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Yes, I believe this issue still needs to be addressed. HOwever, I feel that if Beyonce and other Black women choose to wear blonde weaves or European type hairstyles, today, it is not as intense as it was decades ago in the negative sense of being an inferiority complex . I see a lot of Black women with afros and have dyed blonde hair. But however, this is some of my own experiences with this issue of Black women [and Brown] that have frustrated me on this issue of 'Black hair' being viewed as Bad Hair: My husband and I were sitting in the kitchen with our baby who was about 11 months old and his mother was at the stove but turned around and said to my husband, "He aint gonna have hair like Papa". Then my husband said to his mother, "Mom, what do you mean? So what?" Then she said, "Well, I am just saying, he ain't gonna have hair like Papa, that's all." And then about four years later, my husband and I were in the back seat of one of his older sisters, and as she was driving us to the store, she glanced over her shoulder at me, and said, "I wouldn't be caught dead with my hair like that." [I wore my hair natural, and it was alot at that time] My husband said nothing. But weeks later, I asked my husband did his sister always relax her hair, and he said H**l no. She wore a TWA during the 70s. And there is much more to this story but, right now today, this subject is always a topic on both sides of my family just about everytime we come together. Even though my husband's mother has nappy hair and all of her children have nappy hair, she was looking to see if her grandchildren have 'hair like her husband', my father-in-law. And my own mother made some words on this same wise. My aunt said one day just last year, that she had naturally straight hair like her mother, and after a moment of silence, I just couldn't bare it, so as her daughter [my cuz] was sitting there practically daring me to say otherwise, I said, "Auntie, I remember your picture when you came to visit us years ago, and you had an afro." Well, again, there was silence, until someone decided to change the subject. So, it's my experience that the subject of 'good hair' and 'bad hair' is still very prevalent. @Troy That video you posted was painful to watch.

@Cynique Yes! This is exactly what I thought when I read this thread... There seems to be a whole black women's narrative accented by #blackgirlmagic movement that seems to be be passing some brothers by. The thing is @Troy and @Pioneer1 I can't say if this is caused by your framing what's happening today with whom you are atrracted to, or who's in your comfort zone. But most of us black women are celebrating our "free-to-be-me" looks. The challenge though for any of us to look through a new lens. I attempted to look for and see these black women who you say seem to be hating themselves because Beyonce wears blonde wigs and weaves. When I look in the retail stores, the grocery stores, restaurants, on social media, my friends, my daughters' friends, their coworkers; when I travel the world or in the airports, I don't see any women represented in that narrative you both talk about. In fact, if mainstream media is snapshot of our current culture; the biggest, most profitable issue for fashion editorial magazines is September and here's the covers from the majors. This is what black women are raving about this month... We have taken over the covers and we are well represented all shades, hair types and body types. etc.... But what excites me even more is these black women featured on the covers are so focused on achieving their best lives ever professionally and personally that it is inspiring black women of all ages but especially our youth... I was fortunate enough to have TWO stories in this month's EBONY ... I wrote the coverstory for (Natural hair wearing) Peabody-Award winning TV Program creator ISSA RAE and a goals segment featuring filmmaker Nicole Franklin (page 22)...These women are self-made because they are putting in the work. So, I could be biased but that old narrative of trying to emulate white folks and europeans is really tired and ancient - because in the words of Kimberly "Sweet Brown" Wilkins "Ain't nobody got time for that"

@Pioneer1 I agree with you in that people should choose what they want. But, I also think that presently the world is going through a process and this issue is being worked out by and by to the affect that eventually, there will be an existence in which positive relationships amongst people will exhibit a peaceful interchange. But today, this is difficult to achieve due to an evil intent to cause discord. I also think that we are confused today because we don't know of a time on earth where relationships were peaceful continually. We have been conditioned to view relationships today based on the modern mankind, and we are limited to this aspect. Gender uniqueness today was not the same a long time ago and so many people today believe that men should have many wives or women, people should have same sex intimate relationships, woman should be accepted to have many husbands or men, inter-racial relationships should be acceptable, and etc. WHO SET THE LAW? WHO SETS THE RULES? And why do we have so many break ups that the court has to decide? HOw should children be conditioned towards acceptable intimate relationships? Will there be a time in the future in which Gender specificity changes in terms of the human body? A long time ago during ancient civilizations, it doesn't seem like men and women reproduced as much as couples do today? And this issue, 'reproduction' is a major aspect of relationships too in many regards. It amazes me now that, based on my choices, I have caused reproduction, and my offspring could go on to reproduce. What if I cause a future Hitler to be born? But then what if I cause a future Imhotep to be born, live and become renown for good deeds? I don't think that we are conditioned to recognize accountablity as much as it was regarded in the past. But I think that self control is the key to individual peace. So, if a person feels that they can control, maintain and exist within peaceful multiple relationship then, it is a choice.

