Black Hair Media Forum : Why do people say African-American hair... http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/ Tue, 21 May 2013 22:54:44 +0000 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:24:44 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.15 360 Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=353978 <![CDATA[Black Hair Media Forum]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com//forum_images/BHM_Logo_v5_Forum.jpg http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/ <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I just say black people hair,...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10126914.html#10126914 Author: Allure.
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 07 2013 at 8:24pm

I just say black people hair, that way it covers every texture regardless of the nationality ]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 20:24:44 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10126914.html#10126914 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : KunoichiNindroid wrote:The...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10126813.html#10126813 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 07 2013 at 7:15pm

Originally posted by KunoichiNindroid KunoichiNindroid wrote:

The political correctness thing. I guess we can't control it right? Though personally, I don't feel being called black is offensive coz sometimes there's really no other way to say it. "Dark-skinned" sounds really pretentious. If someone asked you which one of the spice girls was Mel B what would you say? "The black one". There, easy. Because you can't describe her appearance by her nationalities. If you say the English-Nevisian one, well not a lot of people even know what Nevis is.

Also, yea, I have heard a lot of people that say things like I'm 1/2 black, 1/4 german, 1/8 greek and 1/8 cherokee. I doubt there's any place in the world where they'd ask you to declare that officially. Why not just say what's on your passport if you can't derive your nationality by descent? 

.............

Oh and I have a question we can answer (Like this thread needs any more questions right?), What do we call Kimora? She's not full Asian but that's the first thing you notice about her. She's equally black. But since the one thing that stands out about her is her Asian features I'd describe her by saying she's Asian/Asian looking. Is that 'politically correct'? 


"What would you say to identify Mel B from the spice girls?"  I'd probably say the african looking or african descent looking one. I agree, you can't identify her by her nationality, but also, aren't all the spice girls british? they all have the same nationality so you really can't identify them by it.  if she was the only american, you could identify her as the american one. but it is easier to identify someone by how they look like than from invisible characteristics like nationality. but also, I'd try to not generalize and just say she's black, I'd say black looking. 

"1/8 greek and 1/8 cherokee... I doubt there's any place where they'd ask you to declare that officially." I'm not even sure if it's possible to declare that officially. by saying you're a quarter or half cherokee or something, you're saying that you have a cherokee grandparent or close ancestor, may be partly influenced by the culture, and may have physical traits from that ancestor. it's not like you're actually a quarter cherokee because, again, race doesn't work in percentages. meaning, it doesn't mean you have a quarter amount of the characteristics of someone who's pure cherokee. understanding that, saying you're 1/34 of something really doesn't make sence. just say you have a cherokee ancestor, that makes more sense. 

did you mean asian/african looking? if so, that's also how I'd describe her.


Edited by yahya - Feb 08 2013 at 1:05pm]]> Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:15:43 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10126813.html#10126813 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : ... I never said you can be...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10123391.html#10123391 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 06 2013 at 12:19pm

... I never said you can be 1/100 guatamalan or anything like that. I said race doesn't actually work in percentages. That is why I tried to explain that race isn't genetic, it's more like heritage. didn't I also say, "it's different if the person really doesn't know if they're mixed or what they're mixed with, but I'm not talking about that." also never said you can base one photo on an entire population, you're exaggerating my comment. my point was the african american population as a whole had darker skin back then than now. it's like only every other sentence I say is being heard. sigh. =_=

wish someone could have debated this with me properly. v_v


Edited by yahya - Feb 06 2013 at 1:15pm]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:19:55 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10123391.html#10123391 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : MsLamie93 wrote: You didnt...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116153.html#10116153 Author: Printer_Ink
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 1:48pm

Originally posted by MsLamie93 MsLamie93 wrote:

[QUOTE=Yumyum28] 
You didnt say this? Nobody asked for a national geographic piece. I questioned your statement because I know its not factual from the books, historical documentaries and generational info passed down through my multi cultural and very ethnically diverse family. Your later clarification was a bit more accurate..When it comes down to it, to each..his own. If you want to walk around talking bout your 1/100 Guatamalan, so be it   
This is what I am saying are people. If it is within the last few generations then fine but if you are going to go as far back as the 1700s it will get too complicated. Are people going to say they are african american, german, irish, dutch, british, native american, brazilian, japanese and burmese? Hell no! She says the dark skin and kinky hair thing but look what she said just before that. Not sure how many slaves were taken to America but is she seriously saying that  a few photos is what was the millions of slaves looked like? Even within one African country you have physical differences between ethnic groups. I understand african americans are mixed due to the history but other populations around the world have been having interracial sexual relations with each other as well and will continue to do so!![/QUOTE]
 
The vast majority of slaves brought to American came from West Africa. Places like Ghana, Senegal and The Ivory Coast and those people are very dark skinned and do have very kinky hair.
 
