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.