I'm looking forward to this movie, but curious how he handles explaining to his daughters why they should accept their hair, when their mommy and everyone around them is sporting weave, perm, and wig?
I blogged about this documentary back in January when it was playing at Sundance. There was also a discussion in the comments about Chris Rock's wife in relation to her children wanting "good hair".
The movie looks like it is going to be full of laughs, and it bothers me that there are very few folks with natural hair even in the trailer.
26 comments:
I’m looking forward to this documentary also. I like to see how he tackles it and if he really addresses the issue with the need in the black community to have good hair. Or does he just make fun of what we women go thru and spend on haircare.
I don't know why any BW would trust Chris Rock to produce a documentary that is constructive, intelligent, and respectful of BW's hair/hair issues.
After all, this is the same DBR FOOL who, in the past, has TRASHED the HUMANITY, DIGNITY, AND FEMININITY of BW for laughs.
I was wondering the same thing. I have few little natural hair clients whose mother's have perms and some mother's tell them that they are 'too young' to get one - maybe that's what they tell their girls - it would be interesting to know :o)
I was also looking for naturals in the trailer - I wonder are there going to be any interviewed. - It will be interesting to see this.
It looks cute, i want to watch it, hopefully it will open eyes and educate some people who aren't too sure about black hair.
I don't know why any BW would trust Chris Rock to produce a documentary that is constructive, intelligent, and respectful of BW's hair/hair issues.
After all, this is the same DBR FOOL who, in the past, has TRASHED the HUMANITY, DIGNITY, AND FEMININITY of BW for laughs.
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Really Laromana? I think Chris Rock is an insightful comedian. Unlike some others, he doesn't trash black women. I'm looking forward to the film.
Anon,
Chris Rock has been know to mock/disrespect BW in his "comedy".
can't wait to see it!
i hope he's got the natural represented fairly so people will see how cute natural hair can be
I'm with laromana. That last comedy special he did was horrible towards black women. This documentary looks funny and all, but I really doubt if it'll be enlightening. I expect it to be more of a point and make fun kinda thing.
Chris Rock has been know to mock/disrespect BW in his "comedy".
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Comedians mock people, period. The reason Rock is exempt, in my opinion is that black women are not 'his act' like some others. He talks about a variety of subject matter.
I actually like Chris Rock, and I don't have an issue with his type of comedy...don't find it disrespectful at all. Mockery is part of comedy...even regular people mock others in one form or another.
The preview makes me want to watch it, and I'm glad to see that he is doing this and placing it in the media like this. I'm also glad to see that the chemical composition of relaxers are mentioned. I work in a chemical lab, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is something serious; it's the main ingredient in hair relaxers.
I'm not going to praise it just yet though, because judging from the preview, I don't see any naturals, and I would like to see that.
I don't think y'all know how much I want to see this. Chris Rock - love him, Black Hair - interesting, together? Freakin' Fantastic!
It looks like its going to be a great Documentary. Chris Rock obviously loves his daughters.
Yet again BW rely on a BM to be the voice for them when BW could of been the ones making a documentary about natural hair 'good vs bad' etc.
I'll bet it would have been better seeing as it will be from a black womans perspective and not some BM who is known to make disgusting jokes about BW as well as his own wife (!)
I'm guessing this will be the same type of thing - mocking black women for the $$.
I'm not going to watch it, especially not PAY to watch it, i'll let you guys do that, personally i'm sick of being mocked.
S said,
Yet again BW rely on a BM to be the voice for them when BW could of been the ones making a documentary about natural hair 'good vs bad' etc.
I'll bet it would have been better seeing as it will be from a black womans perspective and not some BM who is known to make disgusting jokes about BW as well as his own wife (!)
I'm guessing this will be the same type of thing - mocking black women for the $$.
I'm not going to watch it, especially not PAY to watch it, i'll let you guys do that, personally i'm sick of being mocked.
laromana said,
S, I totally agree with your analysis above.
When Chris Rock mocks BW it isn't simply an "normal/acceptable aspect of being a comedian" because he and MANY BM, as well as the media/American society are CONSTANTLY DISRESPECTING, DEMEANING, and DEGRADING BW.