No problem with it .. it's history and behind us now.
 
Yes, but the sticky part is that Black Americans are mixed mainly because of all the rapes during slavery. So it wasn't like they where having interacial relationships freely ... as it may have been in other countries.
 
(I read somewhere that after 14 generations of living in The US - virtually ALL Black Americans .. are mixed.)
 
Now that's the underlying issue that most Europeans don't get and that and many other things .. make the country messed up .. that's one of the reasons I finally left.
]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:48:41 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116153.html#10116153 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : KunoichiNindroid wrote: Oh...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116134.html#10116134 Author: Printer_Ink
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 1:36pm

Originally posted by KunoichiNindroid KunoichiNindroid wrote:

 Oh and I have a question we can answer (Like this thread needs any more questions right?), What do we call Kimora? She's not full Asian but that's the first thing you notice about her. She's equally black. But since the one thing that stands out about her is her Asian features I'd describe her by saying she's Asian/Asian looking. Is that 'politically correct'?
 
It really gets down to how she 'identifies'.
 
Kimora's mother is Asian and father is Black... but she definitely  identifies as Black - though she recognized her Asian side as well.
 
Wheras Tiger Woods is a Black/Asian mix but he identifies as this .. odd term that I've never heard before which basicaally means .. mixed Black and Asian. I don't think he has anything to do with Black Americans though and you see all his women and friends are White. But it's his life - he's doing alright. LOL
 
Mariah Cary is another one that is mixed but she identifies ... as Black.
 
Really, I don't think it's up to us 'call' anybody anything. I try not to 'pigeonhole people based on what group I think thet belong to. That can be hard. Wink
 
But people have the right to 'indentify' with whichever ethnic group they relate to so I take my lead from them and move on. It really doesn't not bother me when people of color identify as  the non - black part of themselves. Often it's about their upbringing.
 
 
]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:36:16 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116134.html#10116134 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : It is somewhere between being...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116031.html#10116031 Author: Prairieflower1960
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 12:32pm

It is somewhere between being ignorant and the political correctness thing. Although all hair has different textures, America tends to focus solely on tight curly or kinky hair as being "African-American" hair.  And yes, if you're African-American and have bone straight hair, everyone will assume that the person is "mixed"...which is totally ignorant.  Just have to face that America was born with a race issue and will continue to have race issues until the end of time.
]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:32:31 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116031.html#10116031 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Oh and I have a question we...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116023.html#10116023 Author: KunoichiNindroid
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 12:27pm

 Oh and I have a question we can answer (Like this thread needs any more questions right?), What do we call Kimora? She's not full Asian but that's the first thing you notice about her. She's equally black. But since the one thing that stands out about her is her Asian features I'd describe her by saying she's Asian/Asian looking. Is that 'politically correct'?

Edited by KunoichiNindroid - Feb 03 2013 at 12:41pm]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:27:12 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116023.html#10116023 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Wow. People replied a lot since...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116005.html#10116005 Author: KunoichiNindroid
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 12:16pm

Wow. People replied a lot since I was last here. I really love healthy debates. Though I have some writing to do right now so I don't have time to read all the replies. I'll comment on one thing that caught my eye while skimming.

The political correctness thing. I guess we can't control it right? Though personally, I don't feel being called black is offensive coz sometimes there's really no other way to say it. "Dark-skinned" sounds really pretentious. If someone asked you which one of the spice girls was Mel B what would you say? "The black one". There, easy. Because you can't describe her appearance by her nationalities. If you say the English-Nevisian one, well not a lot of people even know what Nevis is.

Also, yea, I have heard a lot of people that say things like I'm 1/2 black, 1/4 german, 1/8 greek and 1/8 cherokee. I doubt there's any place in the world where they'd ask you to declare that officially. Why not just say what's on your passport if you can't derive your nationality by descent? 

