Embrace the beauty of you.

(Repost of an article written in 2009 as a review of Chris Rock's film "Good Hair".)  Context: In the natural hair care world, the release of Chris Rock's movie "Good Hair" was a much anticipated event. I, for one, however was not so anxious to see his take on the subject. First, I couldn't understand how he was qualified to give the subject fair justice. Sorry for thinking it, but I did. African-American hair is a cash cow right now, and in my heart of hearts, I felt that Chris was cashing in. I mean, it's not like I've seen him on the red carpet with a Badu-like sister on his arm so where could the fervor to dabble in this arena honestly originate? Second, I just had general concerns about how a comedian would address a matter that lies at the core of a lot of self-hate within the African-American community. So the attached article, written in the September 2009 issue of Au Naturel, is my initial thoughts on the movie, prior to its release date on October 9, 2009. Since writing this initial piece, I have seen the movie and naturally have very strong opinions about it. So, this article is followed with my afterthoughts about the movie. 

Since hearing about Chris Rock’s film “Good Hair,” I’ve been a bit reticent about what he’ll do with the topic. I’m honestly not brimming over with excitement to see it. I mean let’s face it: 1) Chris Rock is a comedian; and 2) Have you seen “Pootie Tang”? Need I say more?! All the same, the film has made its debut and is already receiving accolades so I will undoubtedly be in line to view the film at some point in time. To edify myself about his take on the film, I viewed the write-up presented on the Sundance Film Festival website. After reading it, I personally registered even more concern. 

The primary nature of my concern comes from his impetus to make the movie: ‘his daughter’s tears at not having “good hair”’ and ‘his own deep-seated wonderment at how such an idea could be put into her innocent little head.’ (Blink, blink). [Enter stage left, Schatzi’s own stupor.] Is he for real? Do you feel like you’re living in the twilight zone when you read that one or is it just me? Let’s be real here! You can’t be African American and have lived in this country for at least 10 years without understanding the deep-seated issues surrounding black hair. Why does he seem so baffled? Does he not reflect on his own inherent biases? They are taught in the home. They are reinforced outside the home. I know because my mind was never programmed to believe that my hair was bad. I had a mother who demanded nothing less. Sure, I had hairstylists tell me to the contrary of what my mother told me, but I never internalized what they said because I saw the truth in the eyes of my own family. Sure, I wondered what it would be to have silky flowing locks but when my own natural hair fell to the middle of my back and I pressed it out, I didn’t like how it looked OR felt? I had been successfully programmed to love myself. That programming required a critical pre-requisite--the unconditional love of my mother and father. With this solid grounding, one can be in the midst of a tempest of scorn and abuse and you will remain untouched, undaunted and whole. I know because I lived it. 

Because of the disdain for Black hair that has emerged through the ages, it has become a billion dollar industry built primarily on taming and ruling the “savage beast.” So I ask, is Chris honestly approaching the topic sincerely or is he attempting to make profit off of an industry that is rapidly being taken over by non-Black peoples? I must give him the benefit of the doubt but honestly, the stupor with which Chris seems to approach this topic only suggests to me that he’s cashing in. It just rings insincere for me. But, that's me. I hope I’m wrong because we don’t really have time for foolishness (reference: Pootie Tang) when it comes to this important topic. 

So to Chris, I say: My brother, you needn’t comb the ends of the Earth to find the seeds of discontent that lie in your dear daughter’s heart; for the tree surely grows in (y)our own backyard. Know this and be free. May we all see this truth! 

Afterthoughts on Chris Rock's Good Hair 

Well, I must admit that I didn't go to the movie theater to see "Good Hair." October was a busy month in the salon and then there were the holidays. By the time I looked around, the movie was already A Natural Attitude 51 on DVD. Then one day, one of the stylists rented the movie and put it in my hand saying, "You've got to see this. It's on me." I took it home and I watched. 