@TroyDid you miss this post? i didn't exactly ignore your question about your 8 year old video about dolls. BTW, in the real world, black kids have always appreciated seeing characters who look like them in the books they read and the movies they watch. Your perspective needs broadening. @Mel Hopkins Congrats on your EBONY cover!

@Mel Hopkins Ebony article, cover story, ad subject are great. I'm leaving my office right now heading to my local B&N and with fingers crossed hoping I can pick up this issue. I'm also going to subscribe -- congratulations! Now back to the subject at hand... First Mel you should get to NYC more often you'll have no problem finding Black women with Blond hair. Second, lets not get carried away here: I'm not saying that all Black women who dye their hair Blond are self hating. My ex dyed her hair Blond, but her hair texture was natural and I don't think she was a trying to look white or be like Bey. You might also try visiting the 'hood, in any major city, and you'll have no trouble finding sisters with blond hair. Mel the "#blackgirlmagic movement," (news to me), by passed me because I simply do not use Twitter. I post stuff and react to stuff that I post. Occasionally, I react to stuff that the few people I follow (like you and Chris) post, but that is it. I think the vast majority of Black men. like me, are completely obvious to the stuff that goes on on twitter -- save 45s tweets that are shoved down our throats by the media. Also, I don't see how the covers support you point? One woman is bald the other hair straight hair. How does this reflect Black empowerment -- save Ebony (which is not a fashion magazine) The point that you ladies are ignoring is the fact (I assume this is not in dispute) that Black women are continually subjected to images of beauty that reflect european standards and this adversely impacts their self-image -- why is this even up for debate? Of course I'm not saying that YOU and your educated, urbane ,and sophisticated pals are impacted. But why you can't see that a great many of your sisters are escapes me. I'm beginning to think it is simply denial. I said that Black children still prefer white dolls. @Cynique immediately rejected this accused me be of being stuck in the past, When I showed her recent evidence to support my statement she ignored it -- even when I directly asked about it.... denial. I too have travelled the world and the most stricking thing that I discovered in Nigeria was that most women wore extensions or wigs with bone straight hair. Skin bleaching creams were prominently displayed in stores! Why on earth would a Nigerian sister need to bleach her skin?! @Cynique, @Mel Hopkins I'd be happy to read your explanation for this phenomenon. @Chevdove what is TWA hair style? Yeah the video was very sad to watch...

@TroyWell, in the video i saw the black kids were just as prejudiced against white kids as white kids were against them. So how bad can their self-esteem be? i was, however, struck by how one little black girl used the term "light-skinned" instead of "white" when she referred to one of the figures. "Light-skinned" is a black term used to refer to other blacks. So her answer takes on different implications. Were you expecting me to be surprised by the results? Didn't i just write an essay absurdly suggesting that what black folks need to do to solve their problems is to find a way to change the color of their skin? Like i said, my argument with you and Pioneer was about your over-emphasis on hair. America is what it is. and blacks are who they are. Time and time again, i remind that this country is not Utopia. It a white-controlled society dominated by institutionalized racism and it is not interested in sharing the power with its black minority. To continue implying that blacks would excel if only they acted like Africans instead of Europeans remains to be seen. and is a waste of time. It has also been established over and over that blacks are not a monolithic group, which is why i have no problem with individuals among them doing their own thing, using their skill-sets and talents to work The System to their advantage. More power to them. As for Beyonce, i think she rocks. She's an inspiration to ambitious black women.

Identity is what you are arguing. Remember you said race doesn't exist. Did you miss nap time maybe you need blankey.