]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:16:27 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10116005.html#10116005 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Yumyum28 wrote:You didnt...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10115898.html#10115898 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 03 2013 at 10:58am

Originally posted by Yumyum28 Yumyum28 wrote:

 
You didnt say this? Nobody asked for a national geographic piece. I questioned your statement because I know its not factual from the books, historical documentaries and generational info passed down through my multi cultural and very ethnically diverse family. Your later clarification was a bit more accurate..When it comes down to it, to each..his own. If you want to walk around talking bout your 1/100 Guatamalan, so be it   
This is what I am saying are people. If it is within the last few generations then fine but if you are going to go as far back as the 1700s it will get too complicated. Are people going to say they are african american, german, irish, dutch, british, native american, brazilian, japanese and burmese? Hell no! She says the dark skin and kinky hair thing but look what she said just before that. Not sure how many slaves were taken to America but is she seriously saying that  a few photos is what was the millions of slaves looked like? Even within one African country you have physical differences between ethnic groups. I understand african americans are mixed due to the history but other populations around the world have been having interracial sexual relations with each other as well and will continue to do so!!]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2013 10:58:20 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10115898.html#10115898 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : yahya wrote:I understand what...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113973.html#10113973 Author: Yumyum28
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 02 2013 at 12:24am

Originally posted by yahya yahya wrote:




I understand what you mean. I've never heard someone say african caribbean or african trinidadian, or african british... it's either black, african, or african american. and black is more politically incorrect. 

Originally posted by KunoichiNindroid KunoichiNindroid wrote:

I just checked up the definition of kinky and yea it means curly. Funny, I always thought it just meant it has kinks. (This actually brings up another question: Why is one of the hair types described as kinky curly then? Isn't that just redundant? Oh well. Let's save that for another day) There was an Indian girl in my class once who had mostly straight hair but the front left side was really raggedy so she always slicked it back. One day she decided to get bangs. When she came to class they were always smooth on one side but the other side looked like she slept on it. So we asked her what was wrong with her hair and she said "my hair's just kinky in front" "Kinky?" "Yeah, look at all the kinks!" And indeed, her hair had really awkward bends in it although it was mostly straight. Not waves, actual bends and twists. She didn't like straightening her hair and said it didn't make much of a difference when she blow dried so she mostly just brushed it with Amla oil.

well you weren't completely wrong. even though it doesn't show up in the dictionary, when you google kinky straight hair you see wigs and stuff with similar texture to relaxed hair or blow dries kinky hair. and kinky means tightly curly hair. when you stretch out the curl you get a z rather than an s like with curly hair. kinky curly hair means in between those two textures, like type 3c. 


Originally posted by sugabanana sugabanana wrote:

I think people should just say "Natural Textured Hair".



That's still hard to understand, because what about people with different hair types that have their hair in their natural texture?

Originally posted by MsLamie93 MsLamie93 wrote:

Originally posted by AnnaAari AnnaAari wrote:

 Take me for example, I am of an African background, but I am also Native American, Irish, and Asian. 

Lol there is no difference most African americans have very little white or 'native american' in them. Why are americans so desperate to attach native american to their ancestry? There is no such thing as 100% African, my parents are from Ghana my mum has type 3 hair and my skin is the same colour as some mixed race people. Africans come in a variety of shades and have a variety of hair textures and types.

umm... so even though she is part native, irish, and asian, she shouldn't claim it because she's mostly african? that doesn't make sense. most africans are mixed, but not mixed with the same things, there's no shame in telling others what your mixed with. it's not like she's denying her african heritage. but she would be denying her other heritage if she denied to say what she was mixed with. africans do come in a variety of shades and hair textures, but the ones brought to america and the islands came from the same area. tribes with very dark and kinky hair. 







You didnt say this? Nobody asked for a national geographic piece. I questioned your statement because I know its not factual from the books, historical documentaries and generational info passed down through my multi cultural and very ethnically diverse family. Your later clarification was a bit more accurate..When it comes down to it, to each..his own. If you want to walk around talking bout your 1/100 Guatamalan, so be it    ]]> Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:24:53 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113973.html#10113973 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : you do realize african american...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113911.html#10113911 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 11:38pm

you do realize african american is different from saying american, right? you can plainly say african because that's your nationality, it's different in america. no one originated here (except the indigenous). it'd make more sense if you argued why we don't just say american, and not use a prefix. 

and where did you hear that if you have any other ancestry it's more likely comes from europeans whether you're african or african american? I've never heard this before or observed this before.  you do know that people are mixing everyday in america? asian, indian, hispanic, whites, blacks, etc. we're not just talking about the mixtures left over from slave times. and it's not very common to see an african american mixed with asian. 

in your original post you said that why are we desperate to attach native american? my point is, if someone had a memorable native american ancestor, why shouldn't they say it? that's what being part native means. you still haven't addresses this. it also seems that you're unaware with how race works. someone can't look mixed unless they are mixed. race and the traits associated with them doesn't really work in percentages.

but ugh, nevermind. let's just forget it. my point is obviously just going to continued to be ignored. if you're african american, and you're mixed with something else, it looks like you have to say you're only of african descent. 



