A Short History of Hair Discrimination-- Bad Hair

[Chevdove]

 

A Short History of Hair Discrimination-- Bad Hair

 

This thread is in reference to the Origins of African Hair and how this trait has become a confusion due to how it has been re-defined today.

Today, scientist here in the western world have groups African hair type in the

definition that includes 'hair that curls'. Historically, humans have reproduced and formed distinct cultures over the course of thousands of years. Some cultures have been defined based on a set(s) of common practices and also genetic traits that they share. Today, many people will express traits that can be seen in all humans. For example, when it comes to dominant traits that are expressed in Sub-Saharan Africans, such as thick lips, thick hips, rounded nose, and etc., you will see that these very traits can be seen in all human ethnic groups on a lesser percentage than what is seen in Sub-Saharan Africans. But however, there is one main trait that is exclusive to people of the indigenous African humans that no other ethnic groups of humans will express unless they also express other African traits that are connected and that would be the Nappy hair, or Afro hair--hair that locks. 

Colourism & Texturism

During slavery there was a strict caste system that separated Black slaves by

skin tone and hair texture. Lighter-skinned slaves with less kinky hair, typically

due to nonconsensual sexual relations with slave-owners, received better treatment.

 

This hierarchy of hair types was based on European standards of beauty, and fed into

the creation of social structures based on skin tone (known as colourism) and hair

texture (known as texturism) that continue to impact the lives of Black people throughout

the diaspora today.

https://halocollective.co.uk/halo-background/#:~:text=During slavery there was a,-owners%2C received better treatment.

 

 

 

 

Kinky hair, also known as afro-textured hair, is a human hair texture prevalent in the

indigenous populations of many regions with hot climates, mainly sub-Saharan Africa,

some areas of Melanesia, and Australia. [1] Each strand of this hair type grows in a repeating

pattern of small contiguous kinks (tight twists and sharp folds). These numerous kinks

make kinky hair appear denser than straight, wavy, and

curly hair types. [2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinky_hair

 

*The key phrase here is that kinky hair appears much denser than other hair types, revealing that kinky hair should NOT be defined with straight, wavy nor CURLY HAIR!!! That definition here in the western world of defining 'kinky hair' as being 'curly' is flawed. Kinky hair does not curl, rather it has a zig zag pattern and therefore this causes the strands to lock. 

 

For thousands of years, due to White Supremacy, the issue of African traits that are dominant in the indigenous world especially that of 'African hair' has been an extreme contention. For thousands of years, the White Supremacist has raped Africa and attempted to steal the identity of God's Creation of beauty. For thousands of years, African people have been deceived into the practice of White Supremacy. For thousands of years, due to rape, all dominant African traits have been re-defined as beauty traits only when these traits are expressed in non-African people. But the only African trait that cannot be separated and expressed in non-African cultures is the nappy hair, therefore, this trait became defined as being either curly hair or as a last resort; 'bad hair'. 

 

And this issue of the Original African hair being defined as 'bad hair' began in ancient times and was a major contention since the beginning of WS and Colorism. And this contention was dealt with early in time and captured in the ancient scriptures and all throughout the Bible:

[9] Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way,

after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

Dueteronomy 24:9.

 

Miriam, the sister of Moses was struck with extreme leprosy and turned white as snow from her head to her foot for seven days. This was how the Creator dealt with Israel when the contention of Colorism was brought up byway of Miriam. Colorism and WS was a serious issue that led to the the downfall of the Egyptians at that time and that led to the Exodus. Fast forward though to more than a thousand years after the Exodus to a time when Jesus confronted the Jews on their issue with Colorism and their obsession with 'good hair'. 

[31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him,

then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
[32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate

them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
[33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ...

 

[41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,

into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ...
[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

ST Matthew 24: 31-46. 

 

LOL. For those of you who do not recognize that Jesus picked a fight and told them a parable, I guess then, it is not for you to know. 

But nevertheless, it was an inside joke, so-to-speak. 

 

The watered down Jews were so angry when Jesus said this that they tried to throw him over a cliff. LOL. Since the beginning of the construction of the Tabernacle, those Jews knew that it was associated with 'the Ram's wool'. They knew this. Solomon and other prophets re-wrote this into their books too. Those Jews knew that their identity was connected to Africa. But nonetheless, this whole world has been poisoned by WS and Colorism. And the one human trait that the Creator linked firmly to eumelanin, that is black skin, that began with the origin of modern mankind, was the nappy hair. The one human trait that the indigenous Africans would express dominantly in their cultures would be nappy hair, not curly hair, but nappy hair. And therefore, because this is the one trait that cannot be isolated through reproduction to be expressed in non-African humans, it became defined, even in ancient times as hair that Abaddon [i.e. Magog] expressed; Bad Hair. 

[11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit,

whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath

his name Apollyon. [12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come

two woes more hereafter.   REVELATION 9:11-12.

