For some who stumble upon this project, you may be thinking "it is just hair, what is the big deal?" Well, the truth is: it is more than just hair. In the United States, people of color are discouraged to show their natural beauty. This is because our culture wants people of color to whitewash who they are. Television shows, movies, and print media continue to portray successful, happy, sexy, and beautiful people as being white, with long straight hair. Society wants people of color to straighten their hair, lighten their skin, speak in a certain way, dress in a certain way, and even think in a certain way.
This whitewashing influences children of color as well. I know this from first-hand experience. As a child, I wanted my hair to be permanently straight. I wanted to be "beautiful" like all the girls in my class that had long straight hair. That was a problem because my hair was an entirely different texture. So, beginning at the young age of 8 years old, I begged my mom to have my hair straightened. At first, I got my hair straightened with a hot comb and then moved to having harsh chemicals put on my hair to make it ‘permanently’ straight. It was not until my freshman year in high school that I even knew what my natural hair looked like.
I wanted to wear my hair naturally for health reasons. Putting chemicals in my hair monthly was not healthy for my hair or body. I also wanted to wear my hair naturally so that I could be more self-reliant. With my natural hair, I don't have to go to the hair salon once or twice a month. Most importantly, I wanted to wear my hair naturally because I believe that the body and hair I was born with is beautiful. I soon realized that the simple act of wearing my hair naturally had a social backlash.
As my natural hair got longer and grew into its full state, I realized that I had very kinky hair. My hair was an afro. I didn't want that at first because I was surrounded by white people with straight hair. I had to face harsh comments and microaggressions. For example, there was a kid who told me my hair looked like broccoli. I faced people constantly putting their hands in my hair every single day of school. When people with straight(er) hair thought their hair looked ugly they would say "my hair looks bad today because it's so frizzy, it's like an afro." I was afraid that my hair was not beautiful. Then I started to see a natural hair movement on social media. There were Youtube channels and blogs all dedicated to people of color's natural hair. I saw how to style my hair. I saw successful people of color rocking their natural hair. I started to accept my own hair. I finally accepted the compliments from my parents who loved my natural hair. At my church, there were many people of color with natural hair. These people were successful, spiritual and beautiful. They always told me how beautiful my hair was. I started to see myself in a positive light. Eventually wearing my natural hair helped me to see that my natural state is beautiful. Yet I am aware that there are certain jobs that may reject me due to my hair, or people who may think my hair is inappropriate.
People of color have to go against the grain of society to accept their natural beauty. Then, once they accept their natural beauty, they face discrimination. This project is for them.
This project is also for people who want to learn more about natural hair. If your not a person of color and are interested in learning more about natural hair I hope you read these interviews and educate yourself. I encourage going beyond the thought of: I would never discriminate against someone based on his or her natural beauty. Think about how you may be contributing to the problem, unknowingly.
This project is looking at hair, but it also speaks to the larger message about how people of color are discriminated against for simply being themselves.
-Victoria Awkward
This whitewashing influences children of color as well. I know this from first-hand experience. As a child, I wanted my hair to be permanently straight. I wanted to be "beautiful" like all the girls in my class that had long straight hair. That was a problem because my hair was an entirely different texture. So, beginning at the young age of 8 years old, I begged my mom to have my hair straightened. At first, I got my hair straightened with a hot comb and then moved to having harsh chemicals put on my hair to make it ‘permanently’ straight. It was not until my freshman year in high school that I even knew what my natural hair looked like.
I wanted to wear my hair naturally for health reasons. Putting chemicals in my hair monthly was not healthy for my hair or body. I also wanted to wear my hair naturally so that I could be more self-reliant. With my natural hair, I don't have to go to the hair salon once or twice a month. Most importantly, I wanted to wear my hair naturally because I believe that the body and hair I was born with is beautiful. I soon realized that the simple act of wearing my hair naturally had a social backlash.
As my natural hair got longer and grew into its full state, I realized that I had very kinky hair. My hair was an afro. I didn't want that at first because I was surrounded by white people with straight hair. I had to face harsh comments and microaggressions. For example, there was a kid who told me my hair looked like broccoli. I faced people constantly putting their hands in my hair every single day of school. When people with straight(er) hair thought their hair looked ugly they would say "my hair looks bad today because it's so frizzy, it's like an afro." I was afraid that my hair was not beautiful. Then I started to see a natural hair movement on social media. There were Youtube channels and blogs all dedicated to people of color's natural hair. I saw how to style my hair. I saw successful people of color rocking their natural hair. I started to accept my own hair. I finally accepted the compliments from my parents who loved my natural hair. At my church, there were many people of color with natural hair. These people were successful, spiritual and beautiful. They always told me how beautiful my hair was. I started to see myself in a positive light. Eventually wearing my natural hair helped me to see that my natural state is beautiful. Yet I am aware that there are certain jobs that may reject me due to my hair, or people who may think my hair is inappropriate.
People of color have to go against the grain of society to accept their natural beauty. Then, once they accept their natural beauty, they face discrimination. This project is for them.
This project is also for people who want to learn more about natural hair. If your not a person of color and are interested in learning more about natural hair I hope you read these interviews and educate yourself. I encourage going beyond the thought of: I would never discriminate against someone based on his or her natural beauty. Think about how you may be contributing to the problem, unknowingly.
This project is looking at hair, but it also speaks to the larger message about how people of color are discriminated against for simply being themselves.
-Victoria Awkward