Black Hair – Good Hair

The first daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, are wearing their hair ‘natural;’ radio host Don Imus’ popularity hasn’t been restored since his 2007 statement about the Rutgers women basketball team as, “Nappy-headed hos;” and comedian Chris Rock has produced a documentary exploring African American women’s issues with their hair called, “Good Hair.” Is black hair still political? Straight, relaxed, weave, extensions – each woman has her own way of tackling her tresses. We’ll untangle the cosmetic and social complexities of African American hair with ELIZABETH WELLINGTON, fashion writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and LORI THARPS, Assistant Professor of Journalism at Temple University about untangling the social. Tharps co-authored “Hair Story: Untangling the Story of Black Hair in America.” Listen to the mp3