Translate

Friday, February 23, 2024

Africans Commenting About Rules In Their Countries Against School Girls Wearing Hair Extensions Or Wigs (With Comments From Some African Americans)


South African School Assembly Music+Gwijo, Sep 9, 2023

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update - March 2, 2024

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of a South African high school students singing a traditional isiXhosa song* during morning assembly.

This post also presents a compilation of comments about Black school girls in African being prohibited from wearing extensions and wigs. A few comments about the custom of Black school girls wearing their hair in braid extensions in school are also included in this compilation. (Full disclosure: I added two comments to that discussion.)

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all thsoe who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
* Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-gospel-song-ndikhoklele-bawo.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Examples Of The Xhosa Gospel Song "Ndikhokhele Bawo" Performed With South African (Xhosa) Body Movements".That post includes the lyrics to this traditional Xhosa Gospel song and showcases other YouTube videos of South African high school morning assembly renditions of that song. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/videos-examples-of-black-high-school.html  for a closely related pancocojams post that showcases several YouTube videos from 2021-2024 that show some hair styles worn by African American high school girls and some hair styles that are worn by Black high school girls from the United States and from eight African countries.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM A SUB-THREAD OF THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

This sub-thread includes most of the comments as of March 2, 2024 at 2:10 PM EDT. The only comments that aren't included are those that are off-topic.

The comments in this compilation are numbered for referencing purposes only.
 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGJ61FK7j0

1. 
@tiffmat9475, 2023
"I've just noticed non of them have hair extensions or wigs. Thank you so much for that. On a basic level our African kids need to know their hair is fine enough as it is!"

**
Reply
2. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"Amen"

**
Reply
3. @dineomocoach, 2023
"Say that again."

**
Reply
4. @thebes50, 2023
"They are all beautiful Young People"

**
Reply
5. @titemarmotte, 2023
"I've always found African people so beautiful, I fully agree. It makes me sad when I see women puting on wigs. Love from France, guys."...

**
Reply
6. @xolimajola2761,2023
"That is so true...its so beautiful to be natural"

**
Reply
7.@Owiredua_xx, 2023
"Actually there’s more to it. In most African schools we’re taught to keep our natural hair. And it’s beautiful"

**
Reply
8. @brideofchrist8295, 2023
"Those hairpieces are not allowed in schools here🇿🇦"

**
Reply
9. @JVILL4REAL, 2023
"I prefer natural long hair myself much more attractive to me!!"

**
Reply
10. @thabisoleeuw6757, 2023
"Not allowed in school"

**
Reply
11. @layberry5979, 2023
"It’s nothing wrong with braids or hair added to braids it’s cultural"

**
Reply
12. @SF-lo3ob, 2023
"Yes yes Amen Amen"

**
Reply
13. @tylynn256, 2023
"Aren't these Jr high school/HS kiddos?"

**
Reply
14.@simp1eone, 2023
"That nonsense is not allowed in African  schools, you'll be suspended.  It's absolutely  forbidden in All our Ghana  Schools, when you turn 18 and leave school you can wear your nonsense horse hair"

**
Reply
15. @heavenlyprincess9502, 2023
"Secondary schools don't allow, hair extensions.

You must come natural.

Pray we Africans, can continue to instill this discipline forever, and not fall under pressures from outside, social media.


They're beautiful girls and boys.

May GOD bless, and keep them always till the end, in Jesus name Amen"

**
Reply
16. @ritamutoka7768, 2023
"Public schools in most African countries do not allow for wigs, extensions or hair pieces to be worn during school term, unless of course its a private school ."

**
Reply
17. 
@mariposas22, 2023
"It's school and there are rules"

**
Reply
18. @schoolassembly_gwijo, 2023
"@tylynn256  These are high school kiddos.."

**
Reply
19. @mercylakisa2572,2023
"They are school children. Nothing like those are usually allowed in school just like here in Uganda"

**
Reply
20. @ccdale5942,2023
"That’s awesome that they’re not allowed to wear extensions. It takes away time from studying and can be distracting . Kids should look like kids!"

**
Reply
21. @GiveYaLifeToJesus,2023
"Ikr! Beautiful"

**
Reply
22. @E_Im.aTrue_Israelite2, 2023
"Sadly, in USA for many years kids of our hue were not allowed in schools unless the hair was straightened.  One of the MANY ways of cruel discriminatory practices over us!  Born here and 6 decades of age, I can say that it has changed maybe 15 to 20 yrs ago."

