Fuller which explains it. People who classify themselves as white, European etc are all suspect racist. When white women “suspect racist” want to join a black movement of resistance, it’s only to destroys it! They want to maintain, support and refine racism white supremacy, so they can keep global white domination alive and kicking. If they really want to help and support non-white (black) women, then go to their racist, white supremacy kin and tell them to shut it down…replace RWS with justice. Don’t come to us talking all this trash about let’s be one, color doesn’t matter etc. or I’m married to a black person crap. The whites who marry blacks are the worst racist. Stop dating, having sex and marrying whites. When the global system of racism white supremacy is dead…then you can join, but until then white women tell you fathers, brothers, mothers, families and your children to stop mistreating, exploiting and murdering non-white people world wide. Black folks wake-up and studied white domination and stop trying to get along with everybody. Love self and kind…not the enemy (whites). I realize most black people are cowards and want to beg, plead, march, sing and pray that white folks will stop practicing racism white supremacy, but guess what? Racism white supremacy is their religion and they must practice it or they shall parish. Curly Nikki and Carol’s daughter have sold you out for a pound of flesh! Stop buying their products! This is about your freedom from white racist, capitalist, patriarchy domination. Don’t let them in, for that will be the end!
- Aph Ko
  
  Hey blacgoddess0, thank you for commenting on the article. I do agree that we live in a white supremacist patriarchy and a lot of these issues are messy; however, I don’t necessarily agree that whites shouldn’t marry or be with people of color. I have this contention because I am biracial myself [I am with a white man as well], and I don’t necessarily think I’m the spawn of evil, lol. I think there is a constructive way to talk about the different ways privileged white people can check themselves. In fact, there is a very necessary way white people can participate—through learning, and de-colonizing themselves. While it will be difficult to accomplish this, I think it gives critical white people something “to do” because they shouldn’t just be lounging around enjoying the benefits of white supremacy. They should be doing work. To essentially say that white people have no part in anti-racist work doesn’t make much sense to me. [That’s like saying men can’t help with anti-sexist work….if fact, they SHOULD].
  
  While we black people should be able to have our own spaces of liberation and empowerment [as i wrote about in the article], I think white people have a role to respect these spaces and to educate themselves ABOUT these spaces to understand how white supremacy itself already excludes people of color. Their voices shouldn’t trump our own. I don’t think white people should tamper with black liberatory spaces at all; however, having said that, I think it’s very important for white people to educate themselves [especially by reading literature from people of color, and by LISTENING to us] and to engage in other de-colonizing practices. If we want to dismantle white supremacy, we all have a role. If we want to dismantle patriarchy, we all have a role.
blackgoddess0

How are you going to talk liberation, when you sleeping with the enemy? That doesn’t make sense to me? But I understand cause you have a white parent, you’re the product of a tragic arrangement. You identify with them, but you’re still non-white. Do white people classify you as white? It’s not your fault you had a confused black parent. I understand I’m not downing you or your black parent, but hanging out, socializing with whites under this system is NOT a wise choice. When there is such a power imbalance…it like sleeping with a rapist or marrying, sexing your slave master. Now I could be wrong, but that’s my take on it. This opinion is coming from a dark skinned, highly textured hair and the most mistreated woman on the planet. I’m still confused, but not as much as most non-white (blk) people. I feel white people are the problem of the planet. They own and control everything even the way you think right now. This is NOT about privilege, it about WAR! The racist white supremacist have declared war on us for over 2,000 years and are working 24/7 to exterminate us non-white (BLK) people on all fronts, so you keep on hanging out with them. You’re not going to change them! Whites men/women have always had sex with black women, even on the slave plantations, but that didn’t end slavery. The same applies for today and NOTHING has changed. Right now we’re in the refinement phase of the global system of racism white supremacy. Thank you and keep fighting back and free your mind sista grl. Keep on writing!
- Aph Ko
  
  I don’t necessarily think white people are the “enemy.” White supremacy is an oppressive system. I don’t think i’m the product of a “tragic arrangement.” lol. I identify as both black and bi-racial. I also don’t think i had a “confused” black parent. Not everything is as black and white as you think. You can’t weed out white supremacy by weeding out white people from society. In fact, even in black spaces, you will see white supremacy replicated. It’s more complex than that.
  
