(due Saturday by noon)
Imagine bell hooks joins the Combahee River Collective and in a consciousness-raising group reads her article “Straightening Our Hair”, and shows the film clip “A Girl Like Me”. Based upon your readings for this week, discuss a black feminist perspective to this topic. How would the Collective approach the issue, especially with regard to privilege, interlocking oppressions, “the personal is political”, and a critique of the limitations of dominant feminist and anti-racist approaches to hierarchies of inequality. What new perspectives might they offer? Be creative…imagine you are sitting at the table with them!
Imagine bell hooks joins the Combahee River Collective and in a consciousness-raising group reads her article “Straightening Our Hair”, and shows the film clip “A Girl Like Me”. Based upon your readings for this week, discuss a black feminist perspective to this topic. How would the Collective approach the issue, especially with regard to privilege, interlocking oppressions, “the personal is political”, and a critique of the limitations of dominant feminist and anti-racist approaches to hierarchies of inequality. What new perspectives might they offer? Be creative…imagine you are sitting at the table with them!
http://www.understandingrace.org/lived/video/index.html
The article "Straightening our Hair" really shed a new light on how black women grow up in the United States. I did not know that so many girls felt it was necessary to have perms put in their hair. But, I also think about all the White girls that I know that have their hair dyed, permed, straightened, and that have straightners that they use every single day. The fact that Black women do this in our country is something that is also shared with White women.
ReplyDeleteIf this topic were brought up at the Combahee River Collective, the women would be ashamed of how much Black women put interest into making sure their hair doesn't look "natural." I think that women are beautiful in anything they do, so I think that the obsession with changing the way we look is wrong. But, I also think it is okay if women choose to straighten their hair. If that is something they want to do, there should be no one looking down on them.
I thought the film "A Girl Like Me" was very sad. I didn't expect so many black children to pick the white baby doll as the one that was nicer and the one they would choose to play with out of the two. Almost all of the children said the black doll was the mean one and the white doll was nice. I wonder where these ideals come from. I think the Collective would really enjoy talking about this issue. I feel that they would be able to crack into it further and get a better understanding of why our children have not changed their opinions since the "Brown vs. Board of Education" trial.
"Straightening our Hair" was a very eye opening article. It was kind of sad to see that black women felt the need to make their hair look un-natural, black women's hair is something that sets them apart from others and is important to their heritage. But as Samantha said, I think all girls feel the need to change their hair color and style. I can especially speak from this standpoint because I love to change my hair color and style, all the time. I'm just a person who really likes change and that gives me something to change. I do believe that if this topic were brought up at the Combahee River Collective the women would be dissapointed at how black women want to change themselves today, and I can sort of agree with that because that is something that makes them who they are, and it is sad that women of all races feel the need to be unnatural because most of the time the way you naturally look is what is beautiful and different about you. The film "A Girl Like Me" was really sad. Like Samantha, i didn't expect the majority of the black children to pick the white baby as the one that they wanted to play with. It is unreal that this mindset has been given to children even to this day, just because you have a different skin color doesn't mean you are mean or nice. It is what is inside the person that makes them who they are, not their skin color.
ReplyDelete“Straightening Our Hair” did not shock me. I believe that all women, no matter what race, care what their hair or outer appearance looks like. If you can improve something, why not? I do not think that just because some black women wanted to have straight hair meant that they desired to have or look like a white person. I also do not think that it is that big of a deal if a black woman wanted blonde hair. Yes, the majority of black women have dark hair, but that doesn’t mean they HAVE to have black hair. I was born with blonde hair and still have blonde hair today. I have straightened my hair, curled my hair, and just recently had extensions put in. If that is what I want and if that is what makes me happy, why does it matter? It seems to me a little odd to judge someone by what their hair looks like or what color it is. I personally do not agree with bell hooks statement “…that we will not be considered beautiful or desirable if we do not change ourselves, especially our hair”. If this article was brought up to the Combahee River Collective I would hope that they would dismiss this issue and move on to more important things instead of a hair style or color.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the video clip with many black women’s perspective on appearance did shock me. I thought it was really ironic when they spoke of how they thought being lighter was more beautiful or what was desired. While they want to have lighter skin, many white women want to have darker skin. When black women would use bleaching creams to make their skin lighter, white women would go to the tanning bed or lay out in the sun to become darker. The clip of the children wanting the white “nice” doll was really sad to me. I think that if the Combahee River Collective saw this they would also be sad. You can learn a lot from children and it makes me sad to think that some of them might be ashamed of themselves because of their appearance.