Edited by yahya - Feb 01 2013 at 11:42pm]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:38:54 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113911.html#10113911 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : lol the whole point of my first...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113664.html#10113664 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 8:40pm

lol the whole point of my first post was to point out to the other poster that she is not that different from africans, africans and african americans have the same hair you can get them of different types. I pointed out the native american bit because nearly every african american claims it but apparently very few have native american ancestry. If you are going to have any other ancestry it is more likely going to come from europeans whether you are african or african american. The point I made with my family even though we know we are not 100% african we call ourseleves africans and leave it at that. Some african americans never seem to leave it a just being african american.]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:40:51 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113664.html#10113664 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : ah, I see, you&#039;re seeing...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113418.html#10113418 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 6:11pm

ah, I see, you're seeing race as a genetic thing. I'm talking about race on a social, geographical, and cultural level, race doesn't exist genetically, it's pseudo science. but that's too much to explain right now, and I'm really tired of making things understandable right now. in short, we are one race, the human race. what we call races are actually breeds. the three breeds are: caucasian (includes middle east and india), asian (includes native indian), and african. these main breeds are a reflection of the diaspora and the different distinct adaptions of each group. grouping people as races (not meaning breeds) because of their traits is actually superficial because their genetics can have the dormant trait characterized by a different race, this is why race doesn't show genetically. the concept of race is man made (by whites during the time of much racial prejudice) which is why most of this probably doesn't make sense to you. they're many online articles that can explain better.

and when I said dark I meant the people had darker and kinkier hair than the population has now. what you consider very dark may not be what I consider very dark, that's a matter of opinion. 

looking mixed doesn't have anything to do with being mixed. you can be half white and black, but look more black or white, or completely black or white. this goes back to how race isn't genetic. and african traits tend to be more dominant, so it's not unusual for your sister to have more african-like features. you still have equal amounts of heritage from both sides. and Ghanaism is a nationality, not a race (meaning breed), so it's fine to just call himself that. when people ask me my ethnicity, I'll usually say Trinidadian American. because the majority of the population is african and indian descent, minority chinese and hispanic.  



Edited by yahya - Feb 01 2013 at 6:19pm]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:11:54 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113418.html#10113418 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : yahya wrote:... I never said...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113215.html#10113215 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 4:29pm

Originally posted by yahya yahya wrote:

... I never said they came from the same tribe, I said similar tribes. the atlantic slave trade shipped the majority of their slaves from central and west africa. not from places like ethopia and other northern-eastern regions. no, I've wasn't there at the time, but I've done my reading about the slave trade and the diversity of africa. also, haven't you ever watches movies about slavery? or read books with photos? they were generally darker than how african americans are today. 

the average african american is actually about 80 percent african. they're mixed even if they don't know it. why don't people just say they're mixed instead of claiming a specific ethnicity? I don't know how to answer that question because it's too broad. not everyone claims one ethnicity and not everyone claims to be mixed. you can be mixed in so many ways, it depends on the mixture of the person. for example, if someone is mixed with 4 different things quarterly, they'd say they're mixed and specify with what. if someone is mixed 75% african and 25% something else, they're mixed but not that mixed, so they'd say they're african mixed partly with blah blah. if that person was to just say their mixed they'd give people the wrong impression and probably get accused of denying their african heritage or something, which it would sound like. but why should this same person just say they're african american and never admit they're partly mixed? isn't that a denial of their heritage still?

I have many white, indian, and hispanic friends who, when asked their ethnicity, add part african. why would you assume they wouldn't say they're part black? another denial of african heritage? I mean, it's different if the person really doesn't know if they're mixed or what they're mixed with, but I'm not talking about that. so why is it that people make a big deal about denying african heritage, but they can deny their white or other heritage? let's get more modern. 

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I really don't understand you two's thinking. I also don't appreciate unfairly being called ignorant just because I've said things you two have never heard or understand. 