  You’re conflating black people starting their own spaces of empowerment, with eliminating white people from the planet. Those are two very different projects.I don’t think white people are evil, nor do I think they are ruining the planet. I think the system of white supremacy is harmful…i think capitalism is harmful. If you can’t solve your problems without “eliminating” people from the planet, then I don’t think you actually understand what the real problem is.
pammy

One of the best write ups on the natural hair movement being exclusive out of necessity and not privilege.
Albany Dale

White privilege? I smell black privilege as well. I dare a white person to publish a “accept your flat hair” movement and exclude any race from it. Suddenly, they will become racist. Blacks are the only group of people I have ever known to segregate and exclude other races and feel that it is their right to do so. How is that any different from white privilege? Straight hair is not a standard. Pale skin is not a standard. Blonde hair is not a standard. Why? Because there are tanning beds, curly perms, red, black and blue hair dyes. Some fashion industries even photo shop their models to be darker. Natural hair is NOT political. It is about finding what you want to do. Black people wearing afros won’t put a dent in anything because no one really cares. Remember the 70’s? When EVERYONE wore afros? yet here we are 40 years later saying it is a political movement. The natural hair movement now is about accepting who you are and finding what you want to do. Why not let a white woman in? She should be able to accept who she is too. And the advertising? Please. There is even a “natural” relaxer. Natural hair products everywhere. All over those natural hair sites and all on curlynikki. Walmart is flooded with natural hair products. As far as raising awareness for black people? EVERYONE KNOWS WE ARE HERE! I am half native American. Did you know that multiple people have told me that they thought naïve Americans were extinct? If we as nlack people want to make a difference in “white supremacy,” lets start by having our young men and women get an education and be something. That will change things politically. Not a hair trend that has already been done.
- Jo Jo
  
  I am also half Cherokee and Irish. My hair is an insane mess of curls most days and going “natural” is a lot healthier than straightening it until it falls out. My sisters are half Cherokee and black. Since white girls shouldn’t be allowed in these chat rooms maybe it’s not even politically correct for me to speak to my own family about hair issues. This is a women issue not a racial one and we should all be able to act like adults and respect each other as the beautiful women we all are. Thanks for posting your comment Albany, it was exactly what I wanted to say as well.
- lola
  
  Among the many racist and misguided comments you made, the
  fact that you even mentioned how you carry yourself in a respectful way (noting
  your use of this word respectful) only underscores your racism against Black
  women. And if you are as educated and learned as you claim, you know exactly
  the implications of your statement. According to your anecdotal accounts (and
  we all know how reliable and credible those are), you’ve had more negative experiences with black people than other groups; I can tell you if the racist hostility
  that emanates from the words you speak resembles in any way how you “carry
  yourself” -it’s easy to see why black people might not embrace with you open
  arms as you say.
  
  “ I don’t need a history lesson.” So you would know that whatever your experiences, Black people didn’t deem Indians subhuman heathens akin to dogs, they didn’t commit genocide of the Indian people nor are they responsible for Wounded Knee, drive the Indian peoples to complete extinction, or round the few descendants left into reservations where rape, drug abuse, and extreme poverty is rampant.
  
  No history lesson? 3 words: TRAIL OF TEARS- A
  lot of Indians didn’t like and still don’t like Black people. They projected their self hatred through violence and enslavement of their Black brothers and sisters, you project yours via this blog.
  
  Speaking of Black brothers and sisters Black people including BROWN-SKINNED
  and DARK-SKINNED are MIXED, multiethnic and multicultural too. Indians were
  Black people too. They had dark skin BG (before genocide). So you aren’t
  special. But you AND your warped,stereotypical image of what is mixed are in
  dire need of a history lesson.
  
  Waterfall or whatever you call your curls- Really? You need to get out more- many dark skinned women have your kind of hair too. They are the brunt of many ignorant, racist remarks because they don’t fit a stereotype. There are also light-skinned black women and WHITE WOMEN(Jewish, Irish, Scottish,Australian) who don’t look like their stereotype and have motherland kinky hair.
  
  My advice to you (whether you take it or not is of no concern to me) is TO GET OVER YOURSELF and stop minimizing the political, social,and racial aspects that are the underbelly of the natural hair movement and the daily realities of Black women everywhere.
  
  You’re not the only Black woman who is ethnically and culturally mixed. There are ignorant people EVERYWHERE in EVERY GROUP (you included); and all of us have internalized the same Eurocentric bullshit racism that’s been fed to us for centuries.
  - Albany Dale
    
    Eh. Im not reading that. Thats waaaaay too much bs. You just support my stance. Im not jumping on ever black trend and suddenly im racist. I have bad experiences with black people and im racist. Well hun, im black. Guess which race kills more black people than any other race? Black people. So you dont have to believe me. I dont care because you cant change what i have experienced. And im not hostile. Im frustrated. Why? Because even though i am half black i have been where this white lady is multiple times. Pushed out of black peoples reindeer games because im not dark enough. You obviously havent been rejected by black people so you dont understand that pain. To be rejected by the people who are supposed to be accepting of you over skin color. So no hostility here. Just a wider perspective than you will ever comprehend. So dont try to cancel me out by throwing a weak racism card at me. I love black people. I love all people. But ima be realistic. Just because you dont agree with me dont mean im racist. Do better than that because you know thats bull shit. And its offensive. All you are doing is reinforcing what i have been saying.
  - Albany Dale
    
    And if you dont believe me, lets take Ice Cube’s son for example. Married the woman he loves and what happens? Black women get upthere speaking racist stuff talking about he needs to be with a “real woman” and needs to be with a “sistah.” As soon as she defends herself she is racist. But no one acknowledged how she was attacked by black women. Im not saying other races arent racists or anything of that matter. Im saying that my experiences are very possible. I mean there is a guy who has been struck by lightening about 12 times. so stop trying to cancel me out because you dont want to believe that black people can be discriminative.
Simply Toast

Well said Albany!
And what of us who are mixed, but are pale?
Until my hair went gray, it was so curly, that when I showed a picture of my teen self to a co-worker, she flat out said *Why did your mother let you leave the house with an afro?*
Call me crazy, but I think it’s alright to include more, more of everything. I don’t know other people’s journeys, and they don’t know mine, but we’re all on one, and we’ll get much farther together than we will tearing each other down.
MeTimes3

The ignorance coming from your post is almost palpable. It says you wrote this two months ago so I hope some of your opinions have changed but something tells me that, that is just wishful thinking. You said a lot of nonsense so i’m going to dissect it bit by bit. This will be long. I will start with the end of your post, because the ignorance was progressive, meaning in the beginning things were alrigth-ish but it steadily got worst. You wrote:

“If we as [b]lack people want to make a difference in “white supremacy,” lets start by having our young men and women get an education and be something. That will change things politically. Not a hair trend that has already been done.”

I believe In your post that you said you were half native American. Because of this I assume that an immediate parent or at least relative(grandma/grandpa) are native American. So when you say “we as black people” you are denying an entire part of your identity that literally inherently courses through your veins. Identify as you please but there’s no need to deny your heritage when it’s most convenient for you. But now to what really matters. You also referred to black hair(Afro hair) as a trend……….. The fact that you (and many others) consider the way that I am naturally born as a “trend” already in and of itself speaks to the dilution and appropriation of my culture and my sense of identity thanks to the white lens that every perceives the world through to a certain degree. (At least, Here in America). W.E.B. Dubois spoke on this and referred to it as double consciousness. This post is already long enough so i’ll let you look that up on your own if you wish to know more about it. When you wrote those words, you may not have realized it, but you just said that my features(black features), are just fads. I am not a default human being but just a form of the default human being which in this country is a white person. You refer to my features as if they are a mask I choose to put on and can take off when I please. You may think I am pulling this out of my ass but that right there is an example as to the effects of white supremacy. The thing you put in quotes as if to say it’s apart of one’s imagination. You said:

“I dare a white person to publish a “accept your flat hair” movement and exclude any race from it. Suddenly, they will become racist.”

