I went to see the Good Hair movie and the disappointment that I expected was confirmed. The movie seemed to focus more on weaves and perms; natural hair was barely discussed at all. With a title like "Good Hair" one would assume (or at least I did) that the filmmaker would actually discuss the real issue of "Good Hair/Bad Hair," but Chris Rock failed.
Although, much of the film was entertaining, there were also many parts that made me cringe. He took a controversial topic of Good Hair and made a mockery of the term. Chris Rock is a comedian, so I expected him to be funny, but I also expected him to get to the root of the issue; sadly he did not. I will spare you the details, for those planning to see the movie.
He did shed light on the negative effects of a perm on our hair and stressed that little girls should not use these chemicals, especially. He also took us "behind-the-scenes" in the weave industry by going to India where we get a large amount of the hair supply for weaves. Women in India cut their hair as part of a religious sacrifice once a year and that hair is then "given to God" in a temple. What they don't know is that the same hair they "give up to God" is being sold to American women at a Beauty Supply store near you! None of the proceeds go to the women who sacrificed their hair.
Just remember, if you are going to the movie with high hopes of a deep discussion about Good Hair vs Bad Hair, while destroying myths about our own natural hair, you will be sadly disappointed. However, if you are looking for a good laugh, then by all means, go see "Good Hair." Perhaps, he will make a Part 2 and really get to the root of Good Hair issue. We shall see....
10 comments:
People should watch the documentary "My nappy roots" i've seen the trailer and think its much better
I had a feeling from the trailers with celebs that this movie was going to take the wrong direction. It kinda pisses me off. I don't know why I expected Chris Rock to create some monumental motivational documentary. He's not a woman with natural hair. I think someone who has these experiences is the only one capable of making a piece with our point of view. Something with a real impact. Everyone who writes a review talks about him missing the whole point.
Oh well...let's hope Tyler Perry doesn't think of a movie with this theme.
I personally thought the movie was revealing for those folks that get the relaxer. I definitely lowered my expectation as the hype started to build up. Rock could have went for 10 more minutes into natural relaxer-free hair.
I haven't seen the movie, but I appreciate your views on the subject. I've been hearing the exact same thing from most other natural hair enthusiasts.
Also, Black British Girl beat me to the punch, :-), but I, too, saw the trailer for "My Nappy Roots" and it did look a lot more interesting. I do hate to see our folks forced into a position of suing one another, though.
I haven't seen the movie yet but I do plan to go. It may have not been his intention to focus on natural hair and I don't think we should expect him to. He just may have wanted to expose the extreme measures that some take to have "good hair". That in itself is thought provoking.
Great Post!! allow me to share my view on hair care I have just finished 6 months of herbal shampooing treatment and whenever I reviewed my self in the mirror I was amazed at the results. The treatment definitely works and as long as you stick with the natural healing, the positive results will come. I have signed up iht9 for another 6 months.
After seeing the 2nd part of Oprah with Chris Rock on it talking about the movie, I posted a thread on Curlynikki.com about the show. I haven't seen the movie because it is not playing in my area (Charlotte, NC) but the the parts I saw on the show really bothered me. Women (black women) are so obsessed with their hair they would fly from Colorado to NY to get it down, or spend thousands of dollars to get a weave-that is insane. But the women on the thread I posted also said the movie was garbage. It didn't have anything to really do with hair. One of the ladies on the thread said the "natural chicks" he showed in the movie were really "goofy" and did not say anything about their natural hair. The more I hear these reviews the more I don't want to see it. I was thinking somebody should do a REAL documentary on "Good Hair" but it seems like somebody did in the movie some of you were talking about- I plan on checking out that trailer. Thanks.
I'm also about to look at the youtube video "Black Hair"
I know this is late, but I was looking for some dreadlock styles and stumbled on y our blog :)
I believe Chris Rock's approach to the whole issue of 'good hair vs bad hair' is to show how much vanity, money and downright dangerous stuff black women put themselves through to get what is preceived as "good hair", which in turn let's the audience make their own decision that this pursuit is pure stupidity. He did have some natural sisters (the actress from 'Rent') who talked about their journey to naturalness, but I think how he made the entire thing look so superficial and isolating (don't touch the hair during sex?!)...was genuis.
I am very late to this party but came to your blog and saw this article. While I feel Chris Rock did not shed any light on the options available to black women who wish to wear their natural hair he did shed light on how obsessive black women are. I have been natural for 10 years no(no chemical relaxer) but up until I saw this movie, I was okay with putting a little weave in my hair every now and again. This movie did open my eyes to where the hair was coming from and the sacrifice made. Furthermore, I can not see giving my money over to people who will not even let us in on a business in which we almost exclusively fund. I would like to see more about the alternatives for black women and more of a focus on our own hair being beautiful. The movie only further highlighted how others think our hair is not desirable.
I need some help about my afro hair, right now I have cornrows, I washed my hair last week but I already have dandruff, it's really itchy! I want to take it out and wash it. The shampoo I use it Fabulous fruit smooth and sleek shampoo, from Delon or something...
You can maybe check out my blog if you want to see what kind of hair I have.
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