Black Women Who Wear Hair Bonnets Face Backlash Here's the History Behind the Controversial Deba

The dating between Black women and hair bonnets is complex — here's a comprehensive history of the controversial debate that has the neighborhood divided.

To say that Black women and our hair have a painful history is a real understatement. From hot combs to chemical relaxers, there aren't any lengths we haven’t gone to fulfill Western requirements of beauty. But thanks to OG YouTubers and social media influencers, the herbal hair motion is the new wave.

Solange mentioned a word when she dropped “Don’t Touch My Hair,” in 2016, yet, there’s nonetheless such a lot to give an explanation for. Let’s take the ongoing argument about hair bonnets, for instance. What as soon as used to be a easy protecting hair masking has now left the Black community divided.

However, to know the debate surrounding hair bonnets, there are a few things you want to know about Black women: Number one: we don’t play about our hair. Secondly, refer to primary ...

Black Women and Hair Bonnets: A complete breakdown of the backlash.

Looking back on American history, hair bonnets date all the way back to the 1700s — granted, the bonnets that they had again then looked a lot different than the ones which can be sold for $3.ninety nine at the attractiveness supply store.

While the accessory was once a logo of standing and wealth for decades, later, it was once used as some way for slave homeowners to differentiate their indoor and outside slaves. Needless to say, that trend died out around 1865 …

Fast ahead a couple of hundred years to the 60s and 70s — by way of this time, revealed headscarves had become a remark of Black power. Meanwhile, dressed in a bonnet in public wasn’t socially appropriate.

The query is, can Black ladies game a bonnet out of doors these days? According to Mo'Nique, the answer is hell to the nah.

In 2021, the comedian went viral after she read us our rights in an Instagram video. “The question that I’m having to you my sweet small children is, when did we lose pride in representing ourselves,” she requested in the clip, regarding people who wear bonnets in public.

The Parkers actress added: “When did we step away [from] ‘Let me make certain I’m presentable once I depart my home? Let me make sure I’m representing the family I created in order that if I’m out in the boulevard I appear to be I have delight in myself.’"

After her post made its rounds on social media, it evoked a strong response from the public. While the OGs of Black Twitter agreed with her, she faced backlash from just about everyone else. Our auntie was likely well-intentioned, but her message kind of missed the mark.

You see, Webster defines respectability politics as “a set of beliefs holding that conformity to prescribed mainstream standards of appearance and behavior will protect a person who is part of a marginalized group, especially a Black person, from prejudices and systemic injustices.”

The dictionary entry continues: “Black respectability politics embraces the illusion of a level economic playing field.”

Contrary to popular belief, Black women are not a monolith and neither are our hairstyles. That said, for many of us, the pressure to conform is innate.

After all, the world has never asked us to come as we are — that’s exactly why we keep our nails polished, edges laid, and our noses powdered. But what if maybe, just maybe, Black women were allowed to just be.

Call me crazy — but what if, in some weird alternate universe, Black women could walk the earth without fear of embarrassing our entire race?

Yeah, I do know ... it is not going. But a woman can dream, right?

Before I hop off my soapbox, I encourage you to consider: a Black girl dressed in a bonnet to the airport is not any different than a white man wearing a onesie and furry slippers on a aircraft. It might not be your cup of tea, however however, no person’s in reality asking you to drink it.

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