I feel for the woman who talked about airport security going through her hair. That happened to me once when I was wearing a bun and they told me to open my bun. It was kind of humiliating and weird.
One comment stayed with me from that day from Funmi Fetto.'' You should be so damn good at your job that your hair does not matter.'' And I think that is the message to pass on to the kids. Your hair is an accessory, it should not be everything!
It's so wonderful to see educated Black women on stage having a calm discussion on black hair. Never once did they argue or get loud. They are all so beautiful. My 1st favorite was the Journalist on the end with the fro. She seems to be very strong women. I love that. And my 2nd favorite was the main speaker. She was more calm and she seems to carry herself very well. They all are an inspiration and i hope I could meet them one day. I live in South Korea and I have had natural hair for 10 almost 11 years now. And this gave me motivation to press on forward with my natural hair. Thank you so much for this video!
what are you calling natural? it sucks, out of weaves and wigs and braids if you wear your own hair then you are NATURAL no matter, relaxed, dyed or whatwver it is YOUR NATURAL HAIR because it grows from YOUR SCALP
I'm an African American woman. I have natural hair, and I wear weaves and braids for protective styles. I feel that all women should able to express themselves as they see fit. Why should there a divide? Because we're black. That's closed minded, immature nonsense. As long as you're truly confident I say go for it!! All black is beautiful, no matter the texture or shade. Let us uplift one another, and not settle for the standards of society.
Afros are beautiful. I am so glad I am transitioning. I refuse to cut all of my hair and go bald. Kudos to those who do, but I like hair on my head and prefer to go the slow way. Each woman should do what makes her feel beautiful. Personally I got tired of my hair falling out from perms and flat irons, but to each his/ her own. I love weave. Weave has been an absolute aid in helping transition and grow my hair. Some people don't know how to apply it correctly and their hair falls out, but it has worked wonders for me! Again, to each his/ her own!
Light discussion could have gone alot deeper though. Personally i wish more black women will jump on this natural movement, because we are the only race of people who wear others peoples hair apart from our God given own hair! No one else does that on a majority level! The idea of sewing an indian women's hair into my head just does not sit right with me anymore. But hey thats just me!
***** Yes i agree other races wear weave but these girls are still wearing their same texture hair im thinking further than the fact its a weave, i am concerned about why! the majority of my sisters feel the need to wear indian womens hair on their head.
***** Because black women live under the oppression of conforming to white beauty standards which are often expressed in corporate business & government dress codes. It is just one of the way often expressed but sometimes unspoken in which black woman are oppressed under white supremacy.
I do believe that women need to challenge the "I cant wear my hair natural for work" it is upsetting that the black community think of the afro as unprofessional. I have been natural for a year, and in my current job for 9 months. I went to my interview with a fro. I am the professional not my hair, I present myself well and I do not need straight hair to do that. This opinion is only from the black community! I have never heard a another race say the afro is unprofessional.
what is good hair???in my opinion good hair is what you were born with thick healthy hair if you look after it,all this rubbish about natural hair being too hard to handle is only because most of us have had our hair plaited & cornrowed by our elders until 12-16 when we are taken to the salon to get the hair straightened,then we don't know what our hair type is again until we go back to our natural state that's what i think any way, i have good hair because i'm African :-)
I did my "big chop" a year ago. because I really really LOVES my natural hair. it was usually thicker...and that's what i wanted. however, i wear weaves when I want to "rest" my hair from washing/products/tugging etc. Weaves are not my favorite but they serve their purpose to me.
This topic has always frustrated me because no one will ever be satisfied. If I wear my hair in its natural state, there are black women who have a problem with it and when I wear a weave there are black women who have a problem with it. I just do what I want and wear my hair how I like and pay little to no attention to the huge debate going on about it.
I dont think people should be shamed about their weave either. Im proud of all my women who wear their hair natural but DAYUM when a girl wears a weave right it look amazing, i bow to their skill. lets not shame them. I've heard the discussion about curvy versus fit and how fit women were being sutrasised about being fit. 'embrace your curves' some guy would say 'too muscly' and i was like, that person has obviously put a lot of work and dedication into their body cu shes not curvy shes gross? just saying, it can work both was . Just let people play by their own rules, we should unify in our own uniq identitys, weave or no, curly or straight. Curvy or fit.
