WHAT IN THE HAIR IS GOING ON…?

There are so many realms to this argument, but I promise to try to stick to one; or two...

So Hampton University’s School of Business has banned their students from wearing locs, braids or cornrows. HU, if you didn’t know, is one of the oldest historically African-American institutions of higher learning (HBCU). People are quite upset, throwing around statements such as, “they are encouraging self-hatred.”

No, we have done a good job of that all by ourselves...

One of the many reasons the African American community, in general, has come to such a pass is accountability—or the lack thereof. People are afraid to hold each other accountable. When my Mom was a girl, it was nothing to get a whipping or chastisement from a non-family member and still get the same punishment when you arrived home. Today, not so much…

Constantly, we see our young people looking, for a lack of a more suitable term, a burning hot ghetto mess. But we say nothing. Pants sagging, three-week-old cornrows, weave that is holding onto consciousness, damn near comatose and locs that look like wildlife is growing in them. What in the hair is going on here?

Furthermore, a lot of us in our 30’s, 40’s and even 50’s have not shown our children, nieces, nephews, etc. that if you cannot fully commit to a style, keeping it looking fresh on a bi-weekly basis, you need to leave-it-alone. End of discussion. We must teach them that neatness and cleanliness is not only next to Godliness, it can mean the difference in getting hired or not.

At the end of the day, HU’s new requirement is not about conforming, assimilation or stifling the African-American culture. It’s about teaching our children, that if you want it, you have got to be better than the next applicant, who is probably hue-challenged (i.e., a person of non-color). So your locs, your afro, your cornrows, your weave, your wig, or your whatever, has GOT to be tight.

I do hope that one day, HU lifts this ban. But for now, because a lot of our people are walking around looking some kind of crazy, it is necessary. And I support it.

I am reminded of that scenario from, Barbershop. Lamar who is always broke, yet constantly hustling a free haircut, has a job interview. He has on a suit and tie, but his hair is clearly in need of maintenance. Lamar makes a simple request to Calvin (portrayed by Ice Cube), the owner and head barber who inherited the Chicago shop from his father, Calvin Sr. “I-need-a-cut. A-little-off-the-top, long-in-the-back, but-not-quite-no-shag, (throwing in gestures) sloped-to-the-left-like-Gumby, Eddie-Munster-in-the-front, and a-little-Wyclef-on-the-right—come on, hook that up for me.”

Unfortunately, Lamar “steals” said haircut from Calvin, running out of the door without paying him. However, he returns later that day, pays Calvin for the cut, apologizes and thanks him. Lamar shares with Calvin that he knew he was qualified for the job, but the haircut was crucial—he wanted the edge of looking his best. Moreover, landing the job means Lamar keeps custody of his child. Throughout most of the film, Calvin contemplates selling the shop because he deems it no longer profitable or a viable part of the community. This conversation, plus a few other significant twists in the plot convince him otherwise.

HU’s hair requirement for their Business students says, “Yes, there is some schooling that (still) needs to be done and it starts right hair…!”