Ginger speaks truth. What would they have said if she came out in cornrows?

OK, after reading about ten more articles that all quoted people saying things like, "It's great that she won, but with that hair?" I finally found a couple that said that the problem was that there was some texture at the front and nape, but the ponytail was straight, and it shouldn't be mismatched like that. Which, whatever, but at least I'm not staring at photos saying, "But what are they objecting to?" anymore.

I searched twitter for "gabby hair" the night that she won gold.

A couple of points: By far, most of the comments about her hair, and criticizing it, were made by people of color (at least, if their avatars were accurate). ETA: ALSO, most of the Tweets, by everyone - were supportive of Gabby's hair and took others to task for complaining about it.

One of my best friends on Twitter is pretty mad that the media picked up on the "story" at all, because she (she's Black) sees the media picking up on the "Black people are really critical of Black people's hair" angle and she is annoyed that "all Black people are being judged based on stupid people on Twitter trying to stir up shit". Her words.

My conclusion is that media wants you to click on headlines AND people who have a voice on the internet are sometimes going to write stupid things.

Also, envy. Lots and lots and lots of envy.

Here's a search. Scroll down and go back to late July. You'll see a sampling of the comments.

[link]

Hil, I'm not sure how much sense you can find in a general atmosphere of "black people's hair isn't presentable." That's been some kind of truism coming out of the mouths of both black and white people for hundreds of years now.

The complaints don't need to make sense. I'd be surprised if they did. Because--they don't. There is a vocal contingent of people for whom nothing is good enough--and that contingent is comprised of warring factions--if you straighten your hair, you hate yourself, if you don't straighten it, you look raggedy.

It just is. Black hair ain't right, therefore it gets complained about. The actual adjectives used are irrelevant. They're criticizing her for having it, and being black. Everything else is set dressing.

Thanks, ita. I was just getting confused that people were writing so many article about people criticizing her hair without ever saying what the criticism was.

And this hair talk reminds me that I was supposed to call the salon to make an appointment today, and I forgot. (My hair is getting way scraggly, but I haven't been at home for a few months, and I don't know who I can trust with my hair in NJ.)

What the heck are they for, then?

According to every plumber I've ever spoken to and a book I read on urban infrastructure, garbage disposals are primarily for getting clogged and causing problems. I have literally never heard anyone even tangentially related to the plumbing business say anything good about them, ever.

I don't get sports. I'll allow that many of them are pleasant to watch, but it's like a screensaver to me. I can only follow what's going on in very rare cases (tennis, rowing, running), and I've never been able to work up any ability to care about who wins or loses. (I'm pretty sure my parents are more disappointed that my kids are being brought up without the Red Sox than they are about my kids being brought up without religion, but I'm just missing the sports fan gene.)

According to every plumber I've ever spoken to and a book I read on urban infrastructure, garbage disposals are primarily for getting clogged and causing problems. I have literally never heard anyone even tangentially related to the plumbing business say anything good about them, ever.

Yep. They're evil.

I think I will go further to say that the beauty ideal in general is straight hair and for AA women this has restricted their behavior and movements to maintain straight hair for decades. A lot of people could not believe I have not straightened my hair since 1997. It was important to me to learn how to deal with my hair as it is.

Many women my mother's age wouldn't think about doing this. Despite the fact they have been burned, hair falling out, etc.

I wasn't phased by Gabby's hair. Too much social pressure for her to have done anything else.