**
Reply
23.@azizip171, 2024
"@E_Im.aTrue_Israelite2  I'm an African American woman who attended public schools in New Jersey from 1951 to 1965 when I then went on to college. In my experience it wasn't that Black girls were required to have our hair straightened- Instead, it was expected since it was the norm in those days that Black females hair was straightened with a hot comb (a metal comb put over the fire of a kitchen stove. When I went to college, at first I got my hair straightened with a chemical perm but I quickly switched to wearing my hair naturally in an "afro". I've wore my hair naturally since 1965 but I have worn a short wig since I'm largely bald because of Alopecia. Thankfully, my hair loss didn't happen until I was an older woman. I know a Black girl who is ten who is bald because of a medical condition. I'm glad that she has the option to wear a wig and does so because it's not prohibited."

**
Reply
24.
@azizip171 [continued] "Schools in the United States permit girls (of whatever race) to wear extensions in their hair. Many more Black girls wear extensions that non-Black girls. I know that a lot of people from other countries online talk bad about Black American girls wearing their hair in extension braids, but I believe it's much too simplistic and is simply not always true to say that Black girls wear their hair in braid extensions because they don't like their natural hair.

Some-but not all-Black American school girls wear braided hair extensions because it's one hair style that is common in the United States. And even the girls who do wear braid extensions don't wear their hair in that style all of the time. African American females (girls, pre-teens, teenagers, and adults) like to wear our hair in different styles and change our styles quite often. However, since at least the 2015 or so natural hairstyles are quite common among African American females (and males) of all ages. Sure, some African American females get their hair straightened without chemicals (which is now called a "blow out'), but that hair style is rarely worn by school age African American girls before middle or high school, and even in middle school and high school, there are more Black girls wearing their hair in a natural hairstyle. That said, I believe that it is largely true that we African American females have been taught by way of the mass media that females should have long hair i.e. long hair is one descriptor of female beauty (That message indirectly comes from fairy tales like Rapunzel let down your hair and indirectly or directly is reinforce through our mass media). I consider this to be very unfortunate, and I believe that that is the main reason why braid extensions have become the norm for Black American females. Besides being a standard way of wearing their hair, braid extensions can be styled in a lot of different ways and braid extensions help make the morning routine easier for the mother and children since children have to get up earlier and be out at dark to catch buses to go to school and at the same time the parents have to get ready for work...

I've focus on braid extensions since African American elementary, middle school, and high school girls rarely if ever wear wigs. I also believe that hair pieces (either straight or curly "fake hair" or "real hair" that is unbraided are rarely if ever worn by African American elementary school girls, but are probably worn by some African American middle or high school girls."

**

Reply
25. @avirei98, 2023
"Well, black people in America have a very different experience with our hair and I'm sure some of the black people in South Africa is the same for many of us. It is because of colonialism in our relationship next to the Europeans who made us feel like our hair or something undesirable to look at. So we had no choice but to try and conform to their beauty standards. For others who are fortunate, they grew up in communities surrounded by people who look like them. Working with people who look like them who made them feel like they are normal like they are beautiful like they belong just as they are."

**
Reply
25. @JC-br5bg, 2023
"6ot allowed at school, not a perm or wetlook ! And i went to a Catholic girls school!"

**
Reply
27. @mgn3618, 2023
"Those aren't allowed in schools that's why.."

**
Reply
28. @feleciathomas4245,2023
"They understand that they are FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE by God himself!!!"

**
Reply
29. @teresam5199, 2023
"Please stop focusing on such superficial and inconsequential things. God looks on the , not hair, clothes, shoes, and other trivial things. Lets do the same."

**
Reply
30. @MegaBloodrain, 2023
"@teresam5199  You're clearly missing the point, that, or you haven't experienced the level of discrimination faced by African kids, girls especially."

**
Reply
31. @JoiDior, 2023
"African woman know this. It’s westerners that don’t."

**
Reply
32. @godschild8677
"And if they did? The fact that you watched this and came away with nothing but that says a lot! We have the right as a people to be who we want to be! There’s no one size fits all here! There’s room and space for everyone!!"