I have seen photos of slaves but not a movie with a real slave. They aren't all that dark. I don't see the point in saying you are 1/32 this or that just for the sake of it. My father and I could easily call ourselves mixed because it shows but if one of my sisters did they would get laughed at, my dad is a quarter white but he never mentions it unless asked. He says he is Ghanaian and leaves it there. If someone asks I will tell them otherwise I just say I am Ghanaian raised in the UK. I don't mean to be horrible, its just something I have noticed a lot with AA online and when I have visited the States. 
]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:29:56 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113215.html#10113215 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : ... I never said they came from...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113147.html#10113147 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 3:55pm

... I never said they came from the same tribe, I said similar tribes. the atlantic slave trade shipped the majority of their slaves from central and west africa. not from places like ethopia and other northern-eastern regions. no, I've wasn't there at the time, but I've done my reading about the slave trade and the diversity of africa. also, haven't you ever watches movies about slavery? or read books with photos? they were generally darker than how african americans are today. 

the average african american is actually about 80 percent african. they're mixed even if they don't know it. why don't people just say they're mixed instead of claiming a specific ethnicity? I don't know how to answer that question because it's too broad. not everyone claims one ethnicity and not everyone claims to be mixed. you can be mixed in so many ways, it depends on the mixture of the person. for example, if someone is mixed with 4 different things quarterly, they'd say they're mixed and specify with what. if someone is mixed 75% african and 25% something else, they're mixed but not that mixed, so they'd say they're african mixed partly with blah blah. if that person was to just say their mixed they'd give people the wrong impression and probably get accused of denying their african heritage or something, which it would sound like. but why should this same person just say they're african american and never admit they're partly mixed? isn't that a denial of their heritage still?

I have many white, indian, and hispanic friends who, when asked their ethnicity, add part african. why would you assume they wouldn't say they're part black? another denial of african heritage? I mean, it's different if the person really doesn't know if they're mixed or what they're mixed with, but I'm not talking about that. so why is it that people make a big deal about denying african heritage, but they can deny their white or other heritage? let's get more modern. 

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I really don't understand you two's thinking. I also don't appreciate unfairly being called ignorant just because I've said things you two have never heard or understand. 

]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:55:18 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10113147.html#10113147 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : MsLamie93 wrote: Yumyum28...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112138.html#10112138 Author: Yumyum28
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 8:51am

Originally posted by MsLamie93 MsLamie93 wrote:


Originally posted by Yumyum28 Yumyum28 wrote:

Yahya....By that logic...shouldnt everyone just call themselves mixed then? Instead of claiming a particular ethnicity? And really? They all came from the SAME tribe tho? Seriously?

There is a lot of ignorance on this thread. I'll pray for my american sisters lol.


]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:51:48 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112138.html#10112138 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Yumyum28 wrote:Yahya....By...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112045.html#10112045 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 5:51am

Originally posted by Yumyum28 Yumyum28 wrote:

Yahya....By that logic...shouldnt everyone just call themselves mixed then? Instead of claiming a particular ethnicity? And really? They all came from the SAME tribe tho? Seriously?
There is a lot of ignorance on this thread. I'll pray for my american sisters lol.
]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:51:16 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112045.html#10112045 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : yahya wrote: umm......]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112044.html#10112044 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 5:50am

Originally posted by yahya yahya wrote:

umm... so even though she is part native, irish, and asian, she shouldn't claim it because she's mostly african? that doesn't make sense. most africans are mixed, but not mixed with the same things, there's no shame in telling others what your mixed with. it's not like she's denying her african heritage. but she would be denying her other heritage if she denied to say what she was mixed with. africans do come in a variety of shades and hair textures, but the ones brought to america and the islands came from the same area. tribes with very dark and kinky hair. 

That means everyone is mixed and Africans and African Americans should call ourselves mixed. How far do you have to go to be able to call yourself mixed. How many white people do you know who say they they are part black? Slaves came from all over West Africa, some even came from more southern western parts. How do you know they all had extremely dark skin and kinky hair, were you there? 
]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:50:03 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10112044.html#10112044 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Yahya....By that logic...shouldnt...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111936.html#10111936 Author: Yumyum28
Subject: 353978
Posted: Feb 01 2013 at 1:13am

Yahya....By that logic...shouldnt everyone just call themselves mixed then? Instead of claiming a particular ethnicity? And really? They all came from the SAME tribe tho? Seriously?

Edited by Yumyum28 - Feb 01 2013 at 1:14am]]> Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:13:36 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111936.html#10111936 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I understand what you mean....]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111790.html#10111790 Author: yahya
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 11:06pm

I understand what you mean. I've never heard someone say african caribbean or african trinidadian, or african british... it's either black, african, or african american. and black is more politically incorrect. 

