A group of girlfriends and I were chatting over brunch mimosas one wintery Sunday when the topic moved to the unfair standards imposed on black women, especially when it came to our hair. Naturally (no pun), the topic came to the former first lady Michelle Obama embracing her natural textured hair and braided hairstyles after her life in the White House ended. Mrs. O has given us looks for sure, from gorgeously defined curls to long braids down her back beachside - but why didn’t we see these styles while she was actually in office?
(Barack Obama/Twitter)
I mean imagine it, seeing a black woman rocking her natural hair would have gone a long way in making so many black girls and women feel seen and represented. Something like what it was like for Jacob Philidelphia, the little boy who asked to touch Obama’s hair, and seeing it was just like his! But why was it that we didn’t have a textured curl or braids rocking first lady in office (the dream!). Well, Michelle Obama recently spoke out about this. Saying in an interview that she wanted to wear braids, but that she and her team deliberately made the choice to straighten her hair because Americans “weren’t ready”. As the first Black president and the first Black first lady, criticism of the Obamas went beyond policy differences. Every minute detail was criticized and scrutinized, even when it had no bearing on the work they were doing - we all remember the tan suit controversy. And while genuine political discussions should be welcomed as part of the American democratic process, it's sad that the criticism was less that and more on outfit and hair choices.
(Leigh Vogel / Getty Images)
Though disappointing, the feeling Michelle Obama expressed is not surprising, 80% of black women say they feel they have to change their natural hair for the workplace. Black women often face discriminatory treatment and prejudice simply for rocking what naturally grows from their scalp. "As Black women we deal with it — the whole thing about do you show up with your natural hair?" Michelle Obama noted. And it seems even the highest office in America is not immune from this feeling.
There’s a long history in America of policing black women and their natural hair. In 1786 the Tignon laws were decreed in Louisiana demanding that Black women cover their hair and refrain from dressing up so beautifully because it was attracting too much attention and making them too beautiful. Well Black women in Louisiana were more than happy to comply, adorning their hair scarves with beautiful feathers and jewels to bring even more beauty and attention to themselves.
('Creole in a Red Headdress' by Jacques Aman)
Luckily, things are changing in America. The CROWN act, prohibiting hair-based discrimination (including against braids, locs and protective styles like bantu knots) has passed into law in many states and federally has passed in the House of Representatives. This is only the beginning, it may take some time for all of society to catch up to what the legal system states but if Michelle Obama’s comfortability now rocking braids (while visiting the White House) signals anything, it's that natural hair and curl textures are finally being given the space and acceptance long overdue - and we are here for it!
