We’re in week two of our countdown of stories that shaped the images of black women in popular culture. We’ve chosen a dozen stories (the good, the bad and the ridiculous) that captured our attention in 2009. Here’s the story that made our hot list today:
#3: The Creamy Crack Debate (aka “The Politics of Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” originally published October 9, 2009)
So Chris Rock’s documentary “Good Hair” is finally opening today (at least in some places). I saw it a couple of weeks ago at the Urbanworld Film Festival but I wanted to wait until it was about to hit theaters to offer my two cents. In the meantime, every Tom, Dick and Mary wants in on the ‘good hair’ discussion. Before I weigh in on the film I’ll just say this: overall we haven’t exactly been supportive of the documentary genre but Rock may have gone a long way to changing people’s minds. Those promos and radio spots makes you want to see this flick. In my opinion, it’s a must-see because it’s laugh out loud hilarious. But it also makes you think about we’re willing to do to look good.
A good portion of the film investigates ‘creamy crack’ aka relaxers. But its the Bronner Brother footage that will make you giggle, confuse you and ultimately feel like you’ve entertained (even if they’re people from bizzaro land). My favorite part involved fishtanks and haircuts (I’ll just leave it at that). Rock goes everywhere from the hood to the temples in India in search of answers but it’s the brothers in the barbershop that offer the unvarnished truth about how our hair attitudes impact intimacy.
Okay, so I also have another perspective on the impact of “Good Hair”. When this movie was screened at Sundance I thought our secrets were going to be exposed. In fact, some of us feel guilty because other folks know how long it takes us to get our hair a certain way. But who says that experience is unique to us—actually it’s not. (Our stuff is further complicated by issues of classism, politics and matters of self-esteem). My years in the beauty department of Elle and Real Simple gave me a chance to see that hair drama is universal. And here’s the reality some of us chose to relax our hair while some white women endure perms so they can get curls and volume. Not to mention the damage that is done when they strip all the color from their hair to go platinum. While Japanese straightening became popular because many Asian women were dissatisfied with their hair too. And the wig/weave culture has expanded to include all ethnicities. But the fact that Rock discovers a salon who offers a weave payment plans shows us how creative we can be to get what we want. So essentially, when I look at it that way, I’m less worried about feeling exposed. The truth is lots of women would feel uncomfortable if we were privy to their routines too.
Speaking of worry, the buzz about “Good Hair” has also brought legal problems to Chris Rock’s door. Regina Kimbal, who did “My Nappy Roots”, a few years back is suing Rock for $5 million. When I heard about the lawsuit earlier this week I had just listened to an ad for Shelley Garrett’s play “Beauty Shop” which is being re-staged somewhere in NJ. That play has served as the inspiration for three different movies—two of them were awful. I thought of this because I wondered aloud whether anyone can own an idea about black hair. Kimball wants to be paid because Rock saw her film and she thinks he ripped it off. That’s for the courts to decide (or some expert negotiators) but from the snippets I’ve seen, I think her flick plays it straighter than his. Maybe there’s a way that we can see both in a double feature. We all know that our appetite for all things hair is pretty big so I think that’s a good compromise. What can I say I’m a sucker for a happy ending (especially the unrealistic ones).
UPDATE: Kimball’s lawsuit didn’t stop the release of “Good Hair”. However, sisters clearly felt differently than I did about our hair issues being discussed in this movie. They stayed away in droves. (The film only made about $4 million in total.) But outside of the movie theater the politics of “Good Hair” continue to be discussed).
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January 4th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
The lawsuit was never about the IDEA of black hair. There have been other docs done on the topic before both films as you know. The lawsuit was TRULY about content elements taken from My Nappy Roots and used in Good Hair. If you researched and followed Chris Rock’s story, then you will hear him state SEVERAL times his original film was to be about the Bronnner Bros show. It wasn’t until AFTER he asked to see My Nappy Roots in a PRIVATE screening–in which his producers refused to sign a non disclosure agreement–that ROCK REALLY obtained the elements that made his film. The similarities between the films are TOO similar right down to what inspired the films–daughters. Not to mention TONSURE was NOT mention in any other known black hair docs accept My Nappy ROOTS. And just because Rock takes a more humorous approach doesn’t mean the film is TOTALLY different. Just as if a friend asks what you are wearing to an event, you allow her to see it, then you both show up in the same outfit but in different colors. It’s the same damn dress!
This type of thing–stealing of creative elements–happens in Hollywood more often that people realize because they are often settled privately. At least Kimball as an indy filmmaker had the guts to speak up, most don’t.
I read ALL the legal documentation concerning the case on My Nappy Roots Facebook Fan Page. As someone who works in the industry, she DEFINITELY had a case.
January 4th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Ellenoir1 thanks for your comment. I do believe you when you say this happens more often than we know and Kimball is brave to take it on. I hope more of us get the opportunity to see her film too.