Page 17 - 10th Annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival Magazine

Charles Town Maroon International Conference Magazine June 2018

American gymnast, competing in the Rio Olympics, HAIR REBELLION/REVOLUTION
about her ’edges’, the first I heard of the term. This SECOND EDITION
child was busy winning Olympic medals and people, The hair rebellion/revolution second edition comes
mainly black women, were carping at her about the with a great deal more. It has brought a greater variety
need to get a touch up at the hairdresser. Can’t have of styles. We still have the ‘fro but not necessarily the
those curls showing now, can we? This shows how neat round ‘fro, but some with a wilder freer look and
obsessive black people can be about the standard of feel. Chinee bumps/Nubian knots, twists, braids,
hair grooming required to be in the public eye. cane/corn rows are still around, however, we now see
more creative cuts and colouring…a more artistic and
There is an inbuilt idea of a standard of hair grooming creative tapestry of black hairstyles. This is truly
that is based on the idea of white people’s hair being liberating!
more beautiful, appropriate and desirable. This means
that many people are harassed if their hair is different The treatment of natural black hair has become an
from this standard. This is racism. To show how industry with blogs, and demonstration vlogs on the
ridiculous this is, imagine black people harassing subject. We are beginning to learn, as a people, not to
white people with straight hair telling them, ‘your hair just simply take a comb and inflict punishment on
is falling. It is unprofessional and distracting. You ourselves or our children. Hair care products are also
need to let it stand up or tie it up or cut it’. This would on the increase with Jamaican businesses taking their
be only possible if it were black people who did the place in the industry. It’s a very interesting time for
colonising and forced people into slavery. black hair. Wearers of natural hair are still in the minority
Of course there is the usual push back with some but the change is definitely noticeable. Companies who
schools in the US instituting new dress codes which trade in chemical hair straighteners have seen a
ban locks, corn rows, twists and braids. Several of significant downturn in sales of these products.
these schools have had to withdraw these discrimi-
Well in spite of whatever opposition there is, it’s a fact
natory rules . In a South African school the students
that the hair rebellion/revolution second edition is up
got tired of being harassed about their hair and
and running. Ladies, whether you cream, press, wear
rebelled.
a weave or a wig, it’s all good. Just remember that you
have your natural hair that you can add to your range
These rules have to be challenged wherever they are
of hair styling options and hey – there is no such thing
imposed, as something as basic as hair should not be
as ‘bad hair’….. I am speaking to black men as well.
made into a distracting and stressful issue. Nor should
Here’s to natural hair and freedom I say. Blessup.
hair rules be used as a tool of racism. People are just
going to have to accept that our hair is unique. It
grows up and out - it is upstanding and outstanding! Pamela Hall is a singer, songwriter,
It’s not flat or hanging. It is beautiful. producer, publisher who has been in the
business of music for over forty years. She
started as a vocalist and took on additional
The whole thing is asinine, especially so in a black
roles as her experience in the business
country such as Jamaica. However, as I said earlier, widened and deepened. As a solo artiste she
centuries of conditioning has many black people being has released twelve albums and many
the ones in charge of the terroristic hair regime, on behalf singles. She has also provided background
vocals and vocal arrangements for many of
of white supremacy, and they do a pretty good job.
her fellow artistes. Pam has served as a JACAP and JAMMS
Board member and counts this as a part of her contribution to
the continued building of Jamaica’s music business.

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