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When Marcia Wade Talbert a journalist from Black Enterprise  pitched the idea for an article about natural hair in the at a recent meeting, a few of her colleagues said that the way in which one wore their hair was an expression of fashion; something meant to change with the seasons and maturity. Others thought the issue had been played in the media too many times. And some just wondered why anyone would care about expressing their self through hair if they were unemployed and in desperate need of work.

Then there were those like  who asked the question, “Why is it that wearing one’s hair, the way God created it such a revolutionary idea”? After debating the different perspectives they realized this was truly a divisive issue worth covering.

Here is some background, there is a negative stigma attached to natural Black hair in the United States and frankly in most places of the world. The story starts in the 1800’s and early 1900’s nappy, kinky, curly, hair was deemed inferior, ugly, and unkempt in comparison to the flowing, bouncy, hair of people from other cultures. The caricatures of Blacks that surfaced during that time in movies, children’s books, on laundry detergent, and food products were commonplace and they taught Blacks and Whites alike to loathe the appearance of Black hair and to associate it with dirtiness, unruliness and even character traits like laziness and dishonesty. Blacks who straightened their hair were deemed more likable, agreeable, and dependable by Whites; even more employable. 

Read the rest of the story here Black Enterprise

What do you think can you wear your hair in its natural state and be professional?