Originally posted by KunoichiNindroid KunoichiNindroid wrote:

I just checked up the definition of kinky and yea it means curly. Funny, I always thought it just meant it has kinks. (This actually brings up another question: Why is one of the hair types described as kinky curly then? Isn't that just redundant? Oh well. Let's save that for another day) There was an Indian girl in my class once who had mostly straight hair but the front left side was really raggedy so she always slicked it back. One day she decided to get bangs. When she came to class they were always smooth on one side but the other side looked like she slept on it. So we asked her what was wrong with her hair and she said "my hair's just kinky in front" "Kinky?" "Yeah, look at all the kinks!" And indeed, her hair had really awkward bends in it although it was mostly straight. Not waves, actual bends and twists. She didn't like straightening her hair and said it didn't make much of a difference when she blow dried so she mostly just brushed it with Amla oil.

well you weren't completely wrong. even though it doesn't show up in the dictionary, when you google kinky straight hair you see wigs and stuff with similar texture to relaxed hair or blow dries kinky hair. and kinky means tightly curly hair. when you stretch out the curl you get a z rather than an s like with curly hair. kinky curly hair means in between those two textures, like type 3c. 

Originally posted by sugabanana sugabanana wrote:

I think people should just say "Natural Textured Hair".

That's still hard to understand, because what about people with different hair types that have their hair in their natural texture?

Originally posted by MsLamie93 MsLamie93 wrote:

Originally posted by AnnaAari AnnaAari wrote:

 Take me for example, I am of an African background, but I am also Native American, Irish, and Asian. 

Lol there is no difference most African americans have very little white or 'native american' in them. Why are americans so desperate to attach native american to their ancestry? There is no such thing as 100% African, my parents are from Ghana my mum has type 3 hair and my skin is the same colour as some mixed race people. Africans come in a variety of shades and have a variety of hair textures and types.

umm... so even though she is part native, irish, and asian, she shouldn't claim it because she's mostly african? that doesn't make sense. most africans are mixed, but not mixed with the same things, there's no shame in telling others what your mixed with. it's not like she's denying her african heritage. but she would be denying her other heritage if she denied to say what she was mixed with. africans do come in a variety of shades and hair textures, but the ones brought to america and the islands came from the same area. tribes with very dark and kinky hair. 




Edited by yahya - Jan 31 2013 at 11:15pm]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:06:22 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111790.html#10111790 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : KunoichiNindroid wrote: I...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111251.html#10111251 Author: lalaLeslie
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 6:54pm

Originally posted by KunoichiNindroid KunoichiNindroid wrote:

I just checked up the definition of kinky and yea it means curly. Funny, I always thought it just meant it has kinks. (This actually brings up another question: Why is one of the hair types described as kinky curly then? Isn't that just redundant? Oh well. Let's save that for another day) There was an Indian girl in my class once who had mostly straight hair but the front left side was really raggedy so she always slicked it back. One day she decided to get bangs. When she came to class they were always smooth on one side but the other side looked like she slept on it. So we asked her what was wrong with her hair and she said "my hair's just kinky in front" "Kinky?" "Yeah, look at all the kinks!" And indeed, her hair had really awkward bends in it although it was mostly straight. Not waves, actual bends and twists. She didn't like straightening her hair and said it didn't make much of a difference when she blow dried so she mostly just brushed it with Amla oil.

Kinky is tightly curled, so kinky curly probably refers to hair that is more kinky than curls (as is looser curls) because there is also the term curly kinky. 

Originally posted by Printer_Ink Printer_Ink wrote:

I think you are splitting hairs (pardon the pun).Embarrassed You are from Zambia .. but obviously when people speak of African-American hair .. 9 times out of 10 whoever is speaking is speaking to an American audience. That's all.
I doubt that someone in Zambia is writing a book or whatever and is referring to 4 b/c hair as AA hair.

Even if they are speaking to an American audience using the "African American" in front of Hair is describing the hair to be African American. Hair cannot be African American.

If you ask them if they wrote this article for only black Americans, I'm sure they would say no. They just wanted to be politically correct (don't understand how the term is politically correct though). People even call black people who are not American, African-American. Is it because they think they're American or because they're only thinking about America? No. It's because they want to be PC and that's the only PC term they know to describe black people.

I don't know who you were replying to, but obviously someone writing a book about 4 b/c hair isn't going to use the term AA. They do not use that term. According to your logic, they would call it Zambian hair. 
]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:54:03 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111251.html#10111251 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : AnnaAari wrote: The...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111146.html#10111146 Author: MsLamie93
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 6:08pm

Originally posted by AnnaAari AnnaAari wrote:

The reason people say African AmericanHair, versus African Hair, is because most people who are consideredcolored or black are not completely (%100) African.They didn't come straight from Africa, they are mixed with somethingother than that. Take me for example, I am of an African background,but I am also Native American, Irish, and Asian. I have African'American' hair because I am not %100 African. I hada friend who is %100 African, Zainab, she on the other hand does haveAfrican hair. See the difference. We aren't makingthings harder for ourselves, we are being factually correct. If youcome from Africa you most likely have African Hair,but if you are in America(or anywhere else in the world) and aremixed with something other than African you have AfricanAmerican Hair.

