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Gabbys Hair and Black Self Hatred (10)

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MrSpeedyroach
MrSpeedyroach

Male, 25, Arverne, NY

Posted August 03, 2012


Gabbys Johnson's amazing story of dedication,hard work and self control ended with a gold medal as the best all round female gymnastics champion should be a story of pride for black people who stereotypically are believed to not have those qualities. The tremendous accomplishment is marred by ignorant self hating black people who focused on her hair with contempt. In so doing they display their need for black hair to look as white as possible to be considered appropriate. The truth is the more talent, self respect you have the way you look becomes less important. For those with no talent or life goals, looking the most like white people gives them a sense of uncle tom pride. They will never know how ignorant it makes them sound because it is ingrained in their minds that black people are inferior. It is significant to note that the other Olympic team members with their good hair did not achieve her great accomplishments. Maybe if she wore a big blond weave, and came in last place they would feel much better about her, because that is what they understand ...inferior people equal inferior results. One of Chris jokes is particularly true there are %#&@$!s and black people. Black people take pride in anything another black person does..%#&@$!s revert to the crabs in the barrel mentality and pull each other down. This is one black man who says go Gabby..I would love you if you were bald.



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The_Oracle99
The_Oracle99

Male, Age Private, Chicago, IL

Posted August 04, 2012


I think this whole Gabby Douglas hair "controversy" is overblown. I mean, women are constantly judged by their looks -- even during athletic competition.

How many jokes have been made about Brittany Griner being a man over the last two years? Few people came to her defense. On the flip side, how often do we make comments about how attractive certain female athletes look while on a field or court? A lot, especially track and volleyball athletes.

Additionally, how often do we criticize male athletes or even entertainers for the way they look during athletic competition or award shows and post photos of them on Facebook and other social media sites? We do it all the time.

Shoot, during the NBA playoffs folks were making fun of the way cats were dressing on the bench and during post game press conferences. We're hypocritical in this regard. We have no problem talking about LeBron James' hairline, Anthony Davis' unibrow or how some athletes speak, but folks want to lose their mind because people on Twitter were talking about Gabby Douglas' unkempt hair? Really?

Stop acting brand , people.



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MrSpeedyroach
MrSpeedyroach

Male, 25, Arverne, NY

Posted August 04, 2012


I don't believe it is over blown as much as expected. There is a real contempt black women and men have with our natural hair. This does not only exist with those we see in the media, but also in everyday experience. I have heard the youngest of girls tell another she needs to fix her nappy hair. "good hair" gives some black people a sense of pride and good hair means as straight or as European looking as possible. Black men have this issue also, which prompt our ladies to keep it permed and straight as possible. It is an issue that's bigger than Gabby's hair during the Olympics, but our own poor perception of ourselves in our daily lives.



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The_Oracle99
The_Oracle99

Male, Age Private, Chicago, IL

Posted August 04, 2012


OK, tell me why the examples I provided can't be construed as self-hatred, but criticism of Gabby Douglas' hair is?

I will say this, though: I hope we ALL refrain from logging onto to the web and making comments about anyone's appearance ever again no matter how they look because right now a lot of people who are up in arms over this are more than likely folks who have participated in such activities before.

I just think because it's the Olympics and Gabby Douglas is who she is, this is a big deal. If folks were making these same comments about her hair following a qualifying tournament or something like that, then nobody would care.



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MrSpeedyroach
MrSpeedyroach

Male, 25, Arverne, NY

Posted August 05, 2012


your examples are just as valid. I also wish this is a lesson learned . When we make public our petty self hatred issues it hurts those of us who try to be exceptional. The Olympics where most cultures and nations are celebrating their exceptional athletes bring our petty insecurities to smear her victory. I was personally sorry she had to answer questions about it. Remember when Don Imus called the Rutgers women basketball champions a"buch of nappy heads" the out cry was defining. In his own self defense he said " black people say it all the time"
I believe we are on the same page oracle. My issue is some of us never miss a chance to put each other down and when we do it to our exceptionals then it reflect once again badly to the world.

Did you read where Gabby said I just won the overall championship and someone is talking about my hair. She also said she wasn't changing it.

She has more than good hair she has good self esteem. I bet none of those haters can say the same



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The_Oracle99
The_Oracle99

Male, Age Private, Chicago, IL

Posted August 05, 2012


If my examples are valid, how come nobody decried them like we are now with Gabby Douglas? Nobody was writing blogs, or venting on talk radio about how folks are exhibiting self-hatred by talking about LBJ's hairline. I didn't read or hear anyone saying, it is wrong for black people to be commenting about how X celebrity was dressing or looked.

My thing is if we are going to be outraged by this, then we should be outraged by it all -- a long time ago. But we won't, though because we just care more about Gabby Douglas than all those other people I mentioned before.



