Nappy Hair

There's nothing like reading a good controversial book before beddy-bye. I decided to check out the infamous "Nappy Hair", once considered so damaging by so few (and yet so vocal). So I flipped through it. Then I read it once. Then I read it twice. Then I tried turning it upside down and reading it from back to front because I just couldn't see how anyone could raise a ruckus over such a great little old story. The fact of the matter is, ladies and gentlemen, that this is a great book. A fun to read tale of accepting one's own self despite physical aspects that some members of society might not approve of. In short, having nappy hair. Now the book opens with the family's Uncle Mordecai telling a tale. The whole book is, in fact, in Uncle Mordecai's voice and as he speaks about little Brenda, her nappyness, and the nature of African American hair itself, his family is getting ready to sit down to a summer picnic of hot dogs, side dishes, and pie. In his story, Mordecai talks about the very essence of Brenda's hair. How hard it is to untangle, the sound it makes when you try, and who Brenda is herself. He then suddenly lauches headlong (despite the repeated groans and moans of his extended family) into telling how God himself proclaimed this hair to be as it is. We do not, for the record, see God. We just hear Him as He states that this child will have at least eight complete circles in her hair per inch (a line that I love). As a result, here is a girl that avoids the straighteners, the relaxers, and the processes that would render her hair flat and dull. The book even goes so far as to explain about Africa and how this hair came straight over the slave ships and, "wouldn't stop for nothing". And then here we have her. A girl that can dance, "right on through all the wimp hair". She's proud of her hair of her head and her life. The final parting shot sees her standing with all her family, smiling at the viewer, perfectly content with who she is and what she has. Now I haven't a clue how one goes about reading this book to groups and for a very simple reason. The book is written as a kind of call and response. Uncle Mordecai will make a statement like, "And I'm gonna tell y'all how she came up with all this nappy hair", and the various relatives will reply, "Brother, will you stop". The entire book is like this. A line or two by Mordecai, then a reply that's sometimes short and sometimes a little longer. How do you read that? Some people might have relatively little problem with the words and the stanzas. Others would definitely struggle. Should you intend to read this book for your child, sit down and go through it a couple times first. Get a feeling for the ebb and flow of the language because until you feel comfortable with what you're reading, you're not going to be able to convincingly persuade your child that this beautiful style is worth their listening. Complimenting Carolivia Herron's words are Joe Cepeda's ill

I loved this book! As a 23 year old black feminist, I really enjoyed this book. The term nappy for my generation is not as degrading as people have made it out to be, my hair is nappy, as a child my mother always told me that my hair was nappy and we celebrated it. I believe that we need to teach our children to celebrate diversity. Hair texture is like skin complections it comes in a wide range, yet we are still one people! We as blacks have a probelm celebrating these diversities an in a way we advocate for the shame that plagues the lives of black children. I say to those who hate this book, buy bell hooks book "Happy to be Nappy" it is a classic also! LETS CELEBRATE DIVERSITY! ! ! !

This book calls out so many of the deeply rooted insecurities which are so much a part of African-American culture as a whole, and sheds a light of true love and self-appreciation on them. We have been blessed to bear, a type of hair, that no other part of humanity, or animal in creation has; curls and spirals, which tell the magnificent tale of our journey from the dawn of time, our hair is truly unique, and an undeniable Crown of Glory.

I have not read a children's book that was as uplifting as this one. Not only is the main character loved by her family but she is a very smart girl. For too long, there as been an association between natural hair and ignorance. I plan to use this book in my classroom and I have shared it in all of my teacher education classes. Nappy is not a bad word, it is just a word.

I read and enjoyed this beautiful story. I have purcahsed several of these books for my younger cousins and friends. The story was first presented to me at church during the Children's period. I laughed and laughed untill I cried. This was such an appropriate place to present such a heart warming story. My uncle, who is now deceased, used to talk about my hair all of the time.This book reminded me so much of his lectures. I was reminded of when he would come over for Sunday dinner and tell stories of how he and my daddy and all of there other 11 brothers and sisters would sit around and tell old stories. It was also a reminder of the fact that he used to constantly preach to me about spending my $25.00 allowance on getting my hair done every week because I did not want it to be " nappy ". "Your grandmother used to press her hair once a month, twice if she was lucky. Back then we did not worry about how our hair was looking we were concerned with fellowship of our family and friends." He constantly preached these stories to me weekly about how easy it is to forget where we came from. How easy it is to forget the sacrifices that our ancestors made so that we could have a better life than they did. I appreciated these lectures then, but now I appreciate them even more. I am an adpoted child who has known that I was adopted all my life. Children can be so cruel sometimes and as a result of this I was constantly teased because of it. But as I have grown older and professed a hope in Christ, I have learned that God made me, not just my physical appearance but every aspect of me. He has molded me and shaped me. Everything that I am God has allowed me to be. Not because I am so holy but, because he's God. A God with new mercies everlasting and I am so thankful for it. People often characterize African-Americans by their nappy hair. This book is just a reinforcement that God made me and God doesn't make junk. Everything he creates is perfect.We are living in a world now where everyone has to have a hero or a role model. Children are so easily influenced and we as adults oftentimes take that for granted. If we act positively and in a spiritual manner, and we instill values and morals in our childrens minds; then our children we learn that they are truly indeed special. Each one of us are our own individual. We have special traits and characteristics that make us different. That diverse individuality is what makes us all so special and so perfect. If you have not read this book I highly encourage you to do so. If you put all of your prejudice attributes away and view it as a story of human creation, you can not help but to be truly blessed!