Health is why choosing our Organic African Hair is important. For us to understand our nervousness to do so, we need to look at our stories then and now. Then heal. We must stay one community sharing. Parts of this debate made me sad. Happy we are talking & sharing.
My youngest sister works in PR for the EU and she requested to have her hair in braids, like Beyonce, after several years of wearing wigs and weaves!! She was slightly apprehensive about turning up at work with a chignon of braids....but found that they weren't phased by it at all.
And as educated as they all were each was unable, unwilling or both to get down to the truth of the matter. They were all quick to avoid the elephant in the room how racism/white supremacy with its white beauty standard effects & devalues black women around the world.
JJ truth They didn't seem devalued, I'm not devalued and I bet you're not devalued. That's 7 people are we the only ones? Black women (and men) devalue each other. White people have their own standard of beauty and black people have theirs. I don't wear a wig or a weave but I get the feeling that black people are trying to devalue each other by trying to convince us that if we don't wear our hair natural it's because we hate ourselves. That is the truth as I see it. In reading the responses in this forum women are not arguing, name calling or berating each other for the way they choose to wear their hair. Using white people as the root to the hair problem is getting old. It's our responsibility to improve our standards not theirs. Improving our standards can not include negative critisim, self hatred or pointing the finger at someone else.
This panel didn't even mention *white supremacy and the white ideal of beauty* and just how much it gets rammed down all of our throats daily. The situation with Black women and the hatred of afro textured hair and the never ending pursuit of straight hair either by chemicals or weave. White supremacy is global sadly, this panel didn't even begin to stratch the surface or tell the truth really. *It felt like they felt abit self conscious, talking about such a sensitive topic in front of white people namely white women ….the very people that we are brainwashed into wanting to look like.* *The **#Misogynoir** continues.*
Well I live in London and attend Uni near the Southbank centre white beauty isnt rammed down our throats like it is in the USA and if you take a stroll around the South Bank you'll see plenty of women who are natural and proud myself among them
Well I live in Nottingham in England where white beauty is rammed down our throats like it is throughout the #westernworld ? standard. If you take a stroll down a street in Nottingham if you see Black people you'll see weaves, relaxers and a few natural haired people (plus locs and twists etc. White Ideals of Beauty are so omni-present in all of our life I think some people just perceive it as normalcy? Every time you switch on a tv, see billboards, adverts, films, music vids, magazines and the internet, ideals of white beauty are pumped out into the world and into our subliminal minds. White people dictate what is deemed beautiful. There is an internalised self-hatred that goes on in the uk and much of the diaspora but many Black people in Britan are in denial about it and don't wanna talk about it. I lived all over London too and go down there all the time, Ive found that Londoners tend to live in little bubbles/boxes. If I walk down a street in Camberwell I'll see plethora of skin bleached/weaved out people, if I go to Old Street and *if* I see a black face they'll possibly be natural kinda cool edgy avantgarde etc Not everyone who walks around Southbank is from Southbank, Ive swanned around tthe Southbank with my natural hair quite a few times too, there are like-minded people everywhere A few of my friends attended this event came down from Birmingham and Leicester and went down to this event. They said they felt dissappointed, the said it was timid and very surface level.
Well said!!!!@thehoneyeffect We have been brain washed absolutely Sub consciously the weaves the perms, are an attempt to be like European women, although it is not our fault because they obviously set the standard of beauty because they have the power too do so, but we need wake up and realize this, and embrace who we are and set our own standard .However Im not sayin weaves are bad but to spend more money on it instead of investing money in the health of our REAL NATURAL hair says alot!
White supremacy started the standard and black people today continue to push it. Look at so called black entertainment and product suppliers for black people. They continue to sell ideals of straight hair, lighter skin and a black identity that limits your interests ie. as a black person I must only like a certain type of music, have a certain accent and etc. Especially at the stage we are at our generation with all the information and education available I can no longer just simply say that the white man is the sole culprit. We are not idiots nor are we sheep. It is true that mass media pushes a strong image of white beauty ideals that are hard for the average person to fight but those that are in a higher position of power to change things don't. I have been natural my whole life and growing up like that in the 90s was no picnic. Ironically, it was only other black people that made it a nightmare with their brainwashed insults. But my parents stood their ground against relaxing our hair and we are so glad today. If more of us take stands like this things will change. This doesn't just apply to hair. If you follow African politics you will know that there is a similar problem with African leaders fawning over western leaders but when they are assertive, like Gambia leaving the Commonwealth, we bring better changes for ourselves. The white man may have started to problem but he is not really the problem today. We shouldn't be afraid to self-reflect, criticise ourselves and change. Southbank could've done more for this talk but at least they are including it in their discussion and recognising black female issues within the UK.
