#NaturalHair,IsItReallyThatSerious?

Let me start off this post by saying that I have nothing against natural hair.  It is the way God made it and everything He makes is beautiful. I have seen some women who have made the natural look look so stylish that I have considered taking some clippers to my own head. Because it has made such a comeback (the last time natural hair was a big deal was in the 1970s), I feel inspired to write about it. 

Hair, especially in the black community, has been away for people to express themselves.  Rather it's hair color, braids, a weave, or now, thanks to celebrities Tyra Banks and Beyonce, lacefront wigs, black women have been doing creative things with their hair for centuries.  Even styles that I would not want to be buried in, I still respect the creativity of it.  But I think one thing that has irritated me when it comes to the whole natural look phenomenon is how black women become so offended when those of other races (and sometimes other black people) admire their hair or want to touch it.  You ask the wrong black woman to touch their hair and you could be getting yourself into a brawl.

I read a blog recently that said that this is a way of white people making black people property again because they can just reach out and touch some one's hair without asking.  I agree I would be a little creeped out if someone started touching my hair without asking but PROPERTY?  That is a  little extreme.  Why is it that every time someone of another race admires or comments on black culture, black people have to make it this huge race issue?  Some white women makes a comment or wants to touch your hair, tell her thank you and you prefer people not to touch your hair but don't bring it back to slavery!  When we get our panties all in a bunch about simple things, that to me is a bad look for our people.

This makes me remember an incident my freshmen year of college.  I was working in a group for a class project and I was the only black person in the group.  One day while working on the project, a member of the group (a white girl) said, "Please do not take this the wrong way, but I like your hair.  It's not like other black people's hair."  It took me back for minute but I said thank you and continued to work on the project.  I did not feel this need to give her a "what do you mean it not like other black people's hair?" speech and then make her feel like she was the biggest racist since the Ku Klux Klan.  As far as I am concern, she made a statement and I gave her a reply.  No need for the second Civil Rights Movement. 

Some people feel like natural hair is a political thing or breaking away from white standards.  I see it as one who is tired of paying $50 or more every 6 weeks for the creamy crack (relaxer).  Whatever your reasons, remember it is hair. No reason to start another war over it. 

#BOLDNoYouAreRUDE

 Ealier today  I watched the interview between Lil Mama and DJ Charlamagne from The Breakfast Club Radio Show in New York.  On the radio show DJ Charlamagne called Lil Mama out for having in an "old looking" face and the "Jay-Z and Alicia Keys MTV Awards" stunt.  *Side Note: DJ Charlamagne is not even a little attractive.  To check out the interview you can click on this link Lil Mama Interview.  Lil Mama gets two snaps up (in my Men on Film voice, In Living Color refrence for those of you wondering where that came from) for keeping her composure and holding her ground.  She gave a perfect example of how to deal with ignorance. 

That leads me to the main purpose of post: there is nothing bold or funny about being out right rude to people.  The sad thing is this is becoming more acceptable in our society.  If you watch the interview DJ Envy basically tells Lil Mama prepare to be disrespected.  At no time did the other DJs on the show defend or stop Charlamagne for disrespecting this young woman but thought it was fine (and we wonder why suicide among young women is high).  Mind you that one of the DJs on this show is a woman.  

Now we can expect to see people being rude to celebrities, but regular people do it all the time to each other.  I hate this phrase "I'm not rude, I'm real."  If your words hurt other people, you are rude.  There is a scripture in the Bible (and I apologize for not knowing the exact book, chapter, and verse) that says the tongue is like a sword.  The scripture is saying that the tongue can cut like a sword and harm those we are addressing.  Even when we are being funny, we can be seriously hurting someone.  What I hate most is unnecessary rudeness.  What is the point of DJ Charlamagne telling Lil Mama that she has an "old-looking" face?  What was gained out of that? 

There is an old saying that says "If you do not have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  There are some people out there that needs to get this tattooed to their body so they are repeatedly reminded to follow that rule.  I have cracked a joke or two in my past but I hope that I have never made anyone feel less than human. 

#AmosAndAndy-BlackHistoryBanned4Ever

 

Today I watched a documentary on the first all black cast tv show 'Amos and Andy'.  This past June the show turned 60 years old.  If you have never heard of the show, it's excusable.  The show has not been seen in syndication since 1966.  The NAACP had it banned from tv forever because they felt it portrayed black people in a "negative light."  Well, I got to see an episode and I have to admit that I did not share the same conclusion with the NAACP.  So I have to ask, was it really necessary for the NAACP to ban this show?
Let's remember that the show was made in the 1950's, not the most political correct era.  The premise of the show was Kingfish was always doing these get-rich-quick schemes and most of the time he would dupe Andy in the scheme.  Amos was the narrator in the show.  Let it be known that none of the actors or actresses in the show ever felt degraded while playing these characters. They were actually proud to be on a show where black people were being depicted as professionals rather than maids and butlers.  Were they being silly and exaggerated?  Well of course, it's a comedy!  Ernestine Wade, the actress who played Sapphire, brought out the point that you don't watch a comedy to be educated.  Marla Gibbs, best known as Florence on The Jeffersons and Mary on 227, also brought out that it was a good show and the show was not saying that this was how all black people acted.  But that we all knew someone who acted like these characters. 
Which brings me to my next point: was it really necessary to ban the show from tv forever? As stated before the NAACP fought CBS from the show's premier to get the show off the air.  They saw it as an extreme negative portrayal of black people.  What they did not see was a show that was making it possible for future shows like 'I Spy', 'The Cosbys', 'Family Matters' and 'The Game'.  They did not see a show that broke the stereotypes by providing roles to black performers where they were doctors, lawyers, and businessmen.  All they could see was black people being silly on television ( as I stated before the show was a comedy). 
When I watch television today I'm more appalled at what we allow on tv to represent black people ( Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives, Soul Plane).  All these shows set our race back a whole lot further than 'Amos and Andy'.   What the NAACP did was ban a part of black history.  I think the NAACP needs a sense of humor.