In reality all it is is Afro-texturedhair. I suggest if you want to look up African hair, you look upactual tribes and groups.

For example I searched (African Mandigo Hair) and came up with this link
http://digitalgallery.nypl.orgypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&ID=1112273&k=0&print=small - http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&imageID=1112273&k=0&print=small

And to answer your question "IfI moved to America would my hair suddenly become African-Americanhair?" You be the judge, are you mixed- then yes. If yournot mixed- then no.

I hope I helped.



Lol there is no difference most African americans have very little white or 'native american' in them. Why are americans so desperate to attach native american to their ancestry? There is no such thing as 100% African, my parents are from Ghana my mum has type 3 hair and my skin is the same colour as some mixed race people. Africans come in a variety of shades and have a variety of hair textures and types.
]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:08:32 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10111146.html#10111146 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I think you are splittinghairs...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110289.html#10110289 Author: Printer_Ink
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 10:51am

I think you are splitting hairs (pardon the pun).Embarrassed You are from Zambia .. but obviously when people speak of African-American hair .. 9 times out of 10 whoever is speaking is speaking to an American audience. That's all.
I doubt that someone in Zambia is writing a book or whatever and is referring to 4 b/c hair as AA hair.
 
1) When people speaking of AA hair they are obviously generalizing that is is 4 b/c. This is because though most of us are mixed with whatever ... mainly our hair is 4 b.c hair. Sure there are plenty of AA people with 2b/c or 3b/c hair ... but they are 'generalizing' to make the topic understood.
 
2) Conversely when people talk aboit "White people's' hair .. well generally that means straight 1 b/c hair ... in general. But of course there are plenty of White people with curly hair in the range of 2 b/c or 3 b/c tough I think it would be rare to find a White person with 4 b/c hair.
 
I think the general 'THEY' out there are only speaking in generalities - no need to take offense and read into these things so much.
 
I think the term "Natural Textured Hair" is good ... but everyone is noy going to be thinking of this so much.
 
(Ethiopia - I've been all over and in the capital (Addis Ababa) people mainly have hair that's 3 b but in the south and in many other places in Ethiopia people have regular 4 b/c tightly coiled hair.
 
http://s.search.yahoo.com/search/s;_ylt=A0PDoQ2NowpRL0UASdeJzbkF?p=the+people+of+ethiopia&fr=yfp-t-701&ei=utf-8&n=30&x=wrt&y=Search - http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0PDoQ2NowpRL0UASdeJzbkF?p=the+people+of+ethiopia&fr=yfp-t-701&ei=utf-8&n=30&x=wrt&y=Search  )


Edited by Printer_Ink - Jan 31 2013 at 11:05am]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:51:01 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110289.html#10110289 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I think people should just say...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110168.html#10110168 Author: sugabanana
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 9:31am

I think people should just say "Natural Textured Hair".]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:31:29 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110168.html#10110168 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Agreed not all Africans have the...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110166.html#10110166 Author: sugabanana
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 9:30am

Agreed not all Africans have the same hair. Somalians and Ethiopians have almost curly(not the kinky curly) to straight hair. Cape Verde is another place in Africa they speak Portuguese and they have straight hair like Europeans.]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:30:34 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110166.html#10110166 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : Because African-American is just...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110162.html#10110162 Author: chrissypoo
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 9:24am

Because African-American is just the politically correct way of saying black now regardless of origin.]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:24:29 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110162.html#10110162 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I just checked up the definition...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110005.html#10110005 Author: KunoichiNindroid
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 3:04am

I just checked up the definition of kinky and yea it means curly. Funny, I always thought it just meant it has kinks. (This actually brings up another question: Why is one of the hair types described as kinky curly then? Isn't that just redundant? Oh well. Let's save that for another day) There was an Indian girl in my class once who had mostly straight hair but the front left side was really raggedy so she always slicked it back. One day she decided to get bangs. When she came to class they were always smooth on one side but the other side looked like she slept on it. So we asked her what was wrong with her hair and she said "my hair's just kinky in front" "Kinky?" "Yeah, look at all the kinks!" And indeed, her hair had really awkward bends in it although it was mostly straight. Not waves, actual bends and twists. She didn't like straightening her hair and said it didn't make much of a difference when she blow dried so she mostly just brushed it with Amla oil.