**
Reply
33. 
@teresam5199, 2023
"@MegaBloodrain  you're missing the point, not me: focusing on it contributes to or gives power to the discrimination. It flat out doesn't matter."

**
Reply
34. @TheNumbasign2, 2023
"That sh-t* costs money"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.  

**
Reply
35. 
@duwynnasmith6331,2023
"@TheNumbasign2  um don't think for one second that they can't afford it. It's better to be natural and not put that in our hair but to each their own.

**
Reply
36. @TheNumbasign2, 2023
"@duwynnasmith6331  not for one second. Cause it ain’t one pair of Jordan’s or Yeezy’s in the crowd either. Ijs"
-snip-
"Jordans" and "Yeezys" are references for brands of sneakers (gym shoes). 

**
Reply
37. @duwynnasmith6331, 2023
"@TheNumbasign2  this is just sad! A pair of Jordans, Yeezys and hair is what makes people? Unfortunately for myself I'm not materialistic. You can think about what you want about Africa. This world is lost if a pair of shoes or hair is how people are judged if they have money. What I do see though is the joy and happiness no matter what they don't have. As long as a person has their peace, there's no joy taken."

**
Reply
38. @TheNumbasign2, 2023
"@duwynnasmith6331  all I’m saying is the original comment is stupid. You don’t see wigs and extensions in the crowd because that’s not America. That’s what we do. And one of the reasons why is. Because we can afford to."

**
Reply
39. @tikia7251, 2024
"They also aren't in a country that tells them their natural hair is no good."

**
Reply
40. @TheNumbasign2, 2024
" @tikia7251  just saw her in a new video, the other day. She got weave down her back and some fly ass shoes on. So idk"
-snip-
My guess is that this comment refers to the lead singer in this South African video.

**
Reply
41. @joettaharris4230, 2024
"I learned this long ago when Oprah opened her school. That isn’t allowed in schools in Africa."
-snip-
This comment refers to the school that Oprah Winfrey sponsors in South Africa.

**
Reply
42.@christ-lives-in-me, 2024
"Totally agree! Wish our people would learn to love our hair. Our hair indeed is ENOUGH"

**
Reply
43. @damarisgonzalez3764, 2024
"Because they’re going to school to learn, not like a kid, the United States, that our kids go waste their time. Focus on materialistic."

**
Reply
44. @Anonyme67, 2024
"Tks in my country Cameroun it is even stricter. Francophone only 6 cornrows with natural hair only. Anglophone short hair for girls and boys (short hair for boys in francophone as well. ). Really proud of that."

**
Reply
45. @Anonyme67, 2024
"@layberry5979 not in school. Only during vacations or in college. In my father’s house it was forbidden, make up and nail polish as well. Unless you are in college."

**
Reply
46. @Anonyme67, 2024
"@simp1eone same in Cameroon and I am proud of that."

**
Reply
47. @Anonyme67, 2024
" @godschild8677 that’s on you. We africans are happy to teach our kids to focus on education not beauty. In my country it is only 6 cornrows or short hair for girls g (no extensions) and short hair for boys. You don’t comply.. your hair will be cut at school and you get a whopping home."

**
Reply
48. @Anonyme67,2024
"@duwynnasmith6331 what? My dear most can afford it. Having hair done cost nothing. And extension are used and reused we don’t throw extensions away. The purpose of that if to have the kids focusing on education."

**
Reply
49. @Anonyme67, 2024
"@TheNumbasign2 well in Africa we can afford it but we prefer to focus on education. In US it is common for kids to be pregnant at a very young age and one of the reasons is over sexualizing kids. As an African I was shocked to see people being grandma at 40. Even in my village you don’t see a 40 years old being a grandma. All this as do with education. So we will keep our ways. My kids who are african and african American will never have braided hair in my house. Never!"

**
Reply
50. @duwynnasmith6331, 2024
"@TheNumbasign2  do you not know that there's wigs and everything else in Africa as well? What makes you think they can't afford it? I'm curious to hear your answer."

**
Reply
51. @duwynnasmith6331, 2024
"@Anonyme67  I'm not saying they can't afford it. It's good they're wearing their natural hair and focused on education. I love the structure you have and keep up the great work ."

