Good Hair (2009)

Good Hair: Directed by Jeff Stilson. With Tanya Crumel, Kevin Kirk, Jason Griggers, Maya Angelou. Chris Rock explores the wonders of African-American hairstyles.

“I enjoyed the movie Good Hair, because I felt it raised all of the issues regarding the African-American community and the thought process behind u0026quot;good hairu0026quot;. This movie wasnu0026#39;t a preachy movie and introduced many concepts in a very subtle way ( the psyche of good hair, media images of black hair and acceptance/rejection of black hair in its natural state (the scene with high school girls, who tell the one girl with natural hair, she wouldnu0026#39;t be hired for a job and that she didnu0026#39;t look u0026quot;togetheru0026quot; was jarring.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI felt the film did a good job of covering who controls the economics behind black hair (hardly any blacks, mainly whites and Asians) and the staggering amount of revenue ($9 billion annually) in the industry, generated by people who own less than a percent of the industry. The film looked at everyday people who get weaves, and pay serious money (the lay-away plan was sad, funny, and ingenious at the same time) and the reason they feel weaves are necessary. Calling relaxers u0026quot;creamy cracku0026quot;was funny and alarming at the same time. The health risks, the thought of lye and the discussion of scalp burns was right on target. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe message regarding the impact of celebrity in our culture is so deep, that every day women will spend beyond their means to look like a Beyonce or Rhianna, though they donu0026#39;t have either of these womenu0026#39;s financial means. The idea that straight u0026quot;whiteu0026quot; looking hair is equated with beauty and self worth was a undercurrent theme in this movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe male point of view is represented by the rich and famous (Andre Harrell, Paul Mooney) and the barbershop. No matter what a black manu0026#39;s economic status is, they all were catching the same type of hell regarding not being able to touch a womanu0026#39;s weaved head. Rev. Al Sharpton was the exception to this dilemma, but didnu0026#39;t mention the limitations of having relaxed hair. Yet he did point out hair shouldnu0026#39;t sabotage a black womanu0026#39;s economic situation, but often does. Money spent on a weave could be spend on education or a 401K plan instead. Black men also feel the economic pinch the weave provides, because they often have to provide money for weave upkeep and to keep their relationship.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe limitations of having a weave (no swimming, no touching the hair, can also be examined in the movie u0026quot;Something Newu0026quot; which is also an examination of the weave culture in addition to interracial relationships between black women and white men. The question was posed do some black men deal with white women exclusively, because they can go swimming, and have their hair touched, opened up another can of worms. This movie canu0026#39;t explore all of the psyche behind the phrase u0026quot;good hairu0026quot; but does a good job of opening up the conversation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne thing the movie does is make the audience look at the children who looked too young to be putting chemicals in their tender scalps,and who seemed to be indoctrinated with the message that their hair needed to be straight in order for them to be considered pretty. That was just sad, because the people sending them those messages were their own mothers,grandmothers, and society at large. As a black woman with relaxed hair, I really have to think about the ideology, society, and the culture that has influenced the choice Iu0026#39;ve made regarding the hair choice I am making. These women are making a choice, but if they knew of the insidious nature that feeds the beast, would they or I consider a different reality, which is our natural hair?”