Review of Good Hair (2009) by Walter M — 20 Apr 2011

In the amusing documentary "Good Hair," Chris Rock is worried about the future of his infant daughters, namely their hair care. He should have cause for concern, considering black parents are already putting relaxer in their children's hair by the time they are 3 in order to straighten it out but at that age, it could permanently damage their hair.(Relaxer is actually sodium hydroxide and given enough time could probably eat through anything.) None of this is really new.(I seem to recall relaxer being referenced in "Malcolm X.").

And occasionally "Good Hair" has some insightful thoughts on black identity and how ideas of black beauty are formed from white models.(That's not to mention the helpful hints on how to make love to a woman who has hair weaves.) However, I disagree with Rock when he says it is all racial. Yes, only about 5% of black owned companies make weaves which start at $1,000 but is it any better when they are in charge of such an exorbitant business, putting people into debt as a result? In any case, this is simply basic capitalism in getting people to buy something they don't need.(Nor is it addiction, since there is no pleasure involved.) While Chris Rock interviews notables such as Maya Angelou and Al "The Dalai Lama of Relaxer" Sharpton, a lot of the other interview subjects are young black female entertainers who talk about their own issues with hair. But Rock does not probe deeply which is a shame since they are cultural trendsetters and could steer some impressionable young black women back towards agreeing with Tracie Thoms when she says "natural hair is freedom." Or no hair, for that matter.