why do african americans call straight hair good

If not using the word is not the solution, and using the word is not the solution. Then what is the solution?!

Edited by Davo - February 01 2007 at 6:23pm

My opinion on the n word is why say it at all. A lot of the time when I'm about to say it I try to catch myself. But still the question is why. A lot of people think that if we all use it (excluding white people) that it will make the word weaker and weaker therefore it would seem meaningless like any other word. But that's not the case. If a white person were to say the n word to you right now, you'll be insulted. That  makes you think that the word is never going to be made into something weaker than what it really is. If you look up the history of it the word is actually meant for an ignorant, or stupid person. During slavery times white people thought that we were all stupid so that was the word that they chose to use. Basically all I'm saying is if we all just stop using the word, not as a race, but everyone in the world together the word will become weak. Then we wouldn't have to worry about any other race insulting us with it because they will see that not even black people dare use the word, so they shouldn't either.

Yo Don, I get what you're sayin about not forgetting the past, and thats true, it is important to remember history and all that. What I don't agree with is using the word though...I mean, to each man their own...But personally, I stopped using the word after I really sat down and thought about the situation. Some black people who use it say that saying ni**a instead of nigg*r, somehow changes the word and makes it into a positive thing, instead of the negative way it used to be said. But then I have to ask this question.....

Why get mad if a white person was to say, "What's up my ni**a?" in the same exact way a black person would say it to you? It's a positive word now, right? You could say they're trying to "be black" (which is another statement I disagree with, because I'm clearly black and I don't say the word...Does not saying the word somehow make me less black? I don't think so. It's not possible to try to "be" a different race, unless you're changing your skin color and forgetting your culture.) And also, If ni**a is now a positive, endearing term, then why do some black people use it when insulting other blacks?

Example: "Look at that bitch ass ni**a over there", Black Female to one of her friends: "This broke ass ni**a got no job", etc etc.

In these cases, Why couldn't the first person just be a bitch ass trick, or the second guy be a broke ass dude?? I jus think that there's a certain hypocrisy when it comes to usage of the word within the black community. When white people say it, everyone is up in arms, but when black people say it, even in a negative way like I mentioned above, It's all good. That's why I stopped using it altogether.

And sorry for writing an essay, but this is a topic I'm really passionate about, and I'll be glad to hear anyone's remarks or thoughts on this topic as well. If ya'll think is gonna turn into a big topic, we can move it to a diff board or wuteva. Let's just keep it civilized and constructive

Edited by WavePool - February 01 2007 at 10:48am

All ya'll on this post are getting fired up and put into deep thought about "good hair".

 But I've got a question for everyone...Does anyone here use the word n****? Why or why not? And if you do, I'm interested in hearing why you choose to say it.

yo this has to be the greatest post ever.....three-six-oh that link u provided was the sh*t.....good looks bro....I even sent that to my professor whose black.

I see before I got a chance to defend myself everyone hit points that I would have definately posted. To be honest I wasn't saying that staright hair was better, I was answering the question in the form that it was originally presented. If you ask why people like staright hair,I'll tell you why. I wasn't trying to put into words the way I felt. Because personally I could care less about straight hair and how people perceive it to be better than mine. Good hair to me is hair that its not dry and flaky. Bad hair is hair that is dry and flaky. 

Edited by Davo - January 31 2007 at 7:21pm

Couple hundred years later "good hair" is the accepted term. What you guys are saying is rite but be careful. But sometimes good hair could just meanin your opinion not bad. Basically im just sayin that while that racism is ingrained deeply into our society be careful not to prejudge people who use that phrase. It could just be what it is "you have NICE hair" not "your hair looks kinda like the slave master's and i hate my hair for not being yours and by extension i hate myself for being black".

chill. Dont be starting witch-hunts over it.

One interesting thing theres a whole debate over perms rite. Straight hair isnt "black" and many women (and men) are put down for perming thier hair. Many men use kits(perms) to wave their hair. And since my hair is wavy (looks like i kitted) i have come under fire for apparently hating my roots. To me thats taking it too far. What yall think?

datz tru still..buh i dun tink it has DAT much 2 do wit slavery..i mean obviously itz a factor buh i tink wen ppl say u have dat nice hair dey umean u got dat hair datz easier 2 manage..more controllable..n i tink dis term is only significant with wavey hair..cuz like davo said if u got a fro den naps mite be the "gud" hair..in dat specific situation..

cosigh

 cause its easier 2 work wit straight hair