Denia |
Denia Carter, 22
Philadelphia 8 March 2016 |
Victoria Awkward: When I say the phrase “natural hair” what does it mean to you?
Denia Carter: Natural hair is hair that isn’t chemically treated, specifically perms. Specifically, harmful chemicals, because we have to put some form of chemicals in our hair. I consider my hair to be natural. Some people do not think my hair is natural because I straighten it. I do not have a perm and I haven’t had one in over 12 years.
I also consider myself a hair stylist. As a stylist, I refuse to do perms. Someone came to me with a box perm and wanted me to put it on their edges. I said, I cannot, I will press your edges out and put Jamaican caster oil on them but I will not perm your edges.
Denia Carter: Natural hair is hair that isn’t chemically treated, specifically perms. Specifically, harmful chemicals, because we have to put some form of chemicals in our hair. I consider my hair to be natural. Some people do not think my hair is natural because I straighten it. I do not have a perm and I haven’t had one in over 12 years.
I also consider myself a hair stylist. As a stylist, I refuse to do perms. Someone came to me with a box perm and wanted me to put it on their edges. I said, I cannot, I will press your edges out and put Jamaican caster oil on them but I will not perm your edges.
VA: How are people of color represented in the media (tv, movies, commercials)? Are people of color misrepresented?
DC: A lot of women do not wear their hair curly in the media. Many women wear weaves and although they can have natural hair under that weave, it is still a weave. I also think lighter women are praised more. Of course there is a certain standard of beauty that is represented in the media when it comes to white women and then black women have to kind of shadow that.
Recently it has become more common for women of color to embrace their natural side but not in a real natural way. For example, women wearing a curly weave but not their actual natural curly and kinky hair.
DC: A lot of women do not wear their hair curly in the media. Many women wear weaves and although they can have natural hair under that weave, it is still a weave. I also think lighter women are praised more. Of course there is a certain standard of beauty that is represented in the media when it comes to white women and then black women have to kind of shadow that.
Recently it has become more common for women of color to embrace their natural side but not in a real natural way. For example, women wearing a curly weave but not their actual natural curly and kinky hair.
VA: How does misrepresentation in the media affect children of color and their perception of their natural features?
DC: Some kids feel like they have to look a certain way or change the way they look to accommodate society. I feel so bad for my brother; he is seven years old, talking about some white girl. Even with three beautiful black queens in the house, he sees white has a dominant beauty. The media shows him that if it aint foreign it’s boring. The media definitely affects the way that kids look at themselves and how they look at other people and how they live their lives. As kids start to get older they start to develop a different mindset. VA: If you had to give advice to a young person of color who was struggling with their natural beauty what would it be? DC: Be who you are. If you’re going out of your way to fit in, or attract attention from other people, then you are not being yourself. So I would say, instead of going out of your way for other people, do it for yourself. Don’t do anything because other people think it’s attractive or acceptable. Do it for yourself. Do not worry about anybody else, live your own life. At the end of the day, you have to deal with your own insecurities. The same people that you are trying to impress are not going to care about you and your struggles. You have to care for yourself. |
Recently Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar have used their positions as artist to speak on the idea that, black lives matter. These performances sparked a lot of conversation. One of those conversations was how many white people ignored the fact that Beyoncé is black until this performance that explicitly celebrated and spoke on black lives. Another conversation is on the importance of artist using their platform for representing their own culture.
VA: What do you think about Americans being colorblind towards people of color and ignoring our natural features? DC: I understand that Beyoncé is a performer and entertainer. But before your are anything you are a women, you are a black women. And that is huge. It took Beyoncé years to explicitly acknowledge her blackness. I think it important to set the tone from the beginning. Beyoncé should have come out explicitly celebrating black lives. Maybe she did in an interview, but not everyone is going to watch her interviews. But people know her songs. So she should speak on her blackness through all of her music. |
VA: Kendrick Lamar vs. Beyoncé?