**
Reply
52. @gemmeldrakes2758, 2024
"It is most likely a school regulation. No hair extensions allowed."

**
Reply
53. @gemmeldrakes2758, 2024
"@simp1eone My school in the Caribbean didn't allow hair extensions either. "School is not a fashion show!" "

**
Reply
54. @sylviasworld9397, 2024
"@TheNumbasign2 They are at school and they wear uniforms why would they wear that type of footwear. Maybe they wear them at home."

**
Reply
55. @tsakass, 2024
"Another thing. Kids should be kids"

**
Reply
56. @duwynnasmith6331, 2024
"@tsakass  exactly"

**
Reply
57. @TheNumbasign2, 2024
"@sylviasworld9397  she’s wearing it now. I saw her in a video with weave braids down her back. With some very expensive looking shoes on. Looking very American."

**
Reply
58. @margholtz, 2024
"It is the newest trend ."

**
Reply
59. @matsuyama40, 2024
"I love both natural styles and wigs, extensions. Hair is an expression… I’ve wigs and extensions that give my hair a rest from constant combing and stress. Then I ROCK my Afro and braids just as proudly. “I AM not my hair… I’m a not this skin, I am a soul that lives within.”  This should be the emphasis. I think."

**
Reply
60. @CharlieC738, 2024
"It isn't allowed in school."

**
Reply
61. @SheepleSheeplePlease, 2024
"@matsuyama40 I agree with you. It’s not always so deep. Some people just like wearing extensions as an expression, to change up their look, or it’s preference. Doesn’t always mean that you don’t value yourself."

**
Reply
62. @damarisalaman,2024
"@TheNumbasign2 no, you don’t see it because it’s not allowed in the schools there, not because of money. They definitely wear wigs & extensions, it’s just against the rules"

**
Reply
63. @zonkedlamini7725,2024
"They're at school. They are not allowed to. School rules on hair."

**
Reply
64. @tikia7251, 2024
"They also aren't in a country that tells them their natural hair is no good."

**
Reply
65. @Anonyme67, 2024
"Tks in my country Cameroun it is even stricter. Francophone only 6 cornrows with natural hair only. Anglophone short hair for girls and boys (short hair for boys in francophone as well. ). Really proud of that."

**
Reply
66. @matsuyama40 , 2024
"I love both natural styles and wigs, extensions. Hair is an expression… I’ve wigs and extensions that give my hair a rest from constant combing and stress. Then I ROCK my Afro and braids just as proudly. “I AM not my hair… I’m a not this skin, I am a soul that lives within.”  This should be the emphasis. I think."

**
Reply
67. @SheepleSheeplePlease, 2024
"@matsuyama40 I agree with you. It’s not always so deep. Some people just like wearing extensions as an expression, to change up their look, or it’s preference. Doesn’t always mean that you don’t value yourself."

**
Reply
68. @damarisalaman, 2024
"@TheNumbasign2 no, you don’t see it because it’s not allowed in the schools there, not because of money. They definitely wear wigs & extensions, it’s just against the rules"

**
Reply
69. @user-tb9ce9be8m, 2024
"What does that have to do with anything?? That's not your business what they have on their head"

**
Reply
70. @zafrullabadrudin8526, 2024
"Exactly"

**
Reply
71. 
@unschooled_art, 2024
"@teresam5199 It is definitely not "inconsequential" when a whole generation of people feels that their naturally kinky or curly hair is something to be hidden or something that makes them ugly or less than. So they would rather buy straight hair extensions than be exactly as the God you speak of made them."


**
Reply
72. 
@sanelemwelase, 2024
"In some schools, hair extensions are not allowed. In some schools they are allowed, especially city schools."

**
Reply
73. @patricianyambe5327, 2024
"All schools do not allow extensions or any artificial things done to hair in our country."

**
Reply
74. 
@NOPE-po2pq, 2024
"@simp1eone Lol nonsense horse hair tbh I don't like none of that barbie doll hair either.....it's uncomfortable and always thought it was kinda weird to do."

**
Reply
75. @fk8395, 2024
"But they are high school kids . Most schools in Africa don't allow any of that. That's pretty much the standard"

**
Reply
76. 
@danariddick5757, 2024
"Amen....yes there hope is in God not keeping up with the next fad...and they are BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL souls"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

visitor comments are welcome.

No comments:

Post a Comment