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MrSpeedyroach
MrSpeedyroach

Male, 25, Arverne, NY

Posted August 05, 2012


The reason that black people are not able to advance on these issues is becausenwe tend to rationalize our behavior with simplistic references that avoid the issue. instead of worrying why only this particular issue.and not the others you mentioned misses the point.
It doesn't matter to me what incident cause us to look at our behavior and how I affects our peoplenis important. It promotes discussion and hopefully allow us to treat each other better.

This doesn't, happen if one minimizes the issue. In he past few years we have had steroids gain the public furor which has resulted in people changing their attitudes towards these of steroids..which had been taking place many years before it became a major issue.

What Gabbys situation of coursenisn!t the only situation of black people self hatred, it is the forum that. Allows us to talk about something that is a problem that effects all of us. We never learn when we avoid or minimize.

That we are discussing this rather you believe it or not is a good thing, because it is something black people rarely discuss but effects their everyday lives.



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LifeSkills1
LifeSkills1

Male, 63, Seattle, WA

Posted August 15, 2012


The_Oracle99
The_Oracle99

Male, Age Private, Chicago, IL


I think this whole Gabby Douglas hair "controversy" is overblown. I mean, women are constantly judged by their looks -- even during athletic competition.

How many jokes have been made about Brittany Griner being a man over the last two years? Few people came to her defense. On the flip side, how often do we make comments about how attractive certain female athletes look while on a field or court? A lot, especially track and volleyball athletes.

Additionally, how often do we criticize male athletes or even entertainers for the way they look during athletic competition or award shows and post photos of them on Facebook and other social media sites? We do it all the time.

Shoot, during the NBA playoffs folks were making fun of the way cats were dressing on the bench and during post game press conferences. We're hypocritical in this regard. We have no problem talking about LeBron James' hairline, Anthony Davis' unibrow or how some athletes speak, but folks want
show more


Right On

It was a White disguised as a Black put that post that saying, "its Diminishing Black people." it's in Huff.
BUT IT IS NOT DIMINISHING BLACK PEOPLE.
I DON'T SEE THAT AS DIMINISHING. YAH RIGHT, THEY ADD HAIR STYLE AS THEY DESCRIBE HER APPEARANCE. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY ARE BLACK WOMEN ACTING LIKE FOOLS MAKING AN ISSUE OUT OF THAT. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. ARE YOU SO BACK WOODS YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH? CAN'T TAKE A BLACK WOMAN ANYWHERE WITHOUT THEM FINDING SOMETHING WRONG. SISTER'S EVEN FEAR OTHER SISTERS COMING IN THEIR RESTAURANTS.



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LifeSkills1
LifeSkills1

Male, 63, Seattle, WA

Posted August 15, 2012


The_Oracle99
The_Oracle99

Male, Age Private, Chicago, IL


I think this whole Gabby Douglas hair "controversy" is overblown. I mean, women are constantly judged by their looks -- even during athletic competition.

How many jokes have been made about Brittany Griner being a man over the last two years? Few people came to her defense. On the flip side, how often do we make comments about how attractive certain female athletes look while on a field or court? A lot, especially track and volleyball athletes.

Additionally, how often do we criticize male athletes or even entertainers for the way they look during athletic competition or award shows and post photos of them on Facebook and other social media sites? We do it all the time.

Shoot, during the NBA playoffs folks were making fun of the way cats were dressing on the bench and during post game press conferences. We're hypocritical in this regard. We have no problem talking about LeBron James' hairline, Anthony Davis' unibrow or how some athletes speak, but folks want
show more


This guy is a bag of wind. Here is the one I was looking for. Anyone takes offense to this has to be Nuts.

"The 16-year-old looked like a winner, dressed in a gold metallic skirt and a fitted, black motorcycle jacket. Her hair, worn in a utilitarian bun during the Olympics, was gathered in a chic ponytail. Her best accessory were the two gold medals she carried onstage, handing one to Leno and the other to Mrs. Obama for closer inspection.
This was in Huspost.



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kingxango
kingxango

Male, 42, Seattle, WA

Posted October 03, 2012


MrSpeedyroach
MrSpeedyroach

Male, 25, Arverne, NY


Gabbys Johnson's amazing story of dedication,hard work and self control ended with a gold medal as the best all round female gymnastics champion should be a story of pride for black people who stereotypically are believed to not have those qualities. The tremendous accomplishment is marred by ignorant self hating black people who focused on her hair with contempt. In so doing they display their need for black hair to look as white as possible to be considered appropriate. The truth is the more talent, self respect you have the way you look becomes less important. For those with no talent or life goals, looking the most like white people gives them a sense of uncle tom pride. They will never know how ignorant it makes them sound because it is ingrained in their minds that black people are inferior. It is significant to note that the other Olympic team members with their good hair did not achieve her great accomplishments. Maybe if she wore a big blond weave, and came in last place they
show more


Poor girl ain't she gone through enough all that racism at the gym she experienced? Now issues about her hair coming from Blackwomen. The girl is not a model for Black Beauty or Hair she's an athlete and that's the only field Gabby should be judged in. Niggaz are a trip this young lady is too young to be caught up in Black politics.