LOOK how cute Matthew's hair is! So, here's something you may not have thought about: When you adopt transracially, you don't know how to take care of your own child's hair. We have experimented for 11 months with different hair products. Today, a friend who has also adopted an African American child let us try out her hair products on Matthew. And they worked! Look at those gorgeous little corkscrew curls! So, do you want to know how many products it takes to maintain this look? FIVE. That's right, five hair products for one little boy! I don't think I've EVER owned five hair products at the same time for my hair!
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7 comments:
Very sporty new look! I can't wait to see this in person.
I talk about this idea in my Sociology classes when discussing racism. Basically it's an illustration of taken-for-granted racial differences in society (a.k.a. color-blind racism) in that whites can find hair care products in pretty much any store they go into, even convenience stores, but blacks (and other ethnic minorities with "different" hair) usually have to go to specialty stores to find hair care products. What makes this such a good example of color-blind racism is that, whenever I mention it in my classes, none of the white kids have ever even thought about it. Thus, being a minority puts you at a disadvantage and the majority doesn't see it or ever think about it until someone points it out to them.
Sorry to turn your "cutie curls" post into a lesson on racial disparity in the US (the pictures are awfully cute by the way), but I couldn't help myself.
Hey Ryan! Don't mind the lesson at all -- all very true. I think the very idea of colorblindness is an example of white priviledge as well as ignorance to that priviledge. (People who say, "I don't even *see* color" are probably white and have the priviledge of not *having* to see color.) I also think that hair is a much bigger racial issue than most people realize.
I know you aren't a parent, but I bet you'd enjoy some of the essays over at Antiracist Parent.
http://www.antiracistparent.com/
There are also several associated sites/podcasts like Racialicious and Addicted to Race. Let me know what you think of them!
Groovy links. They all look to be hitting the issue right on!
I didn't know any of this existed. I'm going to have to send a link to a colleague of mine at Kent State who studies race specifically. I'm sure he'll really dig this stuff.
Sharon, I never even thought about this. Thanks for mentioning it in your blog. FIVE products?!?? Cute curls, though!
hey, just came here today from TBW as a mom who is just starting the adoption process, anyway, read this post and made me think of this other blog I had been on and really enjoyed, thought you might like it if you hadn't been there yet:
http://braidsbeadstruth.wordpress.com/
maybe this one especially:
http://braidsbeadstruth.wordpress.com/hair-matters-black-hair-for-dummies/lets-hear-it-for-the-boys/
Thanks for the link, Abril! And best of luck in your adoption journey!
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