This recent news tidbit comes about at an ironic time since we just interviewed my father, who is a hairstylist as well as a conversation I had with Mr. Starks concerning women of color and their hair. I believe I likened their obsession with weaves (again some Black women, certainly not all) to a type of extravagant toupee. Am I wrong? Again, my father is in the hair business (although he has since moved over to barbering, primarily) but he ceased his involvement in the womens' hair business slightly before the weaving craze reached its height. Perhaps we will have to address this topic with greater verve in the ensuing weeks. In the interim, Chris Rock has just produced/directed an independent piece on this very subject entitled, Good Hair. Here's an excerpt of a written critique on Mr. Rock's film, courtesy of ParkRecord.com:
The premise comes from a long history of black and biracial women feeling the pressure to fit with a Caucasian standard of straight hair. Rock finds out all about what comes with the need for silky straight locks.
"There's always this sort of pressure in the black community, if you have good hair, you're prettier or better than the brown-skinned girl who wears the afro or dreads or the natural style," said actor Nia Long in the film.
Rock's documentary is a study in the hair and now a look at African American women and their hair in the world today. He interviews with African American models and actors, some with "good hair" other with natural locks.
Perhaps most startling is the lengths to which the women go in the name of "beautiful hair." He enlightens viewers with a look at relaxers used to straighten African American hair, a damaging chemical mix that scientists show can be very detrimental to all it touches.
Then it's on to the weave blending in human hair into the existing head of another person. Weaves can cost upwards of $1,000 and everyday women are paying for them. That takes Rock to India, where the hair comes from. Rock witnesses the Indian ritual of hair sacrifice and the shops where the hair is sewn together and then shipped to the States.
He looks at the people behind the black hair business and finds it most Asians and Caucasians primarily making money from the African American population.
From men he learns how hair can affect a relationship. He even explores how black women's hair can affect intimacy.
"Chris is a guy that going to ask you stuff that's uncomfortable," said actor Trace Thoms.
White curiosity about black hair is also addressed by Rock's frank film. Thoms said that she thinks many non- African American audiences will get a greater understanding of the black woman's experience.
"The mystery of our hair is perpetuated by our unwillingness to talk about it," she said. "We need to embrace who we are if we want them to embrace who we are."
Perhaps most startling is an interview with high school girls who single out their natural-haired friend and say that her look isn't appropriate for the workplace.
"Good Hair" takes a good look at beauty and culture
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