Edited by KunoichiNindroid - Jan 31 2013 at 3:08am]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:04:08 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110005.html#10110005 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : I think the comment on the fact...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110000.html#10110000 Author: KunoichiNindroid
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 2:38am

 I think the comment on the fact that the articles originated in America is probably the most true. Sort of like how most articles about 'growing your hair natural' mean growing your hair without relaxers rather than without hair dye or any chemicals at all. Because we're the ones who write them and to us this is what it means but to people with straight hair it means something completely different. So in America 'African-American' hair, makes sense but to us outside America it sounds a lot more strange because we can't describe our hair that way. I dunno if I'm making sense. I just woke up. Lol

Edited by KunoichiNindroid - Jan 31 2013 at 2:51am]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:38:59 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10110000.html#10110000 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : AnnaAari wrote: The...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10109998.html#10109998 Author: KunoichiNindroid
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 31 2013 at 2:36am

Originally posted by AnnaAari AnnaAari wrote:

The reason people say African AmericanHair, versus African Hair, is because most people who are consideredcolored or black are not completely (%100) African.They didn't come straight from Africa, they are mixed with somethingother than that. Take me for example, I am of an African background,but I am also Native American, Irish, and Asian. I have African'American' hair because I am not %100 African. I hada friend who is %100 African, Zainab, she on the other hand does haveAfrican hair. See the difference. We aren't makingthings harder for ourselves, we are being factually correct. If youcome from Africa you most likely have African Hair,but if you are in America(or anywhere else in the world) and aremixed with something other than African you have AfricanAmerican Hair.

In reality all it is is Afro-texturedhair. I suggest if you want to look up African hair, you look upactual tribes and groups.

For example I searched (African Mandigo Hair) and came up with this link
http://digitalgallery.nypl.orgypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&ID=1112273&k=0&print=small - http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&imageID=1112273&k=0&print=small

And to answer your question "IfI moved to America would my hair suddenly become African-Americanhair?" You be the judge, are you mixed- then yes. If yournot mixed- then no.

I hope I helped.


Initially this is what I thought, but I recall another thread (can't remember which one) where I implied that there isn't the same diversity in hair texture between Africans in Africa and African-Americans because they have more mixed races. But most of the people on the thread passionately defended the fact that you can find the same variety of hair textures in 'true' Africans. So if so, then why differentiate African and African-American hair?

]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:36:23 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10109998.html#10109998 <![CDATA[Why do people say African-American hair... : AnnaAari wrote: The...]]> http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10109523.html#10109523 Author: lalaLeslie
Subject: 353978
Posted: Jan 30 2013 at 7:52pm

Originally posted by AnnaAari AnnaAari wrote:

The reason people say African AmericanHair, versus African Hair, is because most people who are consideredcolored or black are not completely (%100) African.They didn't come straight from Africa, they are mixed with somethingother than that. Take me for example, I am of an African background,but I am also Native American, Irish, and Asian. I have African'American' hair because I am not %100 African. I hada friend who is %100 African, Zainab, she on the other hand does haveAfrican hair. See the difference. We aren't makingthings harder for ourselves, we are being factually correct. If youcome from Africa you most likely have African Hair,but if you are in America(or anywhere else in the world) and aremixed with something other than African you have AfricanAmerican Hair.

In reality all it is is Afro-texturedhair. I suggest if you want to look up African hair, you look upactual tribes and groups.

For example I searched (African Mandigo Hair) and came up with this link
http://digitalgallery.nypl.orgypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&ID=1112273&k=0&print=small - http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=356717&imageID=1112273&k=0&print=small

And to answer your question "IfI moved to America would my hair suddenly become African-Americanhair?" You be the judge, are you mixed- then yes. If yournot mixed- then no.

I hope I helped.



This still doesn't make sense. No one said to say African hair because not all Africans are black.
A lot of Africans who are black aren't 100% black. For instance, both my parents are African - born and raised, but I'm sure I have white somewhere in me. My dad (and his dad) is clearly not fully black.

" I have African'American' hair because I am not %100 African." this doesn't make sense. It would only make sense if you were saying you had African mixed with American hair, which still doesn't make much sense. 

The point is that the term African American just doesn't make sense in terms of hair. African hair doesn't make sense, because people in Africa can be white, and American makes no sense because you can't have American hair, unless you're saying you have Native American hair... but you can't have hair of a nationality (which does not mean race, it just means the nation you are from.)

Your explanation also doesn't make sense, because it doesn't include other people of African decent who live in places like England.


Edited by lalaLeslie - Jan 30 2013 at 7:54pm]]> Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:52:59 +0000 http://Forum.BlackHairMedia.com/why-do-people-say-africanamerican-hair_topic353978_post10109523.html#10109523