#GoogleMustKnow: IS NATURAL HAIR UNPROFESSIONAL?- (PART 2)

In case you missed part 1 of this series, you may access it here before proceeding to read the input from our Kenyan and Zimbabwean sisters.

1. WHO AM I?

Firstly, I am beaming with excitement, what an awesome series! My name is Tendai Angela Jambga, I study Law and Technology (Information Systems) and fascinated by traditional African wellness/ beauty rituals and how they can be replicated and made accessible in today’s global, modern society.

NOTE TO GOOGLE:

In the early fifteenth century, hair served as a carrier of messages in most African societies, within these communities hair often communicated age, marital status, ethnic identity, religion, wealth, and rank in the community. Hairstyles could also be used to identify a geographic region. Hair even had spiritual significance! Many Africans believed hair as a way to communicate with the Divine Being. So as you can see already, I view African natural hair in high regard with much respect towards it because it is not ‘just hair’ as Google portrays it.

IS NATURAL HAIR UNPROFESSIONAL?

Natural hair is viewed as unprofessional because it is not understood, many women in my generation were not taught how to care for their natural hair and not taught how to embrace and appreciate it; Therefore makes it difficult to value it.

What is professional and what is not in this society? In this technological age I could be the best pilot, programmer, financial adviser, business developer, medical coding specialist… would you still care that I have natural hair?

Instagram: @tendai_angela

2. WHO AM I?

My name is Wendy Osodo. I am Kenyan, a natural hair enthusiast, a lover a beauty, fashion and travel.

NOTE TO GOOGLE:

Google has over the years been very biased about natural hair. It mostly only shows curly textures of natural hair and portrays that as beautiful hair but fails to portray kinky textured hair in the same light. Google is a very powerful tool and perception on the beauty of all natural hair textures would change in that light if positive attention is given equally to kinky hair.

IS NATURAL HAIR UNPROFESSIONAL?

Western culture has had major influence on this. In the very far past, office/formal jobs were done by the white race, whose hair was naturally straight and looked a certain way. There was a whole shift when decolonization happened and the black race became capable of joining the formal sector. When that happened, black women were made to believe that professional hair is straightened hair. And to do that, they had to chemically alter their natural hair to fit in.  It was somehow a brainwashing kind of ideology that made black people think natural hair is unprofessional. However, this is slowly changing as black women have began to embrace their natural hair in the office and it’s really encouraging to see that happen. Whether black or white, all women should know that hair that grows out of their scalps is beautiful and should be acceptable everywhere.

Instagram: @wendy_osodo

So, do you agree with these beautiful Naturalistas from Kenya & Zimbabwe?

What’s your note to Google about how they portray natural hair as unprofessional.

Source: http://www.oliviazjournal.com/2016/07/22/googlemustknow-is-natural-hair-unprofessional-part-2/