@aecollum -- I also did not expect the majority of black children to chose the white baby as the one they would rather play with. I agree with you when you say that just because you have a different skin color does not mean you are mean or nice, it is the person on the inside.
ReplyDelete@Samantha Adams -- I wonder where the ideals come from too. The Combahee River Collective could definitely talk about this issue and find out why these children feel like this still to this day.
@Kate Rissanen-- Yeah I found that really weird that the black girls chose the white doll as well. You would think it would be the other way around
ReplyDelete"Straightening Our Hair" wasn't very surprising to me because most women care about what they look like and if they think that there is something that they can do to make them look better then they will do that. I can relate to this because I do get my hair highlighted and I like to change from lighter hair to darker hair in the different seasons. I think that most women are also like this because we like to have change.
ReplyDelete-I think that if this was brought up at the Combahee River Collection that the women there would be disappointed in the women that wanted to change their ways from natural to what people consider to be beautiful these days.
-When I was watching the video "A Girl Like Me," it really surprised me when the little african american boys and girls were picking the white doll and saying that they were the nice ones and the ones that they want to play with. I think it's sad because it's kind of like they aren't aware of how important their culture is.
Reading “Straightening Our Hair” and watching the “A Girl Like Me” video-clip was really interesting. They both went hand in hand. I had no idea that black women in the United States had such strong feelings toward their hair and skin color. While watching the video, it occurred to me how different every culture's women are. Me being a white woman I noticed that they talked negatively about their skin color a lot. They all seemed to want lighter skin because that is what is considered beautiful to them, as well as having “good hair.” Black women rarely wear their hair naturally. But if you think about it white women do the same things they are doing but just in a different way. As a white women I have noticed that we talk about skin color too. We all want to be the opposite of what they want; we want to be darker while they want to be lighter. Most girls hate their natural hair color and the way it drys without using any tools. I have curly hair but guys like long straight hair so most girls I know that have curly hair straighten it. There is a saying that “All straight hair girls all want curls and brunettes want to be blonde.” This proves men's point when saying that women are difficult and don't know what they really want. The Combahee River Collective group should travel around doing seminars to help build women's self-esteem and empowerment.
ReplyDelete"Straightening our Hair" did not surprise me because every girl cares about the way their hair looks, whether they are black or white. It's not only a specific race that straightens their hair. Just because these black women were straightening their hair, this does not mean in any way that they desired to looks like white women. They just wanted to improve their appearance, just like every girl does.
ReplyDeleteIf Combahee River Collective heard about this issue then they would feel that it's bad that all women feel that they have to try so hard to be attractive and feel comfortable. Although I agree that women should not have to change the way they look to feel confident, I also don't think that there is anything wrong with women straightening their hair.
The video "A Girl Like Me" really surpised me because I did not think that the black children would choose the white baby doll as the one that they would prefer to play with or as the nicer one. Before watching this video I would have expected a black child to prefer playing with a doll of their own race. I think that if the Combahee River Collective heard of this issue that they would be able analyze the issue and discover why black children prefer the white baby doll and their results would intrigue me.
"Straightening Our Hair" did not surprise me at all. I can relate 100% on how these black women feel about their hair and skin color. I frequently highlight my hair and I like being darker than lighter by tanning. If you can change it to better your appearance, then why not? I would never have guessed that black women want to change all those things too, I always assumed our cultures were definitely opposite. But we all share that image in our head of perfection, which makes us want to change our outer appearances.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the women in Combahee River Collective would be disappointed. It's extremely sad that we all obsess over the 'ideal perfection'. All women are beautiful and deserve to feel that way too. The media has drowned us in perfect celebrities and what not and it's unfair to women because not everyone can look/feel as perfect as they are.
