I’ve heard good reviews in regards to this Chris Rock documentary and I learned that it’s mostly a comedy. The thing about comedies is that no matter how serious the topic is, if the comedian is funny enough, the viewers who didn’t take the topic seriously beforehand, probably will not take the issue seriously afterward.
In other words, opening up our eyes and combating the issue usually goes completely out of the window. It’s almost as if the documentary was mocking a black woman’s insecurity issues. The standardized black celebrity beauties show up to the preview with their hair styled in ways that pretty much prove the documentary’s point, they watch a documentary poking fun at our issues, they get a good laugh, and the go back home.
I also find it odd that Chris Rock’s wife wasn’t interviewed. Here’s a question for the day. Can we as mothers really teach our daughters that natural hair is beautiful when we wouldn’t be caught dead in our own? Can you really instill values like these in your child without setting an example? I know, I know. This is the part that drives comments like “Don’t worry about her hair! Look at her accomplishments!” instead of trying to come up with ways to help get rid of the issues that we have left. And of course, posts like mine only add to the problem because we’re all too stubborn to look at the bigger issue: little black girls feeling as if they’re not as beautiful.
Anyhow, I feel that this issue needs to be tackled by someone who has actually been on both sides of the fence: both relaxed and natural. Chris Rock is clearly on the outside looking in; those on the outside looking in may not take an issue as seriously as someone who’s actually lived it. I find it sad that he took this issue so lightly after the fact that it was supposedly inspired by his young daughter. Lets not get started on the type of airy responses that he gives when asked about the movie, further ruining chances for anyone to take it as seriously as they should. It gives me more reason to believe that he’s more in it for the money.
I’m sure there’s those who would say “Well, at least Chris Rock helped bring light to the issue.” To me, that light is very dim and he could be harming it more than he is helping it. For an issue that has negatively affected our community for over a century, this is not the time to be joking around. We just can’t afford it.
Related posts:Tags: Chris Rock, Good Hair documentary
I agree with the above said. I have been on both sides and can say that I am proud to have had my natural hair restored to its natural beauty for over 3 years now.
People who love comedy will only see the funny side, they will not see the seriousness of this topic. But the question remains, even if they do see the serious side, would they go back to their roots, or carry on putting chemical products in their hair to make it straight like that of their oppressors. I already know the answer to that.
But what I will say is that Chrick Rock never brought to light the issue of natural black hair, it was brought to light years ago, and people still denied it then.
I vow not to perm my hair again and will instill these values in my daughter, as I want her to be proud of her roots, and not deny what the white people want us to deny and that is our true culture, which started way back in AD, BEFORE SLAVERY.
Great post – it really makes me want to see Regina Kimbell’s documentary My Nappy ROOTS from the excerpts – it seems like she takes a deeper, more serious look on the topic.
[...] After seeing previews and reading numerous reviews on the Internet, I finally got to see for myself what Chris Rock’s Good Hair buzz was all about. Overall, I thought the film was very entertaining. It was informative, laugh out loud funny and even sad at times. Just as he does within his stand-up comedy routines, Chris Rock, while making people laugh, brought to light a social issue, this one being the topic of hair within the black community. But, not everyone is laughing. “The thing about comedies is that no matter how serious the topic is, if the comedian is funny enough, the viewers who didn’t take the topic seriously beforehand, probably will not take the issue seriously afterward,” explains Gee of AfroGlitz in a blog entitled, Chris Rock: Helping or Harming? [...]