Chris Rock's ANTI-BW "comedy" only helps lend UNDESERVED CREDIBILITY to the MANY ENEMIES of BW and we don't need that.
As regards to Christ Rock's attitude towards Black Women, I think Black men have become so accustomed to abusing Black Women that its second nature to them.
Recently I was telling a friend how now I have a pavlovian response to the Black Male Voice. My friend was sharing a video of one of these RnB artists and I realized that I have developed a Pavlovian response to the Black Male's voice. Whatever he has to say I imagine its going to be distructive to the Black female.
Chris Rock's mistake was to make fun of Black Women's dating situation and ignoring the underlying causes. Inother waords he offers no solution but only makes fun of the problem. This behavior is no different from the other Black Males that show no interest in the Welfare of the Black Female. So I would understand why some don't like him.
Off topic;
Is anyone as nauseated by this victim act these just released Journalists from North Korea are putting on?
These women knew exactly what they were getting into crossing hte North Korean Border, I wish they would just stop milking public sympathy.
But it's not just going to be his voice, it seems like he has a whole panel of black women telling their hair experiences.
Off topic;
I am surprised this story hasn't picked up steam in Black Blogosphere. This guy blames his lack of dates on Black men, goes to the gym and kills women there.
http://archervox.blogspot.com/2009/08/ap-omits-racist-and-anti-obama-rants.html
The trailer made me want to see how he'll handle it. I like that he's got black women talking about what's in their hair, but I do hope that it will talk more about natural hair care because it's something I'm definitely looking into (and I want to get some natural hairstyle ideas).
I'm not going to judge whether it will be awful or amazing because I haven't seen enough of it, but I liked that the doc showed the chemical aspect of it (burn through a coke can! ... actually I really shouldn't be shocked cuz that s*** hurts!)
I realized that I have developed a Pavlovian response to the Black Male's voice. Whatever he has to say I imagine its going to be distructive to the Black female.
Chris Rock's mistake was to make fun of Black Women's dating situation and ignoring the underlying causes. Inother waords he offers no solution but only makes fun of the problem.
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Grata, this is the second time you're making me mad. I usually agree with your wacky-righteous-wisdom. However you're way off base with Chris Rock.
I mean COME ON. We can't laugh at ourselves sometimes? Even when the joke highlights some GREATER TRUTH that many would have a hard time comprehending otherwise?
It's dangerous to throw all comedians into one box. Chris Rock is often brilliant in unfolding the complexities of black life in his schtick.
I know the clip you're up in arms about. You're being too literalistic and not hearing him right...he was actually COMPLIMENTING black women, not disparaging them.
I may not be exposed to as many comedians, but I don't hear other races of men making fun of (joking about) their women in the same way some black male comedians do. If anything, their joke is a general observation about women (no on specific), the joke is preceded, followed by, or sandwiched with compliments (e.g., compliment, joke, compliment), or the joke is about a specific woman we can assume is of the same race (e.g., wife, mother, girlfriend, etc).
I'm with 'S'. I have no intention of paying or even wasting time downloading a bootlegged copy of Chris Rock's documentary or any other video of his work.
@Grata: Exactly! Those reporters knew the danger and potential consequences of what they were doing. I'm also not thrilled with the "Bill Clinton is a HERO!" coverage of this story.
@Anon August 5, 2009 6:57 PM: "I mean COME ON. We can't laugh at ourselves sometimes?"
There's a difference between having humility and reaching your limit. There's only but so much criticism and being the butt of jokes a person will take. When they've reached their limit, they don't need to be told 'take a little more, there's truth in every joke'. They have every right to express their objection.
"Even when the joke highlights some GREATER TRUTH that many would have a hard time comprehending otherwise?"
So would a black female (or even male) comedian continuously joking about the black male the unemployment rate, murder rate, drop out rate, STD rate, incarceration rate, promiscuity, homosexuality, drug use, and their amount of illegitimate children also be funny, and written off as 'highlighting a greater truth'? I'm not talking about one or two comedians making this joke once or twice. I'm talking about a trend of prominent & popular comedians making jokes like these.