In general terms, the movie was informative and provided a lot of useful information that would not have been highlighted otherwise. For example, discussions with the chemist and the dermatologist shone useful light on the destructive nature of some of the chemical processes used for relaxer systems. I believe that this information hit home for some sisters, as I've heard them express within the salon. Also, the movie highlighted the frenzied nature of the industry which relies upon the destruction of someone else's crowning glory (Indian women) for the temporary glorification of our own. Seems kind of exploitative to me but it surely won't stop any time soon. 

So for these points, I commend Chris Rock. It was important information to share. But if I were to rate the movie overall, I would only give it a C+ at best. The primary reason is that I believe for a movie with the title "Good Hair” to be inspired and truly meaningful to the community, it must speak to the inherent psychological damage that is caused by the usage of strong chemical processes and the store bought hair used by the current and future mothers of our community. He never spoke to the psyche in a direct way. And when it was dealt with indirectly, it was improperly handled. As a result in my view, he never dealt with the entire theme and premise that is anticipated in a movie titled "Good Hair." In short, the movie was therefore misleading about its intention and objective. 

With this grand omission, I felt that the movie was scattered and lacked focus. Sure, it was broken into segments around themes like: the weave hair Mecca - India, the chemist's perspective, the stylist's perspective, the dermatologist's perspective, etc. But fundamentally, what is the purpose of all of these perspectives. It surely should have been larger than stating, as Chris did towards the end of the movie, (paraphrasing) 'Don't put a kiddie perm in your daughter's hair.' I thought, if this is all this brother got out of his own film after all of that research, he has TOTALLY missed the boat! 

By default, he has sorely failed the daughter whom he purported to be serving in creating the movie. How is she now inspired and empowered to foster self-love within her own soul based on the conclusions that he's drawn? How has he helped her to see that her hair IS "good hair?” If he's not done this, I believe that he's missed his sole objective. Which fundamentally takes me back to my original thought: Maybe he's just cashing in. Because if his only recommendation to this daughter would be, ‘Honey, wait until you're an adult and you can have an adult perm that won't damage your sensitive young scalp. Then, you'll have “good hair.”’ Well, again, he's totally off the mark. 

He may argue that these are my words, not his. But, the truth is that he spoke these words loudly though he never uttered them as plainly as I have. The focus of the movie and the orientation of the dialogue said it all. When he told the Indian sister with the beautiful hair to (paraphrasing) 'Run if you see a sister coming, (because she’ll want to cut your hair off and take it for herself)' he said to his daughter ‘You'll never have “good hair."’ When he walked through the hair salons and beauty supply stores trying to sell kinky hair, only to be told that it's "no good" and he failed to rebut these arguments, he told his daughter ‘you don't have “good hair."’ (Incidentally, kinky hair sells VERY WELL!! Packaging and presentation are everything. But, what can I say: he's a comedian first.) When he spoke to the high school seniors who said that they would not hire a sister with a natural afro because it's just not professional, and he failed to counter this argument, he told his daughter, ‘You don't have “good hair."’ When he highlighted popular personalities like Nia Long, Raven Simone and Rev. Al Sharpton over Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Ledisi and India Arie, he said, ‘Your hair is not what people want to see or talk about. You don't have “good hair.”’ 

So in summary, you better perm to get it or you better buy it, because the fact remains, you don't have “good hair.” That was the take-home message that I got from the film. I'm just calling it like I see it. I honestly have no personal problems with Chris Rock. But my brother, when you step in my playing field and play the game "half-cocked," know that I'm going to tell you about yourself. I'm just keeping in real. 

So to Chris I say, "Do your daughter a favor. Buy her educational literature that will teach her the self-love that your movie obviously failed miserably at doing." And be honest in expressing your sheer inadequacy in dealing appropriately with a topic that cuts her soul in ways that you sadly still fail to understand. Only then, would you have served her well concerning the topic of "Good Hair."