 

Abaddon [i.e. A-BAD-don]: This would be why in the modern times, there came about a re-construction of humanity and Black African people became defined as being two-thirds human. The identity of modern mankind underwent a redefinition and Colorism and dominant African traits became a major component of how humans became defined but eventually, due to rape, the only trait today that still becomes a major contention is African hair type. 

 

[Chevdove]

 

The Comb Test

 

Even after the abolishment of slavery, barriers to advancement like “The Comb Test" were used in the US to enforce the idea that Afro-textured hair was not socially acceptable. An organisation would hang a fine-tooth comb outside its door, indicating that if a visitor’s hair could not be easily combed, they were not welcome to enter.

 

The Pencil Test

During Apartheid, Black South Africans were forced to participate in "The Pencil Test" to see if they could hold a pencil in their hair while they shook their head. If the pencil dropped to the floor, the person would be classified as white. If the pencil remained in their hair, they were classified as Black, subjected to segregation, and forbidden from accessing the same privileges. While these tests faded out of use, hair discrimination did not.

 

 

***** Dolly Parton ***** 

On the Queen Latifah Show --

Dolly Parton, one of my favorite actresses is seen in this clip wearing a wig, and it is an afro wig! 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot to post the link to reference of 'the Comb Test'

 

https://halocollective.co.uk/halo-background/#:~:text=During slavery there was a,-owners%2C received better treatment.

[Pioneer1]

9 hours ago, Chevdove said:

 

 

The Pencil Test

During Apartheid, Black South Africans were forced to participate in "The Pencil Test" to see if they could hold a pencil in their hair while they shook their head. If the pencil dropped to the floor, the person would be classified as white. If the pencil remained in their hair, they were classified as Black, subjected to segregation, and forbidden from accessing the same privileges. While these tests faded out of use, hair discrimination did not.

 

Wow....that's crazy.

I know Caucasians had different tests around the world they used to classify different races and the different admixtures, but I didn't know about this one.

I wonder where the "Coloured" population fit in with the "pencil test".

[Troy]

In in the article you provided @Chevdove I read a Black woman was told to chemically straighten her hair, or lose her job, at the department store Harrods in London — a store I’ve actually been to.

 

I worked for a company with a British employees would tell me that they were able to legally consider a woman’s appearance if She worked in a customer facing job. They thought it was silly you couldn’t do that here in the US.

 

 There are plenty of jobs where people are discriminated based upon their looks. Maybe there’s a job where having a head full of dreadlocks might not be a great idea — perhaps like a store like Harrods.

 

If I open a Bookstore featuring books by Black writers , I would  be inclined to discriminate based upon race, all other things being equal. Would that be a bad thing?

[ProfD]

1 hour ago, Troy said:

I worked for a company with a British employees would tell me that they were able to legally consider a woman’s appearance if She worked in a customer facing job. They thought it was silly you couldn’t do that here in the US.

Despite anti-discrimination which were enacted for the very same reason, US companies and businesses have forever been making the same considerations when it comes to customer facing jobs.

 

1 hour ago, Troy said:

There are plenty of jobs where people are discriminated based upon their looks.

Right.  There's a reason we didn't see plus sized airline stewardesses for a long time. 

 

Appearance is still a consideration in many jobs.  That's why there are dress codes and uniforms too.

[Pioneer1]

I would say appearance....to a greater or lesser degree...is an important consideration on MOST jobs.

People in positions of power look at your race, your sex/gender, how attractive you are, how articulate you are, etc.
They may not admit as much, but it happens.

As an AfroAmerican male who hasn't been considered the most attractive person in the world, trust me....I've had to put more work in to get the same consideration for certain positions that are all but FORCED on less qualified but attractive and feminine White women.

Outside of having to deal with some White men who don't want you around.....sometimes you also have to deal with some women of color who don't want you around either or could care less one way or the other...lol

And once I get the job, the tolerance for me messing up was often lower so I had to out perform them. 

[Troy]

BTW @Pioneer1 I had to look up the identity of your avatar. Why pick such an obscure person.  Did the Canadian do something for the people in your neck of the woods? 

[Pioneer1]

Don't even know the fella...lol.
Just picked him because he was a Black PIONEER who helped established Black communities through out the land.

[umbrarchist]

I was hired by the Big Blue computer company in the late 70s. It took 3 interviews. So I was waiting alone in an office after the third interview while 4 Field Managers decided my fate. Finally one came in, Pete. But he looked real nervous so I was wondering what the problem was. He says, "You know you will have to shave your beard if you take the job." I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "Money is more important than hair."
It was like I flipped a switch and his personality changed. He was all smiles. What did he think I was going to do? Pull out a knife an stab him.

Anyway I got sent from Wisconsin to Atlanta for training in February , Party. Saw the Staple Singers in Atlanta. Went back home after 10 weeks. The course was no problem.

