curly Archives - The Race Card Project

Stop asking to touch his hair

December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 afro, Black, CA, can I touch your hair, curls, curly, hair, identity, Jeanine Flier, multiracial, Tujunga

Jeanine Flier,
Tujunga, CA.

I am a mother of 3 multiracial children. They all have different types of hair. My oldest son has a very curly large beautiful Afro . My middle child as wavy thick hair similar to mine. My youngest child has large black curls. My oldest child is the ONLY ONE WHO WHITE PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY COME UP TO AND SSK IF THEY CAN TOUCH HIS HAIR. WHY?? It is racist and belittling and they don’t even realize they are doing it. Recently he starred in a production of the crucible. Even though there were two judges my child was the only judge that has to cover his hair with a wig. An example of white privilege these people never give a thought of how offensive their actions are. My child is not an animal to be petted, and his Afro is not something to be erased as you are trying to do with his identity.

Is all that your real hair?

June 14, 2023June 14, 2023 African American, Alexis Beauford, curly, ethnic, hair, IL, natural, normal, real hair, straight

Alexis Beauford
Normal, IL

2 years ago I decided to go natural. A lot of non-ethnic people don’t know what that means. When an African American woman gets a perm, it’s to make her hair straight and more manageable which is the opposite of when some other ethnicities get a perm. When someone decides to go natural it’s to rid their hair of the toxins and bad chemicals often put in your hair by perms, colorings, or just poor maintenance of ones hair. Some do that by chopping it all off (the big chop) and some transition by cutting it off with monthly end trims. I transitioned; I couldn’t cut off all of my hair because it was already a nice medium length when I decided to go natural. When I began to go natural my hair became more full and healthier. A term used around the natural community is “shrinkage.” My hair experiences shrinkage when it’s wet and although it curls right up, it shrinks and the appearance makes my hair look shorter than it actually is. In the provided picture is my hair blown out (with a blow dryer) and one with it just curly and you can see a huge difference in the length and texture. I often get asked by all of my peers (Caucasian and African American) if my hair is my real hair. I feel that sometimes it’s to say that I couldn’t possibly have grown that much hair on my own (the false perception of African American women and their dependency on weave). Another one is that the big change in the length and texture of my hair is to say that it’s “unrealistic” for hair to change dramatically like that with it being “your real hair.” I love my hair shrunken or long and bone straight. It adds to the diversity of my appearance and who I am. I don’t think it should be that hard to believe that my hair is the length it actually is naturally and I want everyone to embrace the fact that yes I’m an African American woman and yes all of that hair is mine.

Please do not touch my hair

November 18, 2022November 18, 2022 black hair, curly, do not touch, hair, kinky, Shardae, USA

Shardae,
USA

Often times I switch up my hair up, whenever I show my natural curly kinky hair it gets so much attention. People think it is appropriate to touch. It is ok to look but Do Not touch! In the black community hair expressions is huge.

Why isn’t my hair work appropriate

July 3, 2021July 3, 2021 afros, black hair, curly, hair, kinks, Natural hair, SC, Summerville, work, Zuleka Grant

Zuleka Grant,
Summerville, SC

If you ever look on google for work-appropriate or professional hair it is full of straight hair and Caucasian styles, but when you look up what is not, it’s natural black hair: afros, curls, and kinks!

Don’t straighten your hair, baby girl.

July 3, 2020July 3, 2020 curly, hair, McKinley Dixon, Richmond, school, sister, straight hair, VA

McKinley Dixon,
Richmond, VA.

In the dominantly caucasian school that my sister used to attend, she would get picked on for her hair being curlier and fuller than the other girls in her school. It got to the point where she would straighten it every morning before we go to school. Damaging her hair, for an unnecessary reason, I told her not to straighten her hair anymore to appeal to those that only knock you down. I told her every morning. I still tell her.

My dad was born in Kenya (and he is not black)

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017 Africa, assume, big lips, Black, blame, CA, correct, curly, features, hair, Jess, Kenya, physical feature, tan, Valencia

Jess,
Valencia, CA.

My dad was born in Kenya. People then assume he is black, and I do not blame them. However, before I can get a word out and correct them, that he is white, they assume I am part black and look for those black features. I have had people say, “oh I see it now! You have big lips for a white person.” OR “Ya! Cause you have curly-ish hair.” I have even had someone say “It makes sense, because you tan easily over summer!” It does not frustrate me, however, often people think they can determine your exact race based on obvious facial or physical features, when that it not always true. Some people look African and are African, but others may look Hispanic and instead they are white. It is best to acknowledge that it is not always about the facial/physical features.

Join the Newsletter

Info

Join our community