Should white woman "laugh at themselves" if comedians continuously called them child molesters, kiddie diddlers, and pedophiles due to the amount of them screwing their males students?
Should asian woman "laugh at themselves" if comedians continuously called them plastic/fake because of the popularity of plastic surgery and cosmetics and cosmetic procedures in Asia? What about if theses comedians started calling them whores, prostitutes, and golddiggers because of mail order brides and redlight districts coming from/in Asia?
No. They would be pissed and rightfully so.
I'm tired of BW being told to 'stop being so sensitive' and 'take it all in stride'. BW have every right to be pissed off about society's and the BC's treatment of them.
Additionally, we have every right to expect support and protection from our men. I remember on an episode of "Who's Got Jokes?" (this was at least a few years ago) a hispanic contestant made the joke that while leaving the zoo, he thought he ran over a panda, but it just turned out to be a black man in a white [wife beater] tank top. The boos from the mixed (male & female) crowd was overwhelming. However, when black females were being made fun of and joked about before that no one (male or female) had a problem. Why are we expected and programmed to automatically defend BM, but not to be defended or to defend ourselves?
"Even when the joke highlights some GREATER TRUTH that many would have a hard time comprehending otherwise?"
Who are you referring to that have a hard time comprehending greater truths about black women: black women or non-black women? Either way, I think all people that have been exposed to American society has been told that many, if not all, Black women like to wear weaves, raise black children differently than other groups of women, are heavier than other groups of women, are loud, like soul food, like beauty products, and are tough/aggressive/"take no shit". How many times do BW need to joked about using this stereotypical image before we can call these comedians lazy and state our disapproval? How much longer do BW need to allow our image to be defamed and distorted before we are allowed to stop laughing at ourselves?
Please take a moment to check out my documentary film BLACK HAIR
It is free at youtube. 6 parts including an update from London, England.
It explores the Korean Take-over of the Black Beauty Supply and Hair biz..
Kinda like Madame C.J. Walker in Reverse....a tragic comedy.
I am not a hater, I am a motivator.
Plus I am a White guy who stumbled upon this, and felt it was so wrong I had to make a film about it.
Can it be taken back?
Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p96aaTSdrAE
MeT,
Thanks for your excellent analysis. There's NO reason why BW need to continue to put up with ANTI-BW HATERS who look for ANY EXCUSE to CONSTANTLY TRASH their HUMANITY, DIGNITY, and FEMININITY.
"Grata, this is the second time you're making me mad. I usually agree with your wacky-righteous-wisdom. However you're way off base with Chris Rock."
LOL! Only the second time?
"I mean COME ON. We can't laugh at ourselves sometimes? Even when the joke highlights some GREATER TRUTH that many would have a hard time comprehending otherwise"
I said I understood why people would dislike him for that. We had this discussion before. Many BW then felt insulted by his humor then, maybe because the situation is to real. So I undestand why they would be mad at him. When someone is in an unfortunate situation and another person that cannot relate to it makes fun of them, its rarely funny to the disadvantaged one. That is human nature.
Personally I find him at times quite profound in his statements. I appreciated him before my beef with Black men so I would give him a pass.
"@Grata: Exactly! Those reporters knew the danger and potential consequences of what they were doing. I'm also not thrilled with the "Bill Clinton is a HERO!" coverage of this story."
Met,
THANK YOU! The whole hero angle is sickening. I heard some host go with the whole White Knight fantasy.
What pissed me off was playing the whole weak female in distress role while placing the White male (Clinton) on even a higher pedestal. Not even a white woman would have pulled that one off. Look at the history of such arrests. The last case was an Iranian American, people involved in such missions don't act that way. These women are very manipulative and neither side should trust them.
You would think they had been kidnapped from a day care and taken away from the kids they were watching over.
These Women are probably North Korean by Birth, they work for Al Gore and crossed the North Korean Border. Just connect the dots. This was not an innocent operation.
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