Comments on: Thembi’s Guide to Bringing Black Hair to Work http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html Pontifications, coonery, quips, blasphemy, miscegenation, freshness, concern for celebrity life, the beauty of blackness, the sorrow of work-life, the curse of brilliance, and sassy stories. [Pop culture criticism, entertainment reviews, and humor writing by Thembi Ford.] Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:29:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: sg http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-5725 sg Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:42:59 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-5725 kay but something I feel has been totally left out- white people ask white people about their hair. The only difference is that white peoples' questions to other white people about their changed hairstyles are usually more informed. Some white girl in the office gets her hair chopped- people are going to comment. People comment on change. It's just no good when they comment on change like they think they know how the change happened. But from reading all this you'd think white people only ever asked black people about their hair style changes. No. White people are always asking white people too. People are nosey. Black and white. I'm white, I worked in a mostly black office and people were always touching my way long hair, not beleiving it wasent a weave or a wig. kay but something I feel has been totally left out- white people ask white people about their hair. The only difference is that white peoples’ questions to other white people about their changed hairstyles are usually more informed. Some white girl in the office gets her hair chopped- people are going to comment. People comment on change. It’s just no good when they comment on change like they think they know how the change happened. But from reading all this you’d think white people only ever asked black people about their hair style changes. No. White people are always asking white people too. People are nosey. Black and white. I’m white, I worked in a mostly black office and people were always touching my way long hair, not beleiving it wasent a weave or a wig.

]]> By: The Curse of The Curly Perm | What Would Thembi Do? http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-4162 The Curse of The Curly Perm | What Would Thembi Do? Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:50:19 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-4162 [...] on cultural context and can create a “Who’s On First,” type of situation when our hair is the topic of conversation in the workplace. Where does one even begin when an innocent white person asks if you got a perm because your hair [...] [...] on cultural context and can create a “Who’s On First,” type of situation when our hair is the topic of conversation in the workplace. Where does one even begin when an innocent white person asks if you got a perm because your hair [...]

]]> By: One Simple Rule « Full…But I Keep on Eating http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-3876 One Simple Rule « Full…But I Keep on Eating Thu, 07 May 2009 17:54:12 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-3876 [...] (the other is the receptionist), can get uncomfortable. It’s a good thing there’s Thembi’s Guide to Bringing Black Hair to Work to help with one of the major [...] [...] (the other is the receptionist), can get uncomfortable. It’s a good thing there’s Thembi’s Guide to Bringing Black Hair to Work to help with one of the major [...]

]]> By: Dallas http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2382 Dallas Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2382 church church

]]> By: otilia http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2359 otilia Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:10:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2359 i used to feel the need to be overly informative when asked "how did you do that?" whenever my hair was straight/curly for a few days. then i just started answering "i washed it" with a straight face. it puzzles people, but they don't dare ask any further... i used to feel the need to be overly informative when asked “how did you do that?” whenever my hair was straight/curly for a few days. then i just started answering “i washed it” with a straight face. it puzzles people, but they don’t dare ask any further…

]]> By: QueenK.D.W.-BK86 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2356 QueenK.D.W.-BK86 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:15:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2356 Aww the pet comment is nice and much more relaxed to some things I've done. Depending on the person, I've been known to turn, give them a good don't mess with me look and then ask "Do I look like the petting zoo?". I had to whip this out on a black man [stranger] in the middle of London once too, because he thought it was fine to be up in my hair in the middle of the street.<br/><br/>Other nice, genuine people get a simple explanation.<br/><br/>I also once went at it with a girl in h.s. Everyday she had a new stupid question...so I let loose a few stupid questions on the animals used in her cuisine to show her how it felt. She had the nerve to start telling me about practices in rural China. I could only laugh in the end. Aww the pet comment is nice and much more relaxed to some things I’ve done. Depending on the person, I’ve been known to turn, give them a good don’t mess with me look and then ask “Do I look like the petting zoo?”. I had to whip this out on a black man [stranger] in the middle of London once too, because he thought it was fine to be up in my hair in the middle of the street.

Other nice, genuine people get a simple explanation.

I also once went at it with a girl in h.s. Everyday she had a new stupid question…so I let loose a few stupid questions on the animals used in her cuisine to show her how it felt. She had the nerve to start telling me about practices in rural China. I could only laugh in the end.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2349 Anonymous Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:48:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2349 I have naturally curly hair that when I straighten it has a tendency to look almost wiglike haha so when I do go 2 work with it straight its like my co-owrkers don't recognize me and I can almost see them thinking "Is that her real hair?" And then I think to myself "the whole Superman/Clark Kent thing isnt just fiction huh?" cause I mean really my hair is the same color curly or straight and yeah I still look the same otherwise. I have naturally curly hair that when I straighten it has a tendency to look almost wiglike haha so when I do go 2 work with it straight its like my co-owrkers don’t recognize me and I can almost see them thinking “Is that her real hair?” And then I think to myself “the whole Superman/Clark Kent thing isnt just fiction huh?” cause I mean really my hair is the same color curly or straight and yeah I still look the same otherwise.