"A Girl Like Me" was definitely a clip that took me by surprise. I know for me especially I would want to play with the doll of my race. I was definitely not expecting the young black boys and girls to choose the white doll. I'm really confused why they had said that the black doll was the mean one? I mean I would 'stick up' for my race no doubt.
A feminist focuses on the value of their contributions based on social, political, and eaqual levels. When we think of feminists, we think of women fighting a a whole for equal opportunity,equal partnership to men, rights as individual Americans, and as human beings. Although feminists mas stand together for these equal rights, not all feminists feel the same. Some feminists feel there are other issues that need to be expressed. A black feminist perspective would focus on racial issues including the race and how it is represented. The black feminists might look that video and focus o the way others define black people and discuss its effects on how black individuals view themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe Collective might approach this issue by expressing the negative relationships of black women and the start of these negative relationships, to the American political system. They might approach this issue by looking at the experiences of these women along with those in their own lives, and discuss the oppressions they feel as black women. Through this they would be able to raise awareness of these issues and build politics that would change the lives of black women and end black oppression. The video would help to target such stereotypes attributed to black women such as "bad hair" and "dark skin" and allow them to express why it is that they feel that way in hopes to gain more confidence in themselves and spread the positive message amongst other black women.
To be honest the video was not that shocking to me. Being a black woman myself I hear these comments all of the time. I found it more disturbing how the negative image of being black was passed to children at such a young age. Honestly I wanted to cry. Maybe if they had positive people in their lives to tell them that they were beautiful just the way they were then they would not feel that way, but then again it is something that we face everyday. It has nothing to do with not having confidence but more of how everyone else feels about you that is more damaging. You can be the most confident person in the world but if everyone had a problem with how you looked, or the way you dressed, or maybe even your personality you would begin to have doubts about yourself also. This is not a big newsflash especially since people make these comments all of the time. I think the bigger newsflash is the detrimental effects it has had on an entire race.
@ Annette- It is easy to think that they would choose the black doll because they would want to stick up for their race, but children do not see that. Children see good and bad. I do not think that they chose the white doll just based off of race. I believe they chose the white doll because that is how white is portrayed in society.
ReplyDelete@ everyone- I guess we really do not see straightening our hair as a problem because it is something that we as girls all do. I think the bigger picture is the negative concept behind it in black women. I would strongly agree that a white woman would walk outdoors without her hair straigtened before a black woman would.
ReplyDeleteIn “Straightening our Hair”, the author illustrated how black women grew up in the United States. Although in “Straightening our Hair”, the authors makes it seem as if most black women make it mandatory to perm their hair to receive a more straightening look, I think that most black women perm their hair because some black women’s hair doesn’t do what it needs to do under certain conditions.
ReplyDeleteThe Combahee River Collective would disagree with the amount of black women that try to avoid the “more natural” look. Of course times have changed and a women getting a perm is just natural now.
In the film “A Girl Like Me”, I did not expect the black child to pick the white Barbie doll. I think the Combahee River Collective would have a lot to say about this subject; they would be very upset knowing that these children look down on their color.
After watching the video "A girl like me" i was very surprised to hear and see some of the things that were happening. I never realized how different african american women felt in society and how they have been looked down upon. The part where the women talked about how they always needed to have "relaxed" or "permed" hair because it was what society sees normal and pretty made it seem like they had to look that way to be accepted.Also another thing that i saw in the video was when the african american children all picked the white babydoll to play with instead of the black one which to me is strange because you would think think that the african american children would choose the doll that had the same color than them. But in reality there are not many places that sell african american dolls for children to play with so that just may be what the child has grown up with and feels it is normal. This video made me actually realize what african american women have to go through in society and how it is difficult to "fit in".
