In August 2016, the Perception Institute did a study on “good hair” and bias toward hair textures. As such, Black women, while having more options than Black men, typically choose to adopt more White-approved hairstyles - bouncy curls, straight locks, wavy hair, etc. - in order to avoid disparaging and hurtful descriptors. At the same time, there are significant societal pressures wrapped up in this under the auspices of White beauty standards, it is considered ugly or unprofessional for a Black woman to wear her natural hair. Because of the “women equal long hair” equation, it’s more acceptable and conventional for Black women to modify their hair in ways that defy genetics, by way of flat irons, perms, weaves, and the like. Genetically, most Blacks - men and women alike - have nappy (or kinky) hair that, for the most part, grows upward instead of downward. And the reason is rooted in some ugly truths about White supremacist culture. Years after my brother and grandma first insisted I get my hair cut, I now wear my hair freely - but it took years to get to that point. Because society continues to insist on associating long hair with femininity, this leads to a crude calculation: the longer the hair, the less acceptably Black the man. As a Black man, you are to be physically adroit, rugged, tall, thuggish, and stoic anything outside these strict parameters makes you less Black.
As a part of this culture, Black men are typically categorized as hyper-masculine and overly aggressive, with media depictions focusing on athleticism, criminality, and little else. But White Supremacist culture also plays a significant role, with the White majority dictating what is and is not appropriate for Blacks to do, say, and wear. Part of this messaging is rooted in rigid, and damaging, assumptions surrounding gender in general. ‘You’re a boy, Jeremy, boys ain’t never had long hair.’ Click To Tweet “You’re a boy, Jeremy, boys ain’t never had long hair.”įor years, this was the common refrain from my family and from society: Boys - Black boys especially - aren’t supposed to have long hair, because long hair is for girls. “You ain’t supposed to have long hair,” she coolly replied.
BLACK COMPTON HAT CRACK
“But I want long hair,” I said to her, unable to clear the tears from my eyes or the crack in my voice. “You just let it grow and do nothin’ with it. “Because you don’t take care of your hair,” my grandmother interjected, fully aware of her condescending tone. “Why do I always have to get my hair cut?” I asked my brother.
I plopped onto the chair and peered through salty rivulets of tears as black sheep wool fell from my head. Crying profusely, I sauntered to the bathroom, staggering, reluctant to get my hair cut. “Hey, P, it’s time to cut them naps,” my brother yelled from the bathroom. The clippers jolted to life, buzzing like a swarm of bees, waiting to shred through my short afro. The author with his current long hair Embracing the hair I always wanted took confronting society’s rigid expectations for Black men.
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