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Good Hair, not completely
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Maybe it’s because I’m the grandson and great nephew of beauticians [that’s the term southern folks use for what is now commonly called a hairstylist] having grown up spending my childhood summers in a hot beauty shop watching black women get their hair done. Or maybe because I’ve secretly always wondered what it’s like to have cornrows and still can’t braid hair to this day.
Whatever the reason, I finally sat through a showing of comedian Chris Rock’s ‘Good Hair.’ Not a bad idea—but still not sure what good came of it.
Funny in small bits is my description. What stood out most to me is how obvious it is that Rock is not a journalist or an investigative reporter. During the interview sequences, he appears to be grasping for decent questions or even disinterested. And some of the interviewees pick up on it. I always thought comedians were more nimble of mind. He should’ve called Michael Moore to get some pointers on how to blend comedy and content in a documentary—if that’s what this work is supposed to be.
I was impressed with the array of black women that sat for the piece—many famous others not. Celeb cuties like actresses Nia Long and Raven Symone’ to author Maya Angelou talk about getting perms, why they do or do not use fake hair, etc…most entertaining.
What I tended to like best about the film was the spotlight shown on Dudley Q’s [based in Greensboro, N.C.] cosmetology university and the fact that it is the last remaining African American owned hair products manufacturer and distributor in the country. [Madame C.J. Walker would flip her wig to know that.] Korean businesses and the mega beauty conglomerates of this nation now fiercely control the market.
Another valid point was one source of the hair, the money made and how it makes its way into American beauty supply places and salons. No, I won’t give that away, you’ve got to see the movie.
Those portions and a few other things, like the chemistry behind relaxers or perms, are what held my attention and are the meatiest parts of this debate, with the exception of people’s opinions. And Rock left me hanging.
What’s been funnier than some of the movie’s scenes, has been some black women’s reactions to the film. Rock and the studio were sued by Regina Kimbell who claimed she showed Rock her documentary ‘My Nappy Roots’ in 2007. A judge dismissed the case last month. And others have been heard on radio talk shows, posting on websites and doing video blogs feeling that they’ve been ‘outed’ in terms of black women’s beauty secrets. Come on sistas! Your beauty stems from more than a run to the corner store for the latest extensions or a nail set.
'Good Hair' is not bad. But this is one that should’ve come out straight to DVD or the Oxygen Network or in some special on BET or TVOne. That way, they would have at least been playing to their target audience. As of this writing it’s already being booted from theaters [ranking 71 out of 471 movies released so far this year], replaced by the critically acclaimed ‘Precious’ and ‘Blind Side.’ Once I see those I’ll let you know.
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