My mother worked for a big corporate company in central London for over ten years with totally natural hair - unfortunately there is still a lot of prejudice out there, but if you are intelligent and talented you will go far regardless of how you wear your hair.
I'm natural because I love my hair and i love wearing it the way it comes out of my head. Plus, my hair grows faster that way. HOWEVER, there is nothing wrong with weave and I wear it when I feel like it for versatility. So, i feel like this discussion should really be natural vs. perm/heat-training hair
This is a real eye opener to me! I can't believe some women feel they couldn't rock their hair to an interview. What a shame. I am mixed raced and have been brought up in a white community, because I have rarely been around black women I never knew of these politics. I have never thought twice about rocking my crazy hair in a interview. I feel successful in my job. This was great to watch :) X
Some of the comments are very stupid. Wearing weave doesn't mean you hate your natural hair, it may simply mean that woman likes wearing them. I enjoy wearing weaves, but I also enjoy taking it out and wearing my natural hair just as much. Stop judging people off of how they choose to wear THEIR OWN hair.
Wonderful video it's beautiful to see so many black African America success women's wow i enjoy the video we need to keep seeing more of our ppl on t.v.
I am glad i don't wear weaves anymore!! I big chopped my hair on 2013 and i'am so happy with it!! I CANT STAND WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME "you are beautiful why don't you put a weave etc" i get mad!!! Now i can see that afro hair is beautiful and you can do a lot of hairstyles everbody can touch it( when allowed) without any problem and its cheaper!! I thing we ( black girls, mixed) actually wear or wore weaves because you don't trust on you natural beauty!
You are right everyone has baggage but for this particular subject you're wrong. African descent living in Europe have many issues as well because of colonisation... but "hair" is not one of them, dark skin vs light skin is not interacial dating is not etc... Most people here, black or white don't care about how you style or wear your hair. I am French but work in the UK now and I studied and work in Lousiville,KY and Miami in the US and those subjects are handled completely differently.
Well folks...i feel like I have been living in darkness...i have been relaxing my hair for more than 22 years....now i am on my journey to natural hair...i have to search for pictures to see what my hair was like...mmmmm...why is all this necessary..we are so beautiful..we have texture, we have colour ..we are born with the likeness of God...So i am returning to my natural hair because I Want To..not because of society or people...i want my thick wavy/curly hair again ...I am learning to care for it now. Can hardly wait to run my hands through my natural hair...Let's embrace what God gave to us...no one else can have it! :)
I got my job, with my natural hair in a "braid out" style. The best part about that was, I didn't even think about what style my hair was in until AFTER I GOT THE CALL BACK saying I GOT THE JOB!! When my hair was permed, I fretted over styling it for interviews way more.
Black women should wear their hair they want to. Natural, crochet, weave, braids, curl, and straight it don't matter as long as you keep it clean. We should be focus on more important things. Better housing, better paying jobs , keeping our children off the street and away from crime. Both men and women keeping their family together. Learning how to respect ourselves and others, encouraging our children to get education. Also standing up for our civil rights. Don't be distracted by others about our hair. In my opinion my hair is good. Let's not make this political. God bless you all.
I rather see women with natural hair because at some point women with weave all begin to look alike as far as their hair is concerned, I love an original woman.
im relaxed and I wear weave, I don't understand why we this is so popular I mean come on, why cant we just be happy for each other, its a personal choice and quite frankly its petty we are worried about the next woman wearing weave while so many other serious things are going on in the world. I mean I don't wear my own hair because I like to curl my hair often and that would kill my strands, I feel as long as our hair is healthy it doesn't matter
Alicia Marie relaxed hair is not healthy don't be fooled. Tell your African ancestors who had their hair shaved off and taken from them forcibly, hair does matter to the African culture! Its our crowning jewel!
