I'm an African American. Ask me anything.

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[Post New]03/08/2012 12:27
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:What does "natural" hair look like? Does any one famous have natural AA hair so I can google a pic?


Vanessa Williams
Laryn Hill
the lady on Law and Order, her name currently escapes me
just to name a few
[Post New]03/08/2012 12:27
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Anonymous
Gloria Rueben
[Post New]03/08/2012 12:31
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Once, just to make conversation with a co-worker while waiting for the microwave at lunch, I asked a AA women my age early 20's what she was eating for lunch. She told me to never ask a black person what they are eating. What was that all about?


No clue.
[Post New]03/08/2012 12:37
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find it very interesting that many AA women prioritize their hair over physical fitness. Is it really worth it to have straight hair if you can't exercise?


But many of those women have careers that find dreadlocks, cornrows, and natural hair unacceptable.


That is more reception that reality. I worked in a major new york law firm for 7 years with shoulder length braids and never had any issues. I interviewed with an got a job offer from Goldman Sachs with said braids. Natural black hair can be styled professionally.


Maybe this isn't a recent story, but I don't think much has changed since this occurrence. Hilton was sued about fifteen years ago because they fired a manager for wearing braids. Hilton stated that it was not professional. Some law offices provide training to their new attorneys. One such training is career coaching in how to dress for success. Black women were specifically told that braids and afros were a career killer. PP I don't know if you were the attorney or the legal secreatary, either way, your perception is not the reality of many.
[Post New]03/08/2012 12:59
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find it very interesting that many AA women prioritize their hair over physical fitness. Is it really worth it to have straight hair if you can't exercise?


But many of those women have careers that find dreadlocks, cornrows, and natural hair unacceptable.


That is more reception that reality. I worked in a major new york law firm for 7 years with shoulder length braids and never had any issues. I interviewed with an got a job offer from Goldman Sachs with said braids. Natural black hair can be styled professionally.


Maybe this isn't a recent story, but I don't think much has changed since this occurrence. Hilton was sued about fifteen years ago because they fired a manager for wearing braids. Hilton stated that it was not professional. Some law offices provide training to their new attorneys. One such training is career coaching in how to dress for success. Black women were specifically told that braids and afros were a career killer. PP I don't know if you were the attorney or the legal secreatary, either way, your perception is not the reality of many.


I am a lawyer. BTW, I am curious who told the black women that natural hair is a career killer, was it another black person? In the 15 years that I have had my hair natural all the negative comments have come from other black women. Including such gems as "wow, you must be so busy, you did not get to DO you hair"; you make so much money, why dont you get your hair DONE"; "you have such a pretty face, why do you wear your hair like that"; I could go on. Ursula Burns sports an afro and managed to make it to CEO of a Fortune 500 company, so it can done. BTW, its very telling that you assumed that I may have been the legal secretary - thanks a lot! Get a clue and take the money that you spend your salon visits and go buy some self esteem.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:00
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
ManHere wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why do black people hate dogs so much?

OP here. Where did you hear that?


I'm from the South... all black people I knew growing up HATED dogs! Terrified of them, even little harmless looking ones like old ass cocker spaniels.


Interested in knowing what period you grew up in the South. It could be a carry over from the Bull Conner days and parents simply taught their children to stay away from dogs as a consequence of how Conner and all used dogs. I am from this area and my family have always had dogs as pets. Cats are a different story.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:01
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find it very interesting that many AA women prioritize their hair over physical fitness. Is it really worth it to have straight hair if you can't exercise?


But many of those women have careers that find dreadlocks, cornrows, and natural hair unacceptable.


That is more reception that reality. I worked in a major new york law firm for 7 years with shoulder length braids and never had any issues. I interviewed with an got a job offer from Goldman Sachs with said braids. Natural black hair can be styled professionally.


Maybe this isn't a recent story, but I don't think much has changed since this occurrence. Hilton was sued about fifteen years ago because they fired a manager for wearing braids. Hilton stated that it was not professional. Some law offices provide training to their new attorneys. One such training is career coaching in how to dress for success. Black women were specifically told that braids and afros were a career killer. PP I don't know if you were the attorney or the legal secreatary, either way, your perception is not the reality of many.


I am a lawyer. BTW, I am curious who told the black women that natural hair is a career killer, was it another black person? In the 15 years that I have had my hair natural all the negative comments have come from other black women. Including such gems as "wow, you must be so busy, you did not get to DO you hair"; you make so much money, why dont you get your hair DONE"; "you have such a pretty face, why do you wear your hair like that"; I could go on. Ursula Burns sports an afro and managed to make it to CEO of a Fortune 500 company, so it can done. BTW, its very telling that you assumed that I may have been the legal secretary - thanks a lot! Get a clue and take the money that you spend your salon visits and go buy some self esteem.