White people have had their “accept you flat hair” movements. It came in many forms such as the KKK, white skin, blonde hair, straight hair, 1/8th law etc. periods. For a long time pale skin, something unattainable to many other races, was the ideal. Straight hair is another ideal and it is why people like Sarah(a white woman with curly hair) felt relief when she could accept herself for who she was. The 1/8th LAW, where any person with even one ancestor of sub-Saharan-African ancestry (“one drop” of African blood) is considered to be black. It was a law practiced in the 20th century because it was believed that if you had black in you, you somehow contaminated the white race and should be treated like other African Americans. This country is founded on a pro white agenda and it is due to this agenda and “self acceptance” that people believe native americans are extinct, as you stated. Whenever I see beauty commercials or beauty billboards I see long straight hair being shown or loose flowy curls. Not all white people are physically beautiful, but the ideal white person is the ideal person in general to practically everyone. I agree, that we shout racism a little too much, but in this white man’s world, it is the whites who benefit the most in almost every aspect (at least the one’s that matter most to people like love for example).
You said:

“Blacks are the only group of people I have ever known to segregate and exclude other races and feel that it is their right to do so. How is that any different from white privilege? ”

You obviously know very little if not nothing of the Mexican an Asian culture because those people are exclusive as hell! Oh! I know what it is! When Mexicans and Asians do it it’s just a Mexican and Asian thing, but when black people do it it’s reverse racism. Give me a brake.
You said:

“Straight hair is not a standard. Pale skin is not a standard. Blonde hair is not a standard. Why? Because there are tanning beds, curly perms, red, black and blue hair dyes. Some fashion industries even photo shop their models to be darker. Natural hair is NOT political.”

You must be living under a rock, or maybe it’s your privileged American self talking again. India, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines multiple countries in Africa! ETC. ETC. ETC. Lighter is ALWAYS valued more than darker and these are just a FEW places to name where this is true. The reasoning may be different, but in the east Asian countries being pale as a ghost with straight dark hair is acceptable, in India women bleach their freaking vaginas. Is it a coincidence that people who in Africa, that have never seen a white person accept for maybe on tv are bleaching their skin? Absolutely not. Correlation does not prove causation but global “trends” like these aren’t just popping out of nowhere. You say that there are tanning beds and different colors to dye one’s hair and curly perms oh my! LMAO You’ve obviously never heard white people talk about perms because if you have you would know that they talk about them in the same way that black ppl talk about jerri curls: Like it’s a distant memory that some can’t believe they did. There are more people with curly hair and afro hair straightening it (permanently or not) than their are straight haired girls getting perms. And it is common place to photoshop someone as lighter than it is a darker. You won’t see a person with straight hair being told that their hair is too unruly and not good enough and then her mom slapping a perm in so it can be curly for the rest of her life so long as every few months she goes and gets her straight hair new growth curled.
You said:

“[the natural hair movement] It is about finding what you want to do. Black people wearing afros won’t put a dent in anything because no one really cares. Remember the 70’s? When EVERYONE wore afros? yet here we are 40 years later saying it is a political movement. The natural hair movement now is about accepting who you are and finding what you want to do. Why not let a white woman in? She should be able to accept who she is too. And the advertising? Please. There is even a “natural” relaxer. Natural hair products everywhere. All over those natural hair sites and all on curlynikki. Walmart is flooded with natural hair products. As far as raising awareness for black people?”

I certainly didn’t return natural for any political reasons, I was just done straightening my hair. This movement wasn’t created by you but your definition is really cute. Although I can’t pin point where and why it started exactly i’m pretty sure it was for women with kinkier hair textures and brown skin to feel beautiful in this pale world. I agree that Sarah (the white women) should be allowed to accept who she is too, but joining this movement that i’m highly sure was for us by us, is like a middle class American girl( of any race) going to the slums of Mexico and complaining about her life. It may be difficult by her standards and no one’s saying her life is perfect, but NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR IT. That woman is more than welcome by me and many others to accept her self and go against the beauty standards that are apart of any society and to be honest I didn’t really care much but the backlash should’ve been expected when you, a privileged person is complain to the non privileged about having waterfall curls. I’m done.
- Albany Dale
  
  I tried to read all of your comment in hopes of probably changing my mind, but you just reinforced it. First of all, since I am half native American and I choose to carry myself in a respectful way, I have been rejected multiple times by black people because I’m not “black enough.” I have been prejudge for being light skinned, I have been called snow bunny, French vanilla, white girl, you name it. And I’m not choosing sides with my heritage. The dream catcher on my back represents my native American side. I am black and I am native American. Just because I am mixed don’t mean I can’t say I am black. And don’t try the whole history stuff on me. That stuff wont about hair. My point was that even those who set that standard can’t achieve it. Sorry that I’m not “black” enough for you but if you are not straight out of Africa, it is almost guaranteed that you are MIXED with another culture other than African American, so why are you denying your culture? Even one of the main founders of the KKK had a black grandfather waaaaay back in his family tree. Either way, my comment is coming from a history of being rejected by the BLACK community because my hair was longer, or my skin was lighter, or I don’t have to put on lotion, or that my multitextured hair (NOT WATERFALL CURLS) wasn’t nappy enough. Yes Asians and Mexicans have their own thing, but I can’t speak on them. And theirs is more of a family thing instead of the whole political stance that the natural hair movement has taken. From what I know, they take strength from each other and a shared culture. And personally, I have been better accepted by people who didn’t even speak English then by the black community. And I would speak more about the native American community, but I am nine hours away from my native American family. Still, when I go home to POW wows (essentially native American family reunions) I am STILL better accepted by them than by black people. so yes, I still stand by my comment. Since everyone wants to comment on the black struggle, I’m pushing for the mixed struggle. By the way, do NOT ever accuse me of denying my heritage again. I am a mix of two separate races or cultures or whatever you want to call it and I would not change a damn thing. I am black. I am native American. I can refer to myself as being part of the black community because I am black. You saying that I am denying my heritage because I claim the black community is shameful. I shouldn’t have to mention that I am mixed all the time. I recognized it in my post as you can see so what the hell am I denying? I mean what the hell else am I supposed to say? You people? So sad. This is exactly what I meant in my post. If you are going to criticize my comment, at least think your comment through before you say anything.
  - MeTimes3
    
    I said identify as you please at the beginning and end of that so I won’t even address it for long. You’re right, identifying as one or the other doesn’t mean you’re denying you heritage but my statement was more of a disclaimer.
    
    I constantly see the “one drop” rule being perpetuated throughout the black community and it was more of a pet peeve kinda thing. (and the waterfall curls/ that last bit, was about Sarah, not you)
    
    ” My point was that even those who set that standard can’t achieve it. Sorry that I’m not “black” enough for
    you but if you are not straight out of Africa, it is almost guaranteed that you are MIXED with another culture other than African American, so why are you denying your culture?”
    
    The standards for the natural hair movement, which everyone seems to be trying to define, aren’t even concrete. I never said you weren’t black enough, because like you said anyone that isn’t pure out of Africa probably isn’t black enough but let’s not beat around the bush. The closer looking you are to your African ancestors (in looks and not just hair) is where black America lies. You referring to afro hair as a fad (sadly you’re not the only one and not the only black person at that) proves just how important this movement is for those with features closer to African ancestors. (i.e. not white people) Black people who look closer to their ancestors need this because to people like you, and people with the stuff even growing out of their heads, and undoubtedly people without afro hair, view it as a choice, a fad, something that will go out of style because black features aren’t the norm for human beings. The natural hair movement may not have concrete guidelines as to who can join, and like I said at the end of my post I don’t even care, but i’m not going to pretend like it was created for everyone by everyone. Sarah can do what she pleases but don’t be upset when disenfranchised women don’t wanna hear about you complaining on being privileged.(you refers to Sarah, not you, same goes for the end of my old post) Because when you’re a beautiful white person, blatantly mixed, or a “light-skin”, or any of that and you get teased or unaccepted the scars are 9/10 always worth it. You wouldn’t become a dark skinned girl with 4c hair so you’ll be accepted. Because when you’re older the rest of society will accept you, but for those who aren’t in the privileged looks range, life and love and dating will always be a battle. I’m a privileged black. So my posts aren’t coming from an “angry darkskinned woman position” (those two are synonymous right? (sarcasm)). Anyone shaming these women for feeling threatened just don’t understand. When being the kind of black that is closer to what our ancestors looked like, is synonymous with angry, ugly, dumb, and masculine, when guys only chill with you behind closed doors, when people call you slave for having hair that stands up and still doesn’t fall down after having 10 inches of it and when your own people who look like you won’t date you and call you ugly, it’s easier to see understand why an exclusive space is desired. Like this article said, and I agree “[The movement and backlash at Sarah] is a symptom of being excluded from the mainstream, not a project of segregation.” These women are not to blame.
    - Albany Dale
      
      I don’t think of natural hair as a fad. I don’t do fads. I think of it as a choice. Don’t put words in my mouth. The Afro was a sign of black power in the seventies. You know with the black panthers and all. Why do you think afro pics have fists on them? Afro hair has been a sign of black power and strength for decades. And yes I have seen the whole “dark skinned women not being accepted” ordeal. Believe it or not, my oldest sister is brown skinned. Her skin looks like milk chocolate. I always wanted to be dark skinned, I thought it was more beautiful than what I had. And yes
      - MeTimes3
        
        “I don’t think of natural hair as a fad. I don’t do fads. I think of it as a choice. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
        
        That’s even worse. Afro hair is just as much a choice as being born a guy is. And fad is just another word for trend. I understand that in a dispute everyone wants to come out on top but come on….. You honestly don’t see anything wrong with that kind of thinking?
        
        “The Afro was a sign of black power in the seventies. You know with the black panthers and all. Why do you think afro pics have fists on them? Afro hair has been a sign of black power and strength for decades.”
        
        Yeah and do you know why? The Afro became the sign of black power because there’s something powerful about excepting yourself for who you are. . For black people, denying those often times harmful chemicals in their heads resulted in afros, and the afro became a distinguishing factor.
        
        “I support the whole combating segregation and impossible stereotypes. What I don’t support is creating more segregation in the process. M L King was all about being better than our oppressors. Not saying the black community should let everyone run over us but think about it, if everyone of different races were wearing afros and other African American hairstyles, wouldn’t afro hair become less “ugly” as you say?”
        
        I see what you’re saying, If everyone embraced us and our(meaning black people) differences than wouldn’t we be more beautiful. People of other races have been the most accepting of my hair 🙂 Which only adds to how people already have. They want the full lips and voluminous hair, and big behinds, but it looks best on them (worldly dialogue, not mine). Not only that but this isn’t segregation on a nation wide scale. Just look at Youtube, Mixed chicks, Carol’s Daughter, etc. Their are multiple people with blogs and channels that have looser textures and you can pretty much choose where you go and who you follow. No matter what, black people can’t exclude all non blacks, the thing is that, the natural hair movement, although I can’t pin point its origins (but i’m pretty sure), was meant to be uplifting to black women in this Eurocentric society. So when someone who pretty much adhered to the Eurocentric standards was featured the backlash was understandable to me. Those women aren’t to blame. Especially when she said it’s just hair, cause anyone who knows the black community knows that hair isn’t JUST hair. (The black community as a WHOLE not individuals, there are always outliers).
        
        And one thing I realized, that I haven’t addressed about you, is your position that the natural hair movement isn’t political. Even though it wasn’t my intention, I realized that me wearing my afro hair is saying something. Not to those outside the community cause they won’t get it. It’ll just be “cool”. But I know, from everyday life that having this afro hair is more than just a style. In today’s society it truly means something more. My manifest function was to just wear my afro hair and the latent function is the political aspects to it. I’m not entirely sure why my hair is such a big deal, but the older generation, who know better than both me and you, see something. Maybe they see something due to the fact that afro hair is only seen as a trend that will eventually die out and my existence is denying that. Not only that but to be less anecdotal with my reasonings, the natural hair movement would relate to public affairs which would make it political. Cause you know hairstyles like dreads and all that are often times banded (not work appropriate) at certain establishments which isn’t fair to black people with tighter textures. Like the article said:
        
        Privileged folk always want to act as though black people carving out their own spaces of empowerment means that we are being segregationists. Privileged people are normally granted entrance into every space, so they become enraged when they’re not granted access into ours. They feel entitled to join without even really understanding what the space represents.
        
