What is it about black folks wearing Afrocentric hairstyles — such as dreadlocks, braids or twists — that cause such a negative reaction in white people? In recent weeks a number of additional news stories of city councils, school boards, and yes, even the courts, coming up with rulings that, if carefully read, state that the only acceptable way for blacks to wear their hair is in a style that continues to imitate whites.
So, as long as black women straighten (actually torture) their hair, and black men keep their hair trimmed in a military style, whites don’t get bent out of shape. But once we “revert” to wearing our own natural hairstyles, the hairstyles of our ancestors, all hell breaks loose. What’s up with that?
I think it has to do with whites wanting to maintain control over black bodies. During slavery — and for over a century after its supposed demise — whites had total control of the only thing blacks could reasonably call their own: their bodies. And some will debate the point of whether blacks could call their bodies their own since the only “control” they had over it was if they lived or if they died.
Through this pernicious institution, every aspect of black life, of black being, was tightly regulated, from sunup to sundown, and once Emancipation came along, that didn’t mean an end to the efforts to still maintain control black bodies.
The latest assaults on the rights of blacks to wear their hair in the manner in which they so choose closely aligns with a subtle trend of black suppression that began when tRump took office and continues as his sop to the white nationalists that wholeheartedly support him.
Indeed, blacks have been wearing Afrocentric hairstyles for decades now and the only thing whites did was to fetishize the practice, often being so bold as to ask a person of color they felt comfortable enough… “Can I touch your hair?” But lately, all of a sudden, natural black hairstyles frightens them.
It’s almost as if the actions of these whites are allegorical to a biblical tale, the story of Samson and Delilah. The temptress was bribed by his enemies, the Philistines, to woo him to sleep in her lap so that she could then call for a servant to cut his hair, which was the source and font of his strength granted by his God. Thus weakened, Samson was captured and made a slave of the Philistines.
Sure, this Samson theory sounds a bit — no, absolutely — crazy. But please, provide me another logical reason for whites to be so overly concerned with blacks’ hairstyles and I’ll buy into it. Failing that, I’m going to continue to believe the new rules for black hair are being put into place for the expressed purpose of keeping us weak and in our supposed “place.”
Oh Lord, when will this ever end?
One Response to “MANSFIELD: Black Hair”
Leah Tyus
Oh Lord, when will this ever end? Never! I feel it’s total jealousy, hate and envy towards black people, I mean what other explanation could it be? You want to be me! Also, I personally wear my hair in all styles, I love being versatile. How is it torture to choose to straighten your hair? Hair can be used as a form of expression. Monday I feel like letting my dreds loose, Saturday I may wear a curly red wig, wed I may rock a straightened down my back bundle wig… so we can express ourselves in many was, which has nothing to do with shaming of your natural roots or trying to “mimic” white hair. It’s a never ending tug of ,we hate you, yet I want everything you created or represent. I say live, thrive and be even more bold with Blackness in every way ! God gave it to me, and Nobody can take it away!! #hairlove