“Television and all media platforms for that matter are a medium for deception. It’s definitely mind control when you have a damn jingle in your head all day that you just can’t seem to rid your mind from as your day goes by.”

Right. But it can also be turned off. We spend our time raising our blood pressure and shortening our lives being angry about what person X did or did not do relative to honoring Blackness in white-controlled media — but when we are really tired of it, when we really want it to stop, we’ll just stop buying in…

Perm is short for permanent wave. Its the term that non-black people use for the straightening process.

Relaxers are what black women (and some men) use in their hair. Black women use the term perm instead of relaxers for a number of reasons. Both terms refer to a straightening of the hair.

Believe it or not, there are many non-black women who purchase/use hair products such as Dark and Lovely, Motions, and don’t get me started on the Dominican hair products.

Oh, and I was chatting w/ a white man at a GNC where I purchase vitamins for my body and hair, and I made a comment that my hair wasn’t naturally straight and that I used relaxers. And he said, “So do I because my hair isn’t naturally straight either.” He was the first and only white man that said he relaxed his hair.

So no, we’re not the only race who alter our hair. Nor are we the only ones who change what God has given us.

I will admit that yes, black women spend lots of money on hair products and many hours at the hair salon. But the way you wrote this article is really about YOU and your personal experiences w/ the wrong type of women.

Believe me, if the chemicals in relaxers seeped into our skulls and caused brain damage, we wouldn’t continue buying/applying them. The only time there’s any damage is when something’s done wrong before, during, and/or after the relaxing process. Its about knowledge. Many of us got this, Lance.

If you attended one of my bbq’s where black people were having a good time, there’s plenty of good food and drinks, and a couple of tables of people are playing Spades, you mean to tell me that it would prevent you from being comfortable b/c I have relaxed hair? I wouldn’t dare color my hair blonde or some other outrageous color, and it would be appropately styled. But you would hold it against me? I’ll wait for your answer.

FYI, we are not the only race who straightens/relaxes their hair. White also straighten their hair. It’s called a perm. Without it, they wouldn’t have silky hair. Their hair is just as uncontrollable as ours. It’s just a completely different texture in its natural and permed state. You should check out those infomercials where white, Asians, and other non-blacks clip on hair extensions to give their hair a healthier, fuller appearance.

“I’ve found in my personal past that when I’ve dealt w/ a woman who spent so many hours and so much money to alter herself into something else that something inside me shuts down on a divine level.” Yes, its true many women alter themselves. But the bigger question is, what makes YOU so attracted to them? Do YOU approach black women w/ natural hair? I bet you do. But I also bet you eventually find out that they also have issues.

“The perm trap keeps a woman from being active, scared to exercise and swim, as well as scared to sweat!” Laziness, confusion, and not being wrapped too tight prevents those types from being scared to even sweat. So YOU are attracted to these types of women? What makes YOU atrracted to them? And let me explain the

“What do you think the effect is own your brain as chemicals seep into your skull? Trust me, Lance, it takes more than a relaxer to effect the way black women think of themselves.

“Is this why many of our women have the issues that they do?” Let me ask you this: Who would you prefer? A woman wearing her hair in a natural style who’s not wrapped too tight. For example, she doesn’t keep her house clean nor does she cook/know how to cook. But as long as her hair is natural, she’s the woman you want on your arm. Or, would you prefer the woman with relaxed hair who cleans, cooks, and easier to get along with?

The comment that Sheryl made was stupid. She compared what many black women do (buy hair) to what plenty of mothers do. Not just white women, but black women may save the hair of their sons first haircut. I don’t think they save hair from every haircut, but if Heidi wants to save all of her son’s shaved/cut hair then so be it.

Sheryl used that opportunity to make a joke about the black women who wear extensions, weaves, and wigs. Like herself. But it also rings true that many of us do want lots of thick, shiny, and healthy hair. And it can be achieved in many ways and styles. But when black women take it as far as wanting hair like white women or the acceptance of white people, I think that taking it too far.

In Sheryl’s case, she assumes that weaves and such will make her look/appear more prettier. Not only to men, but to her. Little black girls have issues with hair and everything else years before their first relaxer, weave, whatever. And as grown women, they’ll have more issues. Sometimes its about hair, sometimes it’s not. It depends on the

Black Unity means financial independence and happiness