        Suddenly inclusivity becomes a project for minoritized people where we have to accommodate others while they don’t accommodate us. Because white supremacy alienates us, and excludes us, we are forced to start our own spaces for empowerment purposes. This is a symptom of being excluded from the mainstream, not a project of segregation.
      - Albany Dale
        
        A fad is a short-lived fashion style. A trend is something moving in the upward direction and gaining popularity, aka the natural hair MOVEMENT. Don’t believe me? Google it. And this isn’t the 1800’s, what we are born with is not a choice but how we choose to wear it is a choice. Thus having an afro IS a choice. Not a mandatory requirement. And true, a lot of manipulated styles such as dreads and braids are not allowed into the work place. Why? Well if someone came into your business with piercing all over their face, would you hire them and use them as a representation of your company? No. You wouldn’t. you would send them home. So the people who run these businesses that reject afro hair textures are hiring people that look more like their clients, who are mostly white people. Its like Crème of Nature putting an Asian chick with bone straight hair on their bottle. Would you feel that the shampoo would work for you? Not saying this is right for the companies to do. It is wrong at all costs because in the end, hair is hair. Its all protein and looks the same under a microscope. But if people wan dreads and cornrows to be accepted, then we need some black people running these companies. Do you know why? Because the people running those companies don’t care if black people protest and wear afros. Their customers are white. Their employees are white. In fact, most white people that I have met don’t even know that the black hair movement exists. And if the hair movement is supposed to be about empowering black women then do that whether we are relaxed, mixed, natural, or bald. And honestly we shouldn’t need a movement to empower each other but its sad that we do. And if one website that has mainly dedicated itself to talking about curly hair in general wants to feature ONE white girl then so what? CurlyNicki never claimed to be a safe haven for only black hair, its a CURLY HAIR website. If people read what she said in one of her interviews they would know that. Had she of portrayed her website to be dedicated to the black hair movement then I would understand. And being excluded from the mainstream is segregation. Segregation means separation which is exclusion. We need minorities making strides educationally, politically, and economically to get natural hair accepted. Personally, I would rather blend in for a while so I can get to the top and then help change stigmas and stereotypes than to sit at the bottom and wait for someone to change their mind.
      - MeTimes3
        
        Trends can be short lived too.
        
        “what we are born with is not a choice but how we choose to wear it is a choice. Thus having an afro IS a choice.”
        
        Yes, what we are born with is not a choice, just what I was getting at in the last post, so it is not my choice that whenever I comb my hair OR DON”T, it still forms an afro.
        
        ” And true, a lot of manipulated styles such as dreads and braids are not allowed into the work place. Why? Well if someone came into your business with piercing all over their face, would you hire them and use them as a representation of your company? No. You wouldn’t. you would send them home.”
        
        Dreads can look neat and piercings can look neat. Having some dreads is no where near as strange looking as having a ton of piercings on one’s face. Having some wild or free forming dreads can look messy and weird like having some crazy piercings on your cheeks can. The problem is that black hair and certain styles either have negative connotations or people just don’t like it. The military had this ban on twists and other styles that were common for African americans with natural hair and after a little pressure they laxed regulation.
        
        “And if one website that has mainly dedicated itself to talking about curly hair in general wants to feature ONE white girl then so what? CurlyNicki never claimed to be a safe haven for only black hair, its a CURLY HAIR website.”
        
        I agree and been said I didn’t care. What ‘m arguing here is that the anger and backlash is UNDERSTANDABLE. and anyone who doesn’t get it is either privileged and therefore can’t see it or refusing to see it. And all hair may have the same components to it but all hair is not the same. I would not take care of my hair the same way an Asian chick would because it would brake off exponentially. We can’t all take care of our hair in the same ways because issues would arise.
        
        “Had she of portrayed her website to be dedicated to the black hair movement then I would understand.”
        
        Do I agree with what they said entirely, No. but I can still understand.
        
        “We need minorities making strides educationally, politically, and economically to get natural hair accepted.”
        
        Black men and women who sport their natural hair and have “made it” are doing this to a certain degree, but if young girls are keeping their hair the way it is and getting to those places, wouldn’t that foster and understanding? You said most white ppl don’t even know the movement is happening (True, and a whole lot of other races too) and guess what, a whole lot of them (white,mexican,polish(still white I guess),) Seem to think that most black people, who they typically see with straight hair,, have naturally straight hair that frizzes up like the rest of them or it just grow out damaged. I remember when I went natural and all these people of other races, unless they knew about the black community and hair, thought that my hair grew out of my head straight. You can’t blame them when all they see is black people with straight hair, and that is because black people have always tried to accommodate to the euro standards. If we let people know that this is how my hair normally grows and this is what I look like then an acceptance will have to be made or issues will rise. Money, believe it or not, is a voting tool, and if we stop or minimize the votes that are in place to assimilate us physically into euro standards then they can’t win. People can’t just fire all the black ppl lol, b/c not all white ppl are bigoted and racist and doing so would cause this nation to flop.
        