 

Then I met Bob. Bob had been off with a bad back when I was hired. He was an Old Time employee of 20+ years in his 50s. He decided to grow a full beard while he was off. Mine had been like Malcolm X's. He got lots of jokes about his beard and I said nothing for 6 months. Then I got 2 weeks off and grew my beard back. The first person I ran into was the branch manager. He did a double take but said nothing. Bob was the only person in the department who made any comment. Maybe they were holding secret meetings.  SHShshshss...
"Don't say anything to the Black guy about his beard.

 

ROFL

[Pioneer1]

21 minutes ago, umbrarchist said:

I was hired by the Big Blue computer company in the late 70s. It took 3 interviews.

You were working back in the 70s?
And it sounds like you were past your 20s if you managed to grow a full beard like Malcolm's.

Man...you been around a while, lol 

You need to hook up with our girl  @Cynique

Or "the nameless one" or whatever she's calling herself now-a-days, lol.

 

[Troy]

@Pioneer1, I put @umbrarchist in his late 60's maybe 68 given what he said.  Sounds like a smart guy to be courted by "Big Blue" in the 70's.  I sport an Malcom X goatee nowadays, people say it becomes me, otherwise, I'd be clean shaven.

 

I would have loved to see the Staples in the 70's!   I saw Gladys Knight a couple of weeks ago.  She is obviously way past her prime, but did great for a woman in her 80s.

 

Pioneer, Mifflin Wistar Gibbs was a Republican LOL!

 

 

[aka Contrarian]

I figure umbrachist is a little older than 68. 

[umbrarchist]

3 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

I figure umbrachist is a little older than 68. 

How little?

I am certainly not in your league.

[aka Contrarian]

@umbrarchistWell, guessing that what you described happened was during  the mid 1970s when you were in your early 20s. 

I KNOW you're not in my "league" but you could be in your early 70s, which nowadays is not necessarily old. Age is just a number. An abstract thinker like you should comply with that. 

[umbrarchist]

3 hours ago, aka Contrarian said:

@umbrarchistW

 

I KNOW you're not in my "league" but you could be in your early 70s, which nowadays is not necessarily old.

72, I'm another Dragon.

[Troy]

OK I was off by 4 years, Cynique nailed it.

[Chevdove]

On 8/25/2024 at 8:10 AM, Troy said:

In in the article you provided @Chevdove I read a Black woman was told to chemically straighten her hair, or lose her job, at the department store Harrods in London — a store I’ve actually been to.

 

That is so crazy but here in America, we have had so many of those stories!

 

 

On 8/25/2024 at 8:10 AM, Troy said:

 

If I open a Bookstore featuring books by Black writers , I would  be inclined to discriminate based upon race, all other things being equal. Would that be a bad thing?

 

In this world today, anything could happen if you were to do that! A person could bring you up on charges for it. 

Today, it would probably be fair to hire Black employees, and then if someone of another race wanted to be hired and showed that they have a decent experience and history of being part of the Black culture, then it would be a great asset to have that kind of employee, imo. For example, there are a significant number of people of whom earned degrees from HBCUs that are European and from other cultures and therefore, if they wanted to be employed in a Black themed business, it would be awful to turn them away, imo. 

On 8/25/2024 at 7:58 AM, Pioneer1 said:

I know Caucasians had different tests around the world they used to classify different races and the different admixtures, but I didn't know about this one.

I wonder where the "Coloured" population fit in with the "pencil test".

 

LOL! Really crazy. I've not heard of the pencil test either and was very surprised to read that.

I have seen documentaries where in certain parts of Africa, Europeans would literally measure the noses of Africans! And discriminate based on their nose!

 

[ProfD]

10 hours ago, Chevdove said:

For example, there are a significant number of people of whom earned degrees from HBCUs that are European and from other cultures and therefore, if they wanted to be employed in a Black themed business, it would be awful to turn them away, imo. 

The question to ask is why are non-Black folks attending HBCUs in the 1st place. 

 

Non-Black folks don't need to be educated in our schools in order to get a job from the dominant society. 

 

But, I can think of several reasons for their enrollment.  It's definitely not to help us.

[Pioneer1]

It may be illegal to discriminate based on race in some cases, but it's NOT illegal to discriminate based on LINEAGE and quite possibly ETHNICITY.

AfroAmericans aren't a race.
We are an ETHNIC GROUP with a historical LINEAGE.

Just like Arab Americans, Asian Americans, and Italian Americans.

 

 

Troy

 

I was a little closer than you were, because I was thinking 74.

How I arrived at that estimate....

When I heard he was working for a computer company in the late 70s and could grow a full beard in a couple weeks...I pictured a man atleast in his late 20s if not 30s.

 

Late 20s (maybe) + Late 70s = Being born somewhere around 1950.

 

Ofcourse this being 2024 would mean that he would have to be around 74.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cynique

 

I KNOW you're not in my "league" but you could be in your early 70s,

 

LOL

 

I bet you were rolling your eyes when you typed up this one...lol.