DC: If you do not acknowledge your blackness, white people will not acknowledge your blackness. Most of the artists today are talking about drugs. No one says anything about being black, maybe Jay-Z and maybe someone else. But for Kendrick Lamar to perform at the Grammy’s and perform Alright and Blacker the Berry, was a big deal. Who has done this? He acknowledged the legacy of slavery and things from slavery that still affect us today.
VA: How does seeing strong and confident celebrities of color celebrating their natural state influence someone like your brother, a young kid of color?
DC: Kendrick Lamar truly stands in his blackness. He doesn’t cut his hair, so people can see his kinky hair. He talks about black lives and real issues in his music. For my brother to see a black celebrity like Kendrick Lamar who is successful is really important. Kendrick Lamar can help people to see that we are fine the way we are, just accepting yourself. Kendrick Lamar has accepted himself and he is doing well, is performing on the Grammy’s. So if he can accept himself, why can’t you accept your self and the people in community?
DC: If you do not acknowledge your blackness, white people will not acknowledge your blackness. Most of the artists today are talking about drugs. No one says anything about being black, maybe Jay-Z and maybe someone else. But for Kendrick Lamar to perform at the Grammy’s and perform Alright and Blacker the Berry, was a big deal. Who has done this? He acknowledged the legacy of slavery and things from slavery that still affect us today.
VA: How does seeing strong and confident celebrities of color celebrating their natural state influence someone like your brother, a young kid of color?
DC: Kendrick Lamar truly stands in his blackness. He doesn’t cut his hair, so people can see his kinky hair. He talks about black lives and real issues in his music. For my brother to see a black celebrity like Kendrick Lamar who is successful is really important. Kendrick Lamar can help people to see that we are fine the way we are, just accepting yourself. Kendrick Lamar has accepted himself and he is doing well, is performing on the Grammy’s. So if he can accept himself, why can’t you accept your self and the people in community?
VA: What are you experiences as a natural with straight hair?
DC: Like I said earlier, I’ve been told people do not think I’m natural because my hair is straight. But, I just know how to get my hair bone straight so it looks like a perm but it’s not. I’ve noticed that there are two sides. There are people who are naturals with no heat and then there are people who put heat in their hair even if they are natural. I feel like there is an “us versus them” feeling when it comes to people of color, specifically black people, and how they wear their hair. I feel the way I wear my hair has nothing to do with my blackness.
VA: What do you think about black people separating ourselves due to things like hair or skin color?
DC: I think it does not make sense. I hate colorism. The whole idea of the black community separating ourselves because of something we cannot control does not make sense. Separating ourselves for superficial reasons is exactly what white people did and do to us. Why would we want to do that to ourselves? Just because someone’s hair may have loose curls, that doesn’t meant that they are less black. That is just their hair texture. Someone may be lighter or darker, well damn, I cannot control where I come from. I don’t even know where I come from; I don’t even know my ancestors come from. It’s bad enough I don’t know that. It’s silly to make me feel worse because I’m different, or categorize me as other. It just does not make sense.
DC: Like I said earlier, I’ve been told people do not think I’m natural because my hair is straight. But, I just know how to get my hair bone straight so it looks like a perm but it’s not. I’ve noticed that there are two sides. There are people who are naturals with no heat and then there are people who put heat in their hair even if they are natural. I feel like there is an “us versus them” feeling when it comes to people of color, specifically black people, and how they wear their hair. I feel the way I wear my hair has nothing to do with my blackness.
VA: What do you think about black people separating ourselves due to things like hair or skin color?
DC: I think it does not make sense. I hate colorism. The whole idea of the black community separating ourselves because of something we cannot control does not make sense. Separating ourselves for superficial reasons is exactly what white people did and do to us. Why would we want to do that to ourselves? Just because someone’s hair may have loose curls, that doesn’t meant that they are less black. That is just their hair texture. Someone may be lighter or darker, well damn, I cannot control where I come from. I don’t even know where I come from; I don’t even know my ancestors come from. It’s bad enough I don’t know that. It’s silly to make me feel worse because I’m different, or categorize me as other. It just does not make sense.
Photographer: Victoria Awkward
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward