Posts Tagged natural hair

By Jos Truitt • 10 years ago

Feministing Jamz: Mumu Fresh turns Pharrell’s Happy into an ode to natural hair

In February, Syreeta posted an awesome cover of Lorde’s “Royals” by Washington DC artist Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, titled “We’re Already Royals.” Now Mumu Fresh is back with another reimagined cover – this time she’s turned Pharrell’s way too catchy and ubiquitous “Happy” into “Nappy,” an anthem for natural Black hair. Check it out after the jump:

In February, Syreeta posted an awesome cover of Lorde’s “Royals” by Washington DC artist Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, titled “We’re Already Royals.” Now Mumu Fresh is back with another reimagined cover ...
By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

Don’t miss Melissa Harris Perry slam the ‘unacceptability’ theory of black hair

Remember Tianna Parker, the 7 year old girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma who was sent home from school because of  school policy considering “dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles” to be “unacceptable”? Melissa Harris-Perry brings some much-needed perspective to the issue:

“For the record, Tiana, your hair is not distracting, unacceptable, a fad or wrong. Tiana, your hair is wonderful. You come from a people with a beautiful array of styles and textures that range from short to big afros that come in colors from gray to black, curly naturals that spiral every which way just because they can.”

This is not the first time that Harris-Perry has touched on the issue; last summer,  she aired a segment exploring the current cultural ...

Remember Tianna Parker, the 7 year old girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma who was sent home from school because of  school policy considering “dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles” to be “unacceptable”? Melissa Harris-Perry brings some ...
By zerlina • 11 years ago

Story of my life: Teacher tells adorable black child her dreadlocks are “distracting”

The more things change, the more they stay the racist same.  I was the only black person in my grade until high school so the story of Tianna Parker, a 7 year old girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma broke my heart.  This poor child was sent home from school because teachers consider “dreadlocks, afros, mohawks, and other faddish styles are unacceptable.” Show me the tape of little Jimmy with the fohawk being sent home in tears and I might not be so upset (I’d still be upset)?!

Via Raw Story:

A father in Oklahoma said this week that he was forced to pull his daughter out of classes after the charter school she was attending sent her home for having the wrong ...

The more things change, the more they stay the racist same.  I was the only black person in my grade until high school so the story of Tianna Parker, a 7 year old girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma ...
By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

NYT Mag features women rocking natural hair and evening gowns

The notion that natural hair is somehow “wild,” “messy” or “uncivilized” is as longstanding as it is wrong-headed. When I decided to go natural in college, many people of all different races began to perceive me in different and sometimes messed up ways. I got a lot of questionable comments about looking more “radical” and “militant.” Even people who were trying to compliment or support my new look occasionally fell into the trap of enforcing this age-old dichotomy; comments suggesting I had sacrificed style for a cause or was somehow more “down” as a result of my new hairstyle still carried whispers of judgment and stereotypes. And of course, there’s always the less subtle stuff like this ...

The notion that natural hair is somehow “wild,” “messy” or “uncivilized” is as longstanding as it is wrong-headed. When I decided to go natural in college, many people of all different races began to perceive ...

Caeser Cut 8 (2)
By Rose • 13 years ago

Women make the cut in Accra, Ghana

In a recent Loop21 article, Llanor Alleyne discusses the fear imposed on her when she decided to embrace a Caesaresque coif:

When I got my first short haircut in my teens—out of the sheer frustration of dealing with relaxers and not out of any need to declare my sexuality—my barber had to be convinced that I could handle what may come after I got out of his chair. The patina of his worry held the revulsion that he might somehow be responsible for unleashing me on the unsuspecting, good people of Bed-Stuy. That I had to carry both my fear and his was a weight that stayed with me as I negotiated not only my community, but my cultural standing ...

In a recent Loop21 article, Llanor Alleyne discusses the fear imposed on her when she decided to embrace a Caesaresque coif:

When I got my first short haircut in my teens—out of the sheer frustration of dealing ...
By Rose • 14 years ago

Moms and media spokeswomen rep their natural hair

Love this video. It has been making it’s rounds on Facebook racking up quite a few likes and YouTube views. I enjoyed the video so much because it is straight forward about the harms of adhering to the straight, long-haired standard of beauty and reminds me of one of the things that was so rewarding about interning at the White House.

The video makes no bones about discussing the health harms of straightening chemicals, extensions and weaves, connecting these practices to  permanent hair loss and traction alopecia. Additionally, the video discusses that young black girls are harmed too, developing insecurities about their hair. One mother even  transitions into a natural hair style to give her daughter a sense of pride about ...

Love this video. It has been making it’s rounds on Facebook racking up quite a few likes and YouTube views. I enjoyed the video so much because it is straight forward about the harms of adhering to ...