Hanif on Media

There’s a film set to debut in October for which I can offer a money back guarantee. As in: If you don’t like “Good Hair,” I guarantee you can try to see Chris Rock to get your money back. You won’t want to do that, though, because “Good Hair” is the visual equivalent of a great read.

I got a serious education while watching an advance screening of this semi-documentary last weekend during the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Tampa.

The comedian was on hand afterward for a Q&A with actress Nia Long  that was hosted by NABJ’s Patrick Riley.

“Everybody knows about Madame C.J. Walker,” writer and producer Rock told the packed Muvico theater audience in Ybor City. “Everybody knows that in the ’70s everybody had an Afro. I wanted to do the new hair movie.”

He has delivered with this video commentary on hair culture and the business of hair — a $9 billion business among black folks. Yet as he documents, African-Americans net a miserly percentage of the proceeds on which they spend fortunes. The bulk goes to white and Asian beauty product suppliers.

“Human hair is India’s biggest export,” reports Rock from where else but…India. Later he’s hanging out in Atlanta beauty parlors with everyday people who may pay as much as $1,000 for their Indian-hair weaves — sometimes on a layaway plan. Entertainers and others up the ante to tens of thousands of dollars.

Rock also shows women confessing “I am on the creamy crack” — the toxic yet ubiquitous sodium hydroxide relaxers. Upon leaving the theatre one woman said, “My thing is I would never put a perm in my head again after what I saw.” And a weave? No answer.

Me, I’m long past the days of my huge crush on Angela Davis for her Afro hairdo as much as her spirit. Long past the days when I thought that sisters looked nice with “fried hair,” as some of us called it, but that those wearing natural hairstyles seemed to signify a bit more on the brain.  I’ve long since learned the fallacy of assuming based on appearances. In fact, I’ve learned enough to get out of the judging business, having recognized that the Creator Who made all will judge us all.

Similarly, Chris Rock manages to provide a ton of information in a non-judgmental manner that manages to provoke yet also elevate thought and comment. A constant along the way is his trademark humor.

The result is his 2009 Sundance Film Festival award winner, guaranteed to be appreciated by ladies and gentlemen of all stripes.

The movie already is spurring all kinds of conversations, in which the best way to participate often is simply to listen.

Listen, for example, to my friend and fellow Trotter Group colleague Tonyaa Weathersbee, a columnist and member of the Jacksonville Times-Union’s editorial board. I couldn’t wait for Tonya’s take on the film. She shows again why her columns have earned numerous state and national journalism awards.

There’s also the official movie trailer and the same on YouTube.

As usual I’ll add links to any other quality commentary that comes to my attention.

And of course I’d love to hear your comments.