I test her theory about dreadlocks and going for an interviews!! I do not have dreads but I have faux loc and I had pressure from my family to remove it for the job interviews but I didn't listen because I like it! I also want to finally be in an work environment where I can be me and do me hair, fashion etc. I got the job within the construction industry because of my skills not my hair!! So I really would like to know which industry where you can not have dreads?
the US military. it is actually in the rules of miter conduct..no dreads. The pharmaceutical industry at management level. Many conservative jobs would not hire a person who interviewed with locks though they might accept them if an employee wore them later. I have sat on committees to hire in my industry which is NOT artistic..anyone whose appearance could make the other coworkers nervous had a negative strike against them..whether it was skin color..age..gender..sexual orientation..too dark..or grooming..hair or clothing. Of course all discrimination is against the law. .but that does not mean it does not still go on...it is just more hidden. Many whites view ethnic hair or dress as subversive and unAmerican. It underlines to whites that the "differences" be t ween them and another enticing is more than skin color. Also whites feel obligated to compliment black hair and say how much they like hairstyles but often, they do not like the hair at all. I was close friends with a woman who always gushed to black women about their braids or afro but who confided to me that to her, black hair reminded her of public hair and it grossed her out. Such is life.
I agree and like what the lady in the pink said about ppl judging you based on your hair. Because I am natural and wear my hair straight and in weaves does not mean I have lost my sense of freedom and creativity which are terms ppl associate with having Afro hair. I have a problem with the fact that an Afro is considered more creative and radical, but my straight hair is not the same.. It's whack and annoying...
Good conversation towards the final third. I transitioned during 1st lockdown via extensions, and a year later got my 'big chop' to a length where I was happy to wear my natural hair. I had work colleagues who genuinely thought the extensions was natural hair growth as a result of lockdown.. "Why would you cut off all your hair?"
They do, it is called Marley hair. RU-vid it. The problem is it does not last long bc it is synthetic. Human hair is typically harvested from India, unfortunately the hair is usually straight, as is most mammals' hair or fur. African hair is very unique, very hard to get naturally.
Loved this video. Im quite sure most of the people who will watch this found it as a result of watching another video on natural hair. My take is: hair should be well taken care of whatever the texture. Weaves are fine as long as the hair underneath (relaxed, natural or in-between) is cared for. I recently cut the rest of my relaxed hair off after a year transitioning and think, everyone can wear their hair natural but if they don't want to that's fine. Our confidence shouldn't be frm our hair
Because people talk about all kinds of things! Even topics such as farting! Damn. Let them talk about wut they want, it's MILLIONS of topics people discuss
I've not used weaves, however hairpieces were very 'in' during the 70's, and I had a few, there was a fall, for long hair, a cascade, for Grecian curls, a wiglet for short and fluffy. I have fairly straight, fine red hair. For many years, colored it different shades of red. While going through chemo I've worn wigs, and as the gray has determined to invade, I color it to 'wash the gray away'... I have no issue with others hairstyles, I think it's all a matter of what you want to do at the time! It's fun!
I TOTALLY agree with you! They didn't acknowledge anything regarding Racism, internalised racism, hair texturism, the politicisation of Black female bodies and their hair. ....most of this panel spoke as if they need jobs to keep
Our hair shouldn't even be a topic of discussion... As if black women don't already have a lot on their shoulders. Black women let's do whatever we want with our hair..we are not our hair! We can build ourselves and break these glass ceiling.
this talk was too short and missed the point. We really need some UK Naturalista Intellectuals who acknowledge things such as internalised Racism, Hair Texurism etc etc
I think American blacks (and as one) the nasty history of discrimination/slavery seeps into so many aspects of life. After moving to South Florida and interacting with lots of blacks from around the world I admire their freedom from the bondage of "good hair" and "bad hair"...... But sometimes we have to understand that some things are the way they are......and it shouldn't be that way BUT we can change it slowly by changing ourselves and teaching kids how to live outside of these rules! I love to challenge the rules!!!!
LOOOL.. speak the truth. It was interesting and encouraging to see black females speak in a civil manner and at high positions in their career, but it wasn't enough. Have any other suggestions of stuff to watch?
How refreshing to listen to 5 women in a talk show setting communicate without running over each other unlike the garbage blasting our American boob tubes. Even the men on ESPN won't let each other finish speaking after a question is asked.
I for one do mind my hair being touched along with the intrusive questioning and snidey remarks which I have experienced in the workplace. These women just dismissed that question like it was nothing. A very weak discussion that didn't even begin to touch on the real issues.