ReplyDeleteBell Hooks spoke on the many reasons why black women choose to wear their hair straight, whether it be to conform to society, gain self-esteem, or for the attention of males. The author seems to have a negative relationship with straight hair. She mentioned that when she was younger she wore her hair straight, and that it was because she felt she became somewhat more of a woman when doing so. She feels that black women who straighten their hair do so to become desirable to men, to be accepted by whites/society, and to have a more "manageable" hair style. I can agree with some of the points that Bell Hooks placed in her article. However, I have relaxed hair because I chose to and it is just what I am used to. However, it tends to be more manageable, although I don't have "kinky" hair. Therefore, "Straightening Our Hair" was not a surprise to m because not only are there black women that go through these processes with hair, but other races use relaxers for the "from-straight-to-curly" look.
ReplyDeleteIf the topic were raised by the women of The Combahee River Collective, I believe that these women would be highly dissappointed in black women, and how much time they put into processing their natural hair. Although I do agree with some of the standpoints of the Combahee River Collective, I still believe that a woman knows what she likes and is beautiful in every way; whether she has short natural hair, long relaxed hair, short relaxed hair, or long natural hair. I also believe that it has become a heritable thing for black women to process their hair, because mothers pass down the processes to their daughters in the black community.
Personally, the documentary, "A Girl Like Me" was not a surprise. The fact that the majority of the children in the film chose the white doll. However, It really reinforces the negative ways our society shapes children's minds, specifically black children and youth. In my opinion, when very young black children show a preference for white dolls, it's not the result of "internalizing white supremacist conditioning." It's either the result of having had bad experiences at the hands of other blacks, or just instinctively sensing that "white" equals "cleaner," "safer," and "better."
@Tariah Hunt, I totally agree with your standpoint on some of these issues. Being black women, the issues don't stand as a surprise because these things occur typically in the African American communities. I agree that it was sad how in the doucmentary the black children had already been exposed to the whole "good/bad" race prejudices.
ReplyDelete@Anette, being a black young woman, who was once like the children in the film, the answer to your question is simply: white people are usually the better people in society growing up meaning that whites usually do better in society, have more in society, etc. Children watch tv and here adults talking so this is why I believe that the children in the film would have thought of the white race as being "better".
ReplyDeleteThe article "Straightening Our Hair" did not come as a surprise to me at all because no matter what your race, most females tend to care about their appearance. Since when does straightening out your hair or dying it blonde make people think that you're attempting to be caucasian? By altering themselves they are simply changing their appearance. Society is so used to African American women looking one way that when they do something out of the ordinary, people begin to make judgements.
ReplyDeleteIf this article was discussed amongst the Combahee River Collective, I would hope that they wouldn't entertain it too much. I personally just feel like there are MUCH more imperative things happening in society than focusing on if an african american woman dyes or straightens her hair, she is attempting to be caucasian. It amazes me how obessive society is about appearance.
Watching that video clip was kind of disappointing. I know everyone has their own personal opinion but I have always wondered who came up with the thought that light-skinned women are prettier or more desired? Dark-skinned women are just as beautiful. Caucasian women tan oftenly to get darker skin but yet women that are currently black, just light-skinned, are using bleaching creams to become even lighter, like caucasian. This is mind blowing to me because I am an African American woman and I would never consider bleaching my skin to be lighter. I am satisfied with my skin color and other women should be as well.
However I do feel like if the Combahee River Collective got a hold of that video clip they would be disappointed. The fact that the kids in the video were asking for "nice white dolls" is very upseting to black women. I mean what is so good about the caucasian race to make these kids want a white doll instead of a black one? It is questions such as this and many others that have remained unanswered.
In the article "straightening our hair" really was no surprise to me at all. I've heard many African American women talk about having to get their hair done every two weeks but I myself go get my hair done every 6 weeks. I think taking care of your hair in both cultures is equally important. I know plenty white women who straighten and dye their hair just like black women do. It is ironic though that white women want to be darker and black women want to be lighter.
