Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America pg 90-182

Summary


In the 1980s the curly perm was very successful everyone was getting them from men to women to children. The curly perm was a perm that African Americans use to make their hair curly. It was very easy to get it was cheap and it allowed African Americans to do hair styles that was not available to them before. But then after Michael Jackson's accident while shooting a Pepsi commercial many people thought his hair caught on fire because of his hair products combined with the fire workers which made his hair flammable so people stopped using curly perm. In the 1990 African Americans stopped trying to change there hair and stared to do natural styles like breading, and Dreds. Buts these styles were not accepted by the white community. Students were often send home because of their hair styles, boy were not allowed to have pony tails and girls could not do zigzags on their hair. Many kids thought that nappy hair was messed up and unacceptable. The society they lived in made them believe that nappy hair was ugly, it was not their fault it was the way they lived and what they experienced.

Quotation

"Can nappy hair be pretty? The resounding reply was an excited yes"(Byrd 182).

Reaction

it took many years but Black hair was slowing being accepted in society. The book started with Whites saying black hair was ugly and not acceptable, to blacks trying to change their hair, and finally to blacks loving their hair and accepting the way it is.

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America pg 30-90

Summary

In the 1900s the black hair- care was booming. There was many new products coming out promissing to give African Ameircans the hair they always wanted. Madam C.J.Walker is one of the many people that that created products to help African Americans have better hair. Madam C.J.Walker suffered from hair that was short and patchy that revealed her scalp in several places. she believed that if she had better hair it would improve her self-confidence and improve her life situation. After many unsuccessful attempts of trying to get long beautiful hair she decided to make her own recipe from native African remedy grown in Africa, after a few weeks of using it her hair stared to grow.She was very happy with the results so she let her friends try it also. She then opened her own bussiness sealing what she had created. Her bussiness was very successful she became the richest women of her time because most women of that time was making 10 dollars a week, and Walker built herself a 250,000 mansion. But she did not keep all her success to her self she helped other African American's learn how to better take care of their hair.

Quotation


"A frequent donator to various charities, including the NAACP, Walker also erected a community center for the black residents of Indianapolis" (Byrd 35).

Reaction

Madam C.J.Walker was not selfish she shared what she knew with other and she shared her wealth. She did not keep it her to her self.

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America pg 10-30

Summary

Its amazing how a person's environment can affect the way, they view them selves and others. Not only was African Americans getting discriminated against by whites they was also getting discriminated against by there own race. light skinned blacks were preferred over dark skinned blacks, so after the Civil War African Americans wanted to be a part of society. They had to get jobs in order to provide for themselves and there families. White Americans made it very difficult for them because they were black. also light skinned blacks would get the better jobs. white Americans would take advantage of the African Americans by sealing them products that would make there skin lighter and there hair straight. The products did not work and they were deadly. African Americans were willy to do anything in order to be accepted.

Quotation

" Amazing Progress of Colored Race-Improved Appearance Responsible. Look your best.....you owe it to your race"(Byrd 30).

Reaction

I could not believe that they were selling these products. it caused African Americans to think they were not normal and they needed to have light skin in order to be successful and beautiful. It also hurts to know that the white Americans sold these products even though they knew it would not work.That's just sick.

Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America pg 10-20

SUMMARY

When the African Americans came to the new world they were seen as inferior to Europeans. The Europeans have never seen such a unique hair texture. The new land consisted of pale skin and straight hair, which then deemed African Americans as unattractive. The Europeans believed the Africans Americans did not have real hair they classified it as "wool." Black women began to see themselves as ugly and inferior which allowed them to be controlled easier. When the African came to the new world there hair no longer had the same care, they did not have treasured combs and there long, thick, healthy hair became tangled and matted and also the sun's ray did no help. The future of African hair was changed for ever.

QUOTATION

"The quest for straight hair was often a torturous for obsession for slaves"( Byrd 17).

REACTION

The Africans were beginning to loss there traditions and there costumes and adapting to the American culture. They no longer wanted to have there natural hair and became obsess with straight hair it made them feel a little less inferior.