Black Hair...Is It Good or Bad?

The Seeds You Sow

The concept of black hair being labeled as good or bad seems absurd, but the reality is, the notion that only a specific type of black hair can be "good" is still an ongoing issue in certain black communities. We decided this week to think about the history of black hair, and had a conversation about how our hair is connected to our identity, culture, and expression not only as a race but as individuals. Following in the footsteps of Comedian/Social Commentator Chris Rock, who released his documentary "Good Hair" in 2009, we wanted to continue the discussion by offering some positivity and insight to the conversation around black hair in regards to racial identity and cultural expression. We have two short articles and one insightful video to share with you this week: "The Connection Between Hair & Identity in Black Culture" posted by C&R, "The Navy Is Finally Lifting Its Ban on Dreadlocks for Women" posted by the Huffington Post and “The black hair care industry generates billions — but the US is missing out on the market,” a 9 minute video posted by CNBC about the one billion dollar hair industry. We offered our personal testimonies by sharing the positive and negative experiences we have had with learning to accept and manage our hair. We discussed the natural hair movement and the one-billion dollar hair industry that black hair generates. We not only addressed the complexities and struggles behind black hair, but also its uniqueness in texture and the overall beauty & versatility in the styles it is able to display. We promoted a message that our hair is powerful and unique, which is synonymous to who we are as a people. We hope this episode empowers you to think about ways to accept the uniqueness of your hair, and more importantly, how to accept yourself.