ReplyDeleteIf this was brought up to the Combahee River Collective they would probably have a problem with this issue because women should feel confident in their own skin. They shouldn't have to change their hair to feel beautiful. As we all know though times are far different than they were back then.
The video "A Girl Like Me" however took me by surprise. When all the different African American women were talking down on themselves like the stereotypes "big butts or loud and obnoxious." It upset me when all felt like all of them needed to be lighter and that one's mother even told her to not do her hair naturally "because she looked African." This bothers me because that is her heritage. If she doesn't want her to look that way how does she want her to look?
@Kate Rissanen: I agree with you! & the fact that those kids preferred one race doll over the next race doll is mind blowing. It really just makes you sit back and think about how society discriminates against EVERYTHING.
ReplyDelete@A.Hardin- I agree many places do not have African American dolls so that could have some reason why African American children chose the white dolls.
ReplyDelete@Lauren R.- I agree that it's crazy that some women actually bleach their skin!
@AnnetteFarrell Your statement about being an African American woman was well said and I agree with your viewpoints. As a black woman, I alter my appearance all the time & I take pride in doing so. But I would never go as far as changing my skin tone to look like another race.
ReplyDeleteThe article "Straightening Our Hair" shows me a different perspective of how African American women think about themselves. I agree with them completely because I love to change my hair color, I go from blonde to brown all the time.However, I disagree why they should do these things to feel more accepted or feel more white. I think that you should not change your hair color or "straighten" your hair to change your apperance in a negative. Its funny how white women and black women have the opposite views on the way the look.
ReplyDeleteI think if this was to come up to the Combahee River Collective they would be upset. I think they tried to tell women to be strong in their own skin. It would raise a big deal with them.
While watching the video clip " A Girl Like Me", I was shocked to see things that I had no idea about or just never noticed. After majority of the children in the video chose the white doll. It is a sad thing because this discrimination is happening to kids at a really early age. I felt bad for some of those on the video as well, talking about how they have a certain "stereotype", for example like big butts. I think that they should love who they are black or white, big butt or no butt, straight hair or kinky hair. I think its so important to just love your body and youself.
"Straightening Our Hair" had some parts that shocked me while other parts I already assumed because most women I think care about outer appearance to an extent. I figured most women cared about their hair but I didn't know about the amount of black women who like perms. I figured not just black women but any race of women desire straight hair when they don't naturally have it. Another thing I learned from the article was that many black women desire their hair to look unnatural because I think having different hair makes someone unique. I happen to be a blonde haired white girl with straight hair.. it sucks 20% of the time. I can't tell you how many times I would see a girl or women out somewhere with this gorgeous curly hair that I oh so desired. Though i think this issue is popular among women I would think that the Combahee River Collective would say it is silly to try to fix this issue and work on bigger issues that could have more of an impact.
ReplyDeleteThe video clip surprised me because I wouldn't think black women would desire to be a lighter color. I as a white women desire to be darker so I thought it was so weird but then again I'm not dark everyday of my life so I could see one some would desire that. Heck I have a tanning membership so I can get tan during there times of the year so I'd gladly trade some of my paleness for their darkness. I think everyone should love their skin just because its part of you and not someone else which makes everyone different. Something I thought was sad was the fact the children wanted white dolls. I think thats so sad because that shows how much skin color affects our society.
"Straightening our hair" I have never thought people would feel like that. However I see exactly where she was coming from because there is nothign worst than a bad hair day. I am not sure if it is lack of self steem or what, but I am sure for a African American female is even harder due to the characteristics, I have curly hair and is a pain to get it to work. I couldnt even imagine how it is for a woman. I dont believe hair should be a problem on their lack of self steam because on how their hair or skin color looks.
ReplyDeleteThe video clip was a little different than what I expected. I dont see why people would talk down to each other instead of helping eachother, I dont understand why someone would want to change the way they look like, I think everybody should be happy with their heritage.
* did this post and somehow it wasnt sent through and when i went to go check again it wasn't there.....