@TroyOK. Obviously, my feeling is that the role of black hair in our society is much ado about nothing. To me, it is a superficial issue inasmuch as a woman's hair style, for whatever reason, has nothing to do with her innate ability to accomplish what she is capable of. Hair is just a blip in the black radar and has little to do with combating racism. I think that anybody who figures out a way to surmount racism is far more admirable than a black woman who decides to wear her hair natural because this makes her feel like she is honoring her ties to the continent whose tribesmen were among those who sold her ancestors into slavery - the same ancestors who were creative enough to figure out a way to make their hair more manageable, an art which became a part of their indigenous African-American culture. And as i previously contended, black women have evolved and assimilated enough into the dominant mainstream culture to wear their hair anyway they please without having their self-esteem questioned. And their skin color is actually an accessory to all the other accoutrements of style. Self-esteem, itself, is a blurred issue. You talked about the folly of everyone on a little league team receiving a trophy because to do otherwise would harm the self-esteem of the little darlings on the losing team. Self-esteem comes from within, not without and it rises once a person goes out into the real world and proves one's self. It can't simply be handed out to the unproven by those with questionable intentions. And once again I say that the same ones bemoaning black hair choices come up with all kinds of rationales and excuses for single black women's unchecked breeding of children, especially fatherless male ones who grow up to become the work force of the notorious prison industry. If these critics were as concerned about the dire ramifications of the baby-mama/baby-daddy culture as they are about synthetic hair, maybe I'd be impressed. As for Beyonce, i am not a rabid fan of hers or her music, but i give credit where credit is due, something you have steadfastly declined to do. Her VOGUE take-over is a feat that broke down racial barriers while reaching a wide audience. That's empowerment and her hair played only a minor role in this. A spread in a black magazine amounts to little more than preaching to the choir. This is true because White, Hispanic and Asian women are just as prone to this behavior as black ones are. Wanting to emulate a paragon transcends "race".

I'm sorry @Cynique, but you may be unaware of the fact that the white/black doll tests were repeated as recently as 2010 with the similar results -- and the stereotypes persist clearly into adulthood. "We are still living in a society where dark things are devalued and light things are valued." I, of course, don't have to tell you what white children believe... And don't get me started on the adverse impact of Barbie on Black women and their body image. I'm not generalizing or exaggerating. I'm also not saying that all women are running around in straight Blond wigs or that even all of these hate their Blackness -- but surely you must see that some women are and that the impact is real and worthy of being addressed. Fortunately it is being addressed, as more Black women embrace hair styles and are "glamorizing" themselves in ways that are not based on eurocentric standards of beauty. But we are clearly not out of the woods. You tout Beyonce's control of Vogue's cover as if it was the pinnacle of Black achievement... and this is my point. Would you (or the media) be making as big a deal of this if Bey had taken artistic control of Ebony's cover or whatever Black owned magazines are left? Personally I'm not impressed that Bey is taking control of Vogue or that she got a Black man an assignment. I'll celebrate when we react the same way when it is a Black owned magazine getting that shine -- that is what Black empowerment really means.

No, we don't all know this to "still" be true. This is what certain black men prefer to think because you are stuck in the past and religiously preserve this scenario because it's dramatic and full of bathos and repeated so much that has dissolved into the realm of lore. But the reality is that little black girls - when they do play with dolls, - don't prefer European looking dolls with blond hair and blue eyes anymore. They choose ones who look like themselves, and these types of dolls are plentiful and popular. Black barbie-type dolls have been around for decades and are a staple in the toy collections of black girls. The American Doll which is the end-all and be-all in the doll industry market put out a special addition of a black doll with caramel skin and thick abundant black hair and, as expensive as it was, was a big seller. Even white manufacturers knew there was a big market for black dolls and capitalized on it. Look around at all the little black girls nowadays. They all have corn rows or long braided extension, in the color and texture of their natural hair. BTW, few platinum blondes are natural ones. White women are all bottled blonds. Asians and Hispanics also change their hair color. But you guys continue to exaggerate, generalize, and embrace the stereotypes about black females, insisting that not wearing their hair natural dilutes their empowerment, ignoring how money doesn't give a damn about the appearance of who's making and spending it. In a room full of professional black females, how many of them would have long blond weaves? Maybe a 1/4 of them. There would be a smattering who would have short bleached-blond or red AFROS. The rest would have their hair styled in a variety of ways. These sistas would be in there, styling and taking care of business, not dwelling on something that certain black men are fixated on. In a country where brown skin and black hair will soon be the majority, white people are who should be worried about perpetuating European standards - and they are. That's what Trumpism is mostly about. Check out the upcoming issue of VOGUE which was taken over and published exclusively by Beyonce, who even hired a black photographer to do all the shots. From what has been leaked about this issue, she has revealed a lot of things about her private life, stripped herself bare and has some very interesting things to say on this subject. And expand on your belief about how black women superficially glamourizing themselves is so detrimental in the changing world of the 21st century.