I recently watched a video of a live discussion Huffington Post hosted on whether the Natural Movement is exclusive to only black women. I thought it was a very good discussion including not just black women, but a white woman was on the panel as well.
I personally would not feel comfortable agreeing that the Natural Movement is exclusive to only black women. We praise all women with naturally curly/kinky/coily hair. Many times we praise women of a mixed race on their natural hair state. So is the bigger issue about whether natural hair exclusive to black women, or just not including white women? If we say its exclusive to black women only, then don't we exclude all women of color? That includes any woman that doesn't have the African American/Black heritage. I don't really think that's fair.
My parents are both of mixed race. Hell, if you go down my families ancestry tree, you may find more Caucasian then black. My mom, a Jamaican born woman, has very very light skin and very fine curly hair. Her mom is from a Scottish decent and her dad from an Irish decent. And btw, my mom is not natural. She's still using that creamy crack. But if my mom had decided to stop using chemicals to straighten her hair. She would be embraced right?
I feel like the main purpose for woman going natural is to have healthier hair. If I were to make a poll, I think that would be most women's number 1 reason for going natural. Why can't white women make the same decision and let everyone know they're natural? Their hair would be in a natural state right?
I agree with both sides of the spectrum. We as women of color should have more exclusive safe havens to discuss our own personal beauty issues. But at the same token, why can't we as women just stand together and be a part of the same community for once.
Check out the video for yourself, it's definitely a good watch.
What is your opinion? Do you think The Natural Hair Movement should be exclusive?
