Curry(Natural Hair Filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa)Curls
June 1, 2012
The filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa presents an Op-Doc on black women’s decision to embrace their naturally kinky hair, rather than use chemical straighteners. For whatever reason my embed code isn’t working so you can view the Video Transition Here
Vodpod videos no longer available.
This film speaks so much to how I feel about natural hair and why Im pretty passionate in my arguments with women of color who prefer to rock their straight hair more often than not.
I love versatility more than anyone. If you know me you know I’ve rocked many different over the years. I’ve done my own weave, wigs, braids, straightening, dying, and rocked my natural hair in a myriad of styles. I came to be concerned when I realized that I was defaulting to straight hair more often than not. Now granted Ive been natural for all of my life minus two years in undergrad, but it still didnt sit well with me. Why was I so bothered when I rocked my natural hair? Why was I having many panic attacks if my edges didnt lay straight and flat, or I couldnt get every single one of my curls completely defined? Then I realized that it wasn’t about ease it was about fear.
In this video Saro Wiwa talks about how so many Women of color don’t see natural hair as a political movement and this troubles me. I have always thought of it as a political movement, as Black Power, as a way for Black Folk to reclaim what we seem to have lost. Our sense of community, identity, our sense of self love, a belief in Black Love, and Black Family, our belief in us plain and simple. Im discouraged when I seam the #team hashtags anywhere because it seems for some that this will become yet another way to divide us.
I can admit that I don’t understand the ease, practical excuses when I have only ever seen your hair it its straight state. It still speaks to the fact (and we know that actions speak louder than words right?) that when you look in the mirror you can’t deal with or see the beauty in the natural you, so you have to alter in order to feel more comfortable in your skin. Protective Styling doesn’t mean you true hair always has to be hidden.
No you don’t have to rock a fro 365 to know self, but when youve never known or taken the time to embrace your roots, learn them, love them, cherish tme. You’re only intersted in the easy route, then to me that speaks to lack of love for self and a misunderstanding of the DOPENESS that is your own culture.
I am intersted in truly hearing your thoughts on this and not just from women!
BespokeCurry
The NeoAfro
BespokeCurry 