        “And if the hair movement is supposed to be about empowering black women then do that whether we are relaxed, mixed, natural, or bald. And honestly we shouldn’t need a movement to empower each other but its sad that we do. ”
        
        There are and have been movements like this, and it is sad that we need stuff like this in order to empower each other, but that’s what happens when you aren’t the target audience in your own country, which is why I understand the wall of defense these women threw up.
        
        “Personally, I would rather blend in for a while so I can get to the top and then help change stigmas and stereotypes than to sit at the bottom and wait for someone to change their mind.”
        
        That’s one way and it can work. But change is like truth, There is a Hindu saying (almost all religions I’ve studied have this in one form or another) that there is one truth, but many paths. There’s one goal but a bunch of ways to get there. It could be assimilate and then concur, brute force, or simply wearing your hair like it is.
      - Albany Dale
        
        “Dreads can look neat and piercings can look neat. Having some dreads is no where near as strange looking as having a ton of piercings on one’s face. Having some wild or free forming dreads can look messy and weird like having some crazy piercings on your cheeks can. The problem is that black hair and
        certain
        styles either have negative connotations or people just don’t like it. The military had this ban on twists and other styles that were common for African americans with natural hair and after a little pressure they laxed regulation.”
        
        If you are going to copy and paste and address something I said, address the whole thing. Not part of it. And who determines what’s weird and crazy? And trends can be short lived. But no one said the natural hair movement would be short lived. However like all movements it will come to an end some day. And yeah I do understand where they are coming from. My point is that the aggression and back lashing is tacky and ill placed. Additionally doesn’t it just support aggressive stereotypes? Not referring to those who have addresses the subject with class, but those who feel the need to huff and puff and “go-off.” like it shouldn’t have been as big of a deal it has become. I mean these are adults. Not children.
        
        “And all hair may have the same components to it but all hair is not the same. I would not take care of my hair the same way an Asian chick would because it would brake off exponentially. We can’t all take care of our hair in the same ways because issues would arise.”
        Well, yes is’m pretty sure most people know that. My point for saying that is to say that hair is indeed just hair, but its the emphasis that we put on it that makes the difference. personally I put a lot of emphasis on mine. But if I went bald I wouldn’t halt my life for it. Nor would I let it stand in the way of my success.
      - MeTimes3
        
        “like all movements it will come to an end some day. ”
        
        I sure do hope so. The end to a movement means one of two things: 1) Goal accomplished or 2) Goal diminished
        
        “My point is that the aggression and back lashing is tacky and ill placed. Additionally doesn’t it just support aggressive stereotypes? Not referring to those who have addresses the subject with class, but those who feel the need to huff and puff and “go-off.” like it shouldn’t have been as big of a deal it has become. I mean these are adults. Not children.”
        
        Well yeah, it would support aggressive stereotypes. And just a side not, don’t ever decide to not speak your mind or get what you want out of fear or not wanting to be seen as “the black chick who has an attitude”.
        
        Guess this is where we say good bye, In hind sight I found myself waiting to hear your replies.
      - Albany Dale
        
        I know right. I like educated perspectives. I don’t mind being wrong or changing mine. It shows that I am learning. and I speak my mind at all times. So no fear here. Stay strong. 🙂
Ana A

I am a greek-american, and I was born with thick, curly hair. Growing up, I did not fit into that “caucasian/white girl” mold that the media has socialized us to believe is beautiful. The number one reason why? My thick, curly hair. I could feel it, and it was so stressful. I have more than one memory of being teased, and it carried with me long into my teenage/young adult years.
Now let me be clear, I am in no way comparing my “struggle” with that of a black woman. These struggles run parallel, and they are similar in few ways, but they are NOT the same. I think some white people with curly hair are enthusiastic to compare there struggle with that of black women, because they feel as though it is uniting them with someone from another race, someone so different from themselves (in societies eyes) and it may not be being communicated properly. Sometimes, if the conversation isn’t treated delicately, there is miscommunication.

Can White Women Be A Part of the Natural Hair Space?

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