]]> By: Treina http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2348 Treina Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:01:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2348 lol! you are too funny, thembi. you know i am always changing up my 'do - from braids to natural and back. folks at work always say "i wish i could do that with my hair!" followed by questions about how i styled whatever look i'm wearing at the moment. i guess it's because i'm an educator that i never get tired of explaining how i put in braided extensions or how i do a twist out. there is one person i worry about though. after 3 years of working with me, he STILL doesn't understand that the braids are not my real hair and that it doesn't grow half-way down my back over a weekend. lord help him. lol! you are too funny, thembi. you know i am always changing up my ‘do – from braids to natural and back. folks at work always say “i wish i could do that with my hair!” followed by questions about how i styled whatever look i’m wearing at the moment. i guess it’s because i’m an educator that i never get tired of explaining how i put in braided extensions or how i do a twist out. there is one person i worry about though. after 3 years of working with me, he STILL doesn’t understand that the braids are not my real hair and that it doesn’t grow half-way down my back over a weekend. lord help him.

]]> By: Hampton06 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2335 Hampton06 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:36:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2335 i had locs for years, during that whole period, i was met with deference by random black people on the street. i'd be greeted like i was headed to the community center to create a mentorship program. i do my share of service, but sometimes, i was just headed to sushi roku. i had locs for years, during that whole period, i was met with deference by random black people on the street. i’d be greeted like i was headed to the community center to create a mentorship program. i do my share of service, but sometimes, i was just headed to sushi roku.

]]> By: Thembi http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html/comment-page-1#comment-2330 Thembi Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:07:00 +0000 http://www.whatwouldthembido.com/2008/08/thembis-guide-to-bringing-black-hair-to-work.html#comment-2330 @Kellybelle<br/>You crazy.<br/><br/>@Miss Gypsy Eyes<br/>That is the funniest thing Ive ever heard! The word cornrolls has always made me a little irritated, by the way. Is there really such a thing? Is it bad black English or just confused the othermanness?<br/><br/>@gradmommy<br/>Having them be confused instead of you is key!<br/><br/>@Lola<br/>The "google it!" approach is one I missed, and a good one!<br/><br/>@Christina<br/>White women certainly wear fake hair, but they rarely do so unless its supposed to look real. We don't even care, and I love it!<br/><br/>@Ill Mami<br/>I wish my head weren't so big, I'd go bald too...<br/><br/>@Don<br/>Thats what they call a "phenomenal woman"<br/><br/>@ieishah<br/>Im not going to get into that whole cultural divide between Africans and black Americans, cuz thats a whole post on its own. The thing to remember is that there are not many Africans (in Africa) who wear dreads, so maybe culturally she thinks that the fact that you both have ethnic hair and not perms makes you similar. But there's nothing worse than a misrepresenting black person. The sweetheart in me would just keep my mouth shut. The Thembi in me, however, would have pull a #6 and treat her like someone who doesnt know what dreads are whether theres anyone else around or not. It'd be different if she had a private conversation with you about her extensions and was only frontin' for white people, but trying to horn in on your YEARS of twistin' and maintainin' is just not good sisterhood! If there's a bunch of question asking going on, in public, just throw her silly behind under the bus. @Kellybelle
You crazy.

@Miss Gypsy Eyes
That is the funniest thing Ive ever heard! The word cornrolls has always made me a little irritated, by the way. Is there really such a thing? Is it bad black English or just confused the othermanness?

@gradmommy
Having them be confused instead of you is key!

@Lola
The “google it!” approach is one I missed, and a good one!

@Christina
White women certainly wear fake hair, but they rarely do so unless its supposed to look real. We don’t even care, and I love it!

@Ill Mami
I wish my head weren’t so big, I’d go bald too…

@Don
Thats what they call a “phenomenal woman”

@ieishah
Im not going to get into that whole cultural divide between Africans and black Americans, cuz thats a whole post on its own. The thing to remember is that there are not many Africans (in Africa) who wear dreads, so maybe culturally she thinks that the fact that you both have ethnic hair and not perms makes you similar. But there’s nothing worse than a misrepresenting black person. The sweetheart in me would just keep my mouth shut. The Thembi in me, however, would have pull a #6 and treat her like someone who doesnt know what dreads are whether theres anyone else around or not. It’d be different if she had a private conversation with you about her extensions and was only frontin’ for white people, but trying to horn in on your YEARS of twistin’ and maintainin’ is just not good sisterhood! If there’s a bunch of question asking going on, in public, just throw her silly behind under the bus.

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