The career coach was a white woman. I will try to find the information and post.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:02
quote
Anonymous
12:59 poster again, apologies to the other DCUM readers for my tone. I probably should not have allow the poster who I responded to to get under my skin but I just could not help myself.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:07
quote
ManHere
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:12:59 poster again, apologies to the other DCUM readers for my tone. I probably should not have allow the poster who I responded to to get under my skin but I just could not help myself.

OP here. I think that PP asked IF you were the the attorney or the legal secretary (notice which one she listed first) because you didn't state it up front. She didn't assume that you were either one. You just said that you worked for a law firm.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:09
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find it very interesting that many AA women prioritize their hair over physical fitness. Is it really worth it to have straight hair if you can't exercise?


But many of those women have careers that find dreadlocks, cornrows, and natural hair unacceptable.


That is more reception that reality. I worked in a major new york law firm for 7 years with shoulder length braids and never had any issues. I interviewed with an got a job offer from Goldman Sachs with said braids. Natural black hair can be styled professionally.


Maybe this isn't a recent story, but I don't think much has changed since this occurrence. Hilton was sued about fifteen years ago because they fired a manager for wearing braids. Hilton stated that it was not professional. Some law offices provide training to their new attorneys. One such training is career coaching in how to dress for success. Black women were specifically told that braids and afros were a career killer. PP I don't know if you were the attorney or the legal secreatary, either way, your perception is not the reality of many.


I am a lawyer. BTW, I am curious who told the black women that natural hair is a career killer, was it another black person? In the 15 years that I have had my hair natural all the negative comments have come from other black women. Including such gems as "wow, you must be so busy, you did not get to DO you hair"; you make so much money, why dont you get your hair DONE"; "you have such a pretty face, why do you wear your hair like that"; I could go on. Ursula Burns sports an afro and managed to make it to CEO of a Fortune 500 company, so it can done. BTW, its very telling that you assumed that I may have been the legal secretary - thanks a lot! Get a clue and take the money that you spend your salon visits and go buy some self esteem.


Sorry PP, you and Ursula Burns are still exceptions to the rule. It's sad I agree and I'm amazed it's still that way in 2012 but this is the world we live in. When do you become the big shot attorney or CEO, you can shave your head for all anyone cares. But to get your foot in the door and while you're still climbing that ladder, any bold statements will make people hesitate. As my mother use to say, "prove yourself first, and then start making/changing the rules".
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:11
quote
Anonymous
pp here, I'm even sadder that natural AA hair is considered a bold statement but again, this is the reality in America.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:13
quote
Anonymous
ManHere wrote:
Anonymous wrote:12:59 poster again, apologies to the other DCUM readers for my tone. I probably should not have allow the poster who I responded to to get under my skin but I just could not help myself.

OP here. I think that PP asked IF you were the the attorney or the legal secretary (notice which one she listed first) because you didn't state it up front. She didn't assume that you were either one. You just said that you worked for a law firm.



Fair enough, I take it all back. I am sorry. I have two little girls and all this pressure to "fix"/"tame"/"pick your word" their hair just makes be nuts. I was lashing out, I am sorry. Think I need to stay away from this thread.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:21
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why were Africans targeted for mass slavery? How did other races avoid being the majority of slaves in a new land?


The Native American Indians were first used as slaves in America. However, many died off others knew the land and could easily escape. They also spoke the same language, which was foreign to the slave owners and could easily communicate without being detected.

White indentured servants and Black indentured servants were also tried. The white indentured servants assimilated with ease into the populace and simply walked away. It was impossible to tell who was an indentured and who was not. So a lot of money was lost. It was not se easy for the Black indentured servants. At this time, it darned on land owners that using black indentured servants were more cost effective than white indentured servants. After a period of time of using indentured servants, the land owners found it far more fiscally satisfying to go straight to outright slavery. It was all about the money. The slaves were separated by tribes and forcefully prohibited from speaking their native language. The slave owners learned this lesson with the Native American Indian. More importantly, the african slaves did not know the lay of the land, so escaping into the swamps was not so easily achievable. To justify slavery, the bible was brought into the picture and misconstrued to quell the concerns of those religious people who thought it was against the bible's teaching.

[Post New]03/08/2012 13:25
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Anonymous
The thing about natural hair styles is that the opinion on appropriate styling and keeping hair "neat" varies from person to person.
[Post New]03/08/2012 13:30
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Talk to me about shaving leg hair and underarm hair -- do AA women do/not do this? What do AA men think about that?


Yes we shave our legs and underarm hair.


Well I don't shave my legs. I have dark skin and my hair lays smoothly on my legs. I have seen little difference in the few times in my 48 years of living, so I don't waste my time. The other areas of the body, yeah I shave them. I could not wear a swim suit or sleeveless top otherwise. But this shaving question is ridiculous, White women in Europe and parts of Canada do not, and I mean do not shave their underarms and bikini area. Go to some of their beaches. My girlfriend from Canada did not start shaving her underarms until leaving in Florida and having people like me asking her why she did not.
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