ReplyDelete"Straightening our hair" did not come to a surprise to me. Due to our society and media every women has an idea of what makes you beautiful. African American women and other race's tend to think that a white women is beautiful as we are seen through the young girls asking for "pretty white dolls" which is something that Combahee River Collective would strongly have a problem with if they were to get there hands on that. However, just because a women dyes there hair blonde, straightens there hair, and tends to go for lighter features, does not mean that they are striving to becomes caucasion regardless of what race you are. The media plays a huge role in this. As we read magezines and watch channels like E, we see what today's society calls for a "beautiful" women and it is these things that give the young girls the idea that they want a "pretty white doll". This is unexceptable however how do we change it? There are so many questions that are left unanswered. As white women, why are we not assumed of anything when we dye our hair dark and go tanning as much as possible so that we are dark? The main thing this comes down to is our heritage and our culture. I think no matter what race you are you should be proud of that and your natural beauty.
The article "Straightening our hair" did not surprise me. As a black women I understand what black women go through jus so our hair will not look natural. A black women takespride in her hair and when it is straight its easier to manage, thats why we get relaxers (perms), to straightening it out. A white women is mostly likely born with naturally straight or curly hair, so there is no need for them to get relaxers. Some black women love theri hair natural because they say it defines who they are as a black individual. I personally like mine straight, if my hairis not in perfect condition, I tend to get very depressed. "Black is Beauty"
ReplyDelete@Lauren R... Your statement about white women taning is so true, I say it all the time, and actually thought I was the only women who felt that way.
ReplyDelete@Victoria Arnold ...ur statement about the documentary "A Girl Like Me" was very well said, I couldnt agree more.
ReplyDeleteI was quite disappointed in the documentary "A Girl Like Me", the comments that were madewere very disappointing. I am proud to say that I am black. I am very pleased with my skin color and proud of it.
ReplyDelete@keyriajmiles more people need to be confident and proud of their skin color, its a skin color it doesnt make a difference in your heart
ReplyDelete@Victoria Arnold I also agree with your statements about "A Girl Like Me"
ReplyDelete@Tariah- that totally makes sense I never really saw it like that. It's definitely true that children only see good and bad and don't really understand the whole concept.
ReplyDelete@ Samantha Candee- I agree with how the media tends to show women how they should look. It really does a huge impact on not only young white girls but also black girls.
ReplyDelete@Malori- I agree with what you said about the video "A Girl Like Me" because it is said that they have a stereotype when in reality some may not even be like that at all. It is a very sad thing and also very hurtful to some.
@keyriajmiles- I am very inpressed to see you say that about your race because i thinks its awesome for someone to believe so highly of themselves. It shows that you have a lot of confidence and thats a great quality triat to have. You also seem very proud of your race and that also is very inspiring for young black women. :)
ReplyDelete@Mallorie Grissom - i agree with your comment to @keyrisjmiles - the confidence she shares of her race is inspiring and is what we should all express of our culture and heritage.
ReplyDelete@Taylor McNeil - I completely agree with you! i am blond hair and well semi straight and it does suck 20% percent of the time. I also agree with your statement that your hair is unique and when it is different it is also. However we all do something to our hair to make it unnatural its hard not to when we have the media telling us what looks good and when we see new colors, colors, and styles coming at us all the time!
@keyriajmiles- I was too disappointed with the video "A Girl Like Me" but like i said above am proud of your confidence and it is inspiring to all African American Women.
@taylor mcnell I agree with what you are saying about women caring about their outside appearance. And about the hair, I feel like every person wants what they don't have. A girl with curly hair usually wants straight hair and the girl with straight hair usually wants curly hair. Thats just how people are I think.
ReplyDelete@ Kate R. I agree with you when you said that most women would like to better their appearance if there is a way to do it. Most all women want to look good and be thought of as pretty. And most women like to be pampered like getting your hair done, nails done, etc. It's just how most girls are.
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ReplyDelete@LaurenR I agree with you peole do care about what they look no matter what race you are.
ReplyDelete@Samantha I agree the media does play a huge role on what is perceived on what people wear. You should be able to color your hair with no worries