Aghhh, there were parts where this debate could have gone deeper. These women were touching on social issues. For instance 'Where have these unwritten rules' of wearing black hair come from? Why do you feel that you want straight hair on your head? What is it that makes you feel more beautiful in a Brazillians woman's hair as opposed to the natural hair from your scalp. How do they feel when they are wearing natural? What is the reason our hair is a 'facination'? Is it because we do not embrace it enough. Nice debate, but I would like to see a part 2 that digs deeper.
i got a job with my afro puff ponytail...interview was last minute and i didn't have time to change it....i was never as hell about what they'd think but i still got hired
The woman in the pink is spot on! In America it is a huge issue and just to piggy-back on what she was saying about Michele Obama's hair during the campaign, Yes it would've made quite a difference if she were to have locks or an afro because she's in the public eye. I'm just a regular civilian, so I can wear my hair however I choose and it doesn't have to mean anything. But because she is the first lady of the first black president and the republicans have been talking about how they want to
As a woman with natural hair myself, i agree with the lady on the far left, SOME natural women usually with SHORT hair(instead of spreading the knowledge and sympathizing with other women) they ridicule and bash women with hair that isn't natural, and that causes division. I honestly believe the ones that bash(which are not most) are the ones who are angry that women with long fake hair get more attention than they do having short and natural hair.
I got a job with my Sisterlocks. I choose healthy, we cannot let ourselves think we need to straighten our hair to work within the corporate world, this is the biggest lie we are perpetuating. This must stop or we will go bald.
I agree we shouldn't be having this conversation in 2013 unfortunately its constantly being thrown in our face in the media and movies, such as Chris Rock's Good Hair Movie in 2009. You should have the freedom to wear your hair how you like, but again you are judged by everything. Don't conform, freedom of expression should be the way.
I agree that "good hair" is healthy hair. I also do not like that term because that term does create a separation among black women. We were born with the hair we have and should not be judged because its not long or wavy or like "white hair". I hate that black women have to go through so many struggles because of our hair. I also notice that a common theme in the debate is its too time consuming to go natural. Weave breaks hair off, and relaxers thin and damage hair POINT BLANK. I stopped getting relaxers because it was damaging my hair. Yes it was time consuming to get it back healthy, but once its there…with the proper care it becomes less time consuming. Black women please take the time to care for your hair and let it be natural without weaves and relaxers. Accept your natural beauty! Take the time to nourish your hair back to its natural state.
i guess im in the middle because i love wearing weaves but on the other hand i love my natural locks as well. I wear weaves because my natural hair is a lot of maintenance while with a weave depending on the style i can just wake up and go. just my opinion.
Racism white supremacy exists and its just the same, throughout the western world, its just that British people are less vocal as a people than Americans. *It effects women of African descent in Britain the most, racial discrimination against black women often goes ignored by black men as not being a serious issue*. Racism can effect black women differently eg Most (over 50%) Black British men are with white women and other non-black women, this is in part because of #misogynoir . There is so much pressure on black women to look white or as incrementally less black as they can as possible, so that we can be deemed more, employable, desirable, marriable, datable, hygienic, clean.
23mins in, the conversation about the unwritten rules about natural hair and interviews are still being had today in natural hair communities on social media. Sad 😔
As an American I agree hair is a big issue because of our history. The black power movement and its amazing imagiery makes the media associate Afro hair or afrocentric anything with revolutionary ideas and rejection of the dominate society which equals Angry Black Woman/ Man . Both Obama's have been givin these type of labels being as super buttoned up as they are.
personally I had braids and a relaxer when I was a child I have been totally natural for 5 yrs now what i dont understand is this I LOVE my natural curl and Im not ashamed of my hair and wear it out often but I also like hair dye and cutting and all the tings that are bad for my hair so i use weave so am i natural coz i dont relax but i heat style and wear weave.
love this vid. love that gives diff countries insight on how they feel about natural, weave and perm hair. i'm natural hair woman and truely enjoy this insight. its great to see and hear their views. we need more positive things like this.
of course no ones talking about #noedges...when the girl in the middle turns her head u can see her edges are super thin and it's not just bcuz it's braided she had about 3 or 4 struggle braids on her sides with ALOT of scalp showing and it's all tied in a knot and layed in the bang area to hide more receding probably.
