Why It’s Time To Retire The Habitual Shaming of Black Women’s Hair

When it comes to Black women and our hair, there seems to be a virus of hate that emanates from Black men in particular, who relish any opportunity to shame us for the feature that uniquely and controversially — separates us from non-Black women.

When comedian Chris Rock, released the film Good Hair, back in 2009, I wasn’t prepared to be woefully embarrassed by the laziness of the themes, that were presented with disingenuous plots — aimed at ridiculing the grooming preferences of women who are ceremoniously disrespected and misrepresented by the judging crowd — gawking with pleasure as we squirm.

The film also featured an array of of notable Black women, including actresses Nia Long, Meagan Good, and Kerry Washington, who all added nothing tangible to a conversation that should’ve been rooted in the systemized policing of our strands — that extends to disapproving family members, who plant the seed of their discontent early enough to seize our self-esteem.

Good Hair seems to be a blatant betrayal by a Black man with a massive platform, who used his influence to flare up the sensitivity nerves Black women like me, with hair textures that are considered “less than ideal,” harbor, due to the messaging of how we’re challenged with the thankless task of grooming ourselves — according…