Why do you straighten your natural, god-given hair? It’s a simple question—one that most of us as Black women are rarely asked. I’d like to share a little-known discovery with you. As a result of having written and edited three editions of our book, Black Folk’s Hair, Revisited: Secrets, Shame, and Liberation, Kamau and I have had a unique opportunity. It has been an opportunity to survey, interview, and observe many Black women around the world. Our primary discovery was learning why they straighten their hair.
When it comes to the topic of why our sisters choose to routinely straighten their hair, the same reasons are commonly given. However, the reason most often given is ”It’s my choice to wear my hair any way I choose.” As authors of a book on black hair, we have heard this rationale dozens of times. And it comes from women from all walks of life, different stations in life and different educational levels.
What they say may be true. We all have freedom of choice. However, upon closer examination of the reason why Black women straighten their hair exclusively, two interesting facts reveal themselves. The interesting thing is that the methods used to accomplish it, whether chemical straighteners or weaves, are irrelevant. Most Black women and men may not have considered the facts below. Let’s look at them.
Lack of Knowledge—Ignorance
Being ignorant is not a bad thing. It simply means that you don’t know something about a particular subject. Contrary to what some people think, it is not a “put down.” Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines ignorance as “lack of knowledge, education, or awareness.” Being ignorant does not suggest that a person is somehow “inferior” to someone else. It only infers that a person simply “does not know.” And that can be remedied.
Consequently, people who gain knowledge about a particular subject will find themselves in a position to know more about that subject. In the long run, can literally change the way they view or feel about what they have learned. The bonus of this awareness is that it gives you the option to make more informed and intelligent decisions!
The ignorance many of our people have regarding the straightening of our hair is generational. Most of us, including myself, began straightening our hair because we saw other Black women straightening their hair. We saw our mothers, grandmothers, older sisters, aunts and cousins on a never-ending treadmill of straightening their hair. Many of us also used the excuse that straightening our hair made grooming it more manageable. Much can be said about how long, straight hair is portrayed by the media, including social media. Straight on Blacks is largely viewed as “good” hair with the best texture. In comparison, our natural hair with its thick, curly or coiled texture is viewed as ugly, unmanageable and nappy.
I have even heard some Black women refer to their hair as a “curse!”
These facts point to a widespread and general lack of education, knowledge, and awareness regarding the glorious versatility of our natural hair. It also points to a general lack of knowledge with respect to the grooming of our hair.
The Hidden Historical Factor
Most of our people, men and women, are not fully aware of the historical background related to our hair. They are not aware of the mind-altering influence enslavement has had on our psyche. Nor are they aware of its contribution to why we started straightening our hair and how it helped solidify the self-hatred of our features.
For example, when our ancestors were forcibly enslaved, they were deliberately taught to hate their distinctive features. This included their hair texture, facial features, and skin color, all the way down to their buttocks! The aim was to make us dislike our physical bodies (which Whites secretly admired) and to favor their physical bodies instead. The aim of the White kidnappers was to reap huge financial rewards as fast as they could. They also wanted to do it as cheaply as they could. Those rewards were achieved on the backs of our ancestors by the free labor they were forced to provide. The White enslavers use every means possible to make our once very proud African ancestors feel inferior about their African-ness. This self-hatred they instilled in our ancestors helped them achieve their goal.
Fast forward: today this hatred for our features, including our beautiful natural hair, still exists. Since enslavement ended, we have not been subjected to any type of therapy to adjust to life outside of enslavement. As a consequence, the affects of brainwashing due to enslavement continues.
As mentioned earlier, too many beautiful Black women use the common excuse that natural hair is harder to groom. I straightened my hair for many years before going natural more than 25 years ago. When I started wearing my hair in its natural state, I was ignorant and lacked even a basic knowledge on the proper way to groom my hair.
In retrospect, keeping my hair straight so it wouldn’t go back to its natural state was one of the hardest chores I had at the time. I haven’t had a bad hair day since I stopped trying to look like “someone else!”
It is important to know that when our ancestors were kidnapped and enslaved, all of their hair-grooming tools were left in Africa. They were forced to groom their hair with hair tools meant for combing the White kidnapper’s hair. As you can imagine, those tools did not work for us. Even today, some Black people continue to use combs and other tools meant to comb straight hair.
It is a fact that Black Women straighten their hair. You certainly do have a choice in the matter, but I challenge my sisters to not let “ignorance” keep you from embracing your beautiful hair—your crowning glory! Educate yourself! Know your history! Once this is accomplished, what choice will you make?
Janice Kenyatta is a retired Administrator/Educator and Naturalista. She is co-author of the book, Black Folk’s Hair, Revisited: Secrets, Shame & Liberation, revised edition, and the author of the popular children’s book Just As It Is.
