It was side-splitting, eye-opening, and jaw-dropping. I hardly think I am the person and I hardly think this is the place to analyze any sort of African-American self-image zeitgeist, but I can say that this movie helped me to see just how crushing the pressure people put on themselves to be beautiful can be, regardless of skin color.
As the father of a little girl who will one day feel the societal pressure to fit a certain beauty archetype, I worry about what it will be like for Baby J when she's older. She will be faced with a whole separate set of issues than the women in Good Hair but they are certain to be vexing nonetheless.
This is the stuff that keeps me up at night. What's a dad to do?
Listening To: Dirt Track Date by Southern Culture on the Skids
This desire by society to be what others expect you to be pisses me off almost more than anything. Who cares what other people think as long as you are true to yourself. If everyone lived this way the world be a little bit of a better place.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Dave.
ReplyDeleteThe wisdom of Shakespeare: "This above all: to thine own self be true."
The wisdom of Sir Mix-A-Lot: "So cosmo says you're fat. Well I ain't down with that!"
Which is more appropriate here? I don't know.