Black America Owes Gabby Douglas A Huge Apology-Do Blacks Hate Themselves?

[Dawn]

Black people do suffer from self hate issues.  We are constantly indocrinated to be love all things Eurocentric and think any positive about Blacks is negative.

Some Black people are probably empathetic to some whites not liking a Black girl succeeding over a white girl.  So instinctively they lash out.

good point.

[joeclyde]

Black people do suffer from self hate issues.  We are constantly indocrinated to be love all things Eurocentric and think any positive about Blacks is negative.

Some Black people are probably empathetic to some whites not liking a Black girl succeeding over a white girl.  So instinctively they lash out. 

[Chocolatesmoothie]

i couldn't care less about her hair i'm more bothered by other things

[Dawn]

i truly don't think it matters whether her hair is natural, relaxed, permed, fried or dyed, with fake ponytail in the back.

the bigger picture, in my opinion is that she shouldn't have been publicly disrespected and humiliated like that.  to me that is the point.  if you talk about her in your house and say you don't like her hair is one thing, but for her hair to become viral on twitter because it wasn't straight enough is an outrage.  that's the whole point.  (especially coming from mostly people who have the exact same type of hair, and should UNDERSTAND exactly what she's going through).

[Beyonce]

gabby isnt natural, shes relaxed


@dawn

lil mama received alot of hate from blk women. that clearly tells ppl something 

[Dawn]

this is not in response to anyone in particular, just a little fyi.  just recently they went off on twitter after lil mama tweeted her natural hair.  they called her a "shocked slave!"



if gabby's hair looked like that above people would have died...seriously, because it just would have been too much for many to take..lol (sad, but true).

[Vashti Lebron]

Couldn't it maybe, just maybe, be possible that black folks have unrealistic standards of beauty? Think about it. Skin lightening creams. Ridiculous weaves. Light colored contacts. Long finger nails. My question remains... do black people hate themselves or see themselves as ugly? Is that what this whole nonsense is really about. Because right now, I can guarantee that white people are not laughing with us this time.

To answer the question, YES I do think (many) black people hate themselves and I think all the things you just mentioned are evidence of that.   And maybe we should ask Gabby and her people if they have these same unrealistic standards since they pressed her hair out with the expectation that it would remain intact through these events.

It may not seem like it but I think we're saying similar things. 

I think it's bigger than black people attacking Gabby about her hair.  I think if one wonders why black people are being so critical about Gabby's hair, then you must also consider the whole twisted system that would have Gabby feel like she had to TRY to straighten out her (natural?) hair in the first place.  If that's all her hair, it's long enough to pull back into the same bun she had...and it likely would have looked better b/c her hair would be all the same texture.  Why do you think Gabby felt (consciously or not) that she had to have straight hair for this event likely knowing she was going to sweat it out and have it look greasy and shellac-ed?  Where does that pressure come from to have some straight hair on your head at whatever cost?     I think that's the adjoining issue here--that she and other girls/women have been made to hate themselves so much that they may feel like straight hair is a must, regardless of what it looks like.

Although i think black people have lots of self-hate issues, Im having a little trouble with this because I don't think people are necessarily criticizing her natural hair (although im sure they would if she had worn her hair natural) in this case.  I think the people saying mean things are fussing because she went for a straight style that she couldn't maintain under Olympic conditions. 

And for the record I don't have a strong opinion about Gabby's hair.  Like I said before, I didn't really think twice about it or comment on the girl's hair at all.  I don't think it should be a huge deal and in the context of her performance and achievements it's a non-factor.  But since there's a thread about it......

[Arcane]

It's crazy, just the assumption... if I put gel in my hair, means I can't represent black people? Sorry, I don't buy that. Because if she was white with that hairstyle, all anyone would be saying is how extraordinary her abilities are. In fact, I never hear white people complain about hair, unless it's a celebrity gossip column or tv show. But, I think embarrassingly, blacks think about this too much. And have exhibited the insecurities that come with being black in America. It's like bowing down to white society and saying, we want to be like you. This situation is like going to http://increasetraffic.co and signing up with their affiliate program to make money, and then complaining that you don't like the colors on the page. (No one has ever said that but this is an example) It's nonsense!

The way I understand it, her hair is natural and they use gel to keep it from going everywhere. The ponytail in the back is used to give her height because she is 4'11. But even still, who cares? Why has hair become so important to blacks? Because there are a lot of black hairstyles that deserve more attention than this nonsense.
I can't beweave it!

Couldn't it maybe, just maybe, be possible that black folks have unrealistic standards of beauty? Think about it. Skin lightening creams. Ridiculous weaves. Light colored contacts. Long finger nails. My question remains... do black people hate themselves or see themselves as ugly? Is that what this whole nonsense is really about. Because right now, I can guarantee that white people are not laughing with us this time.

[Vashti Lebron]

the irony of bw bashers being bw

not surprised

Im not sure if that's directed toward my post,  but in any case that's true. Im sure most of the people behind the tweets and articles insulting Gabby are black women looking her up and down.

[Beyonce]

the irony of bw bashers being bw

not surprised

[Dawn]

What the hell is wrong with black people these days? Growing up and having my own Afrocentric views and pride about who I was and where I come from, I never dreamed a day would come where I could honestly say that I am a shamed of being black. I mean, come on... black people need to wake the hell up! It's like blacks today are walking around lost and clueless. 

I got a taste of black shame when such a big fuss was made over Mary J Blige's Burger King commercial.  Then it became known that black people can't advertise chicken for a fast food chain because they feel like they are being made fun of. Are you serious? Listen, I don't even sing... but if someone offers me a million dollars to sell some damn chicken, I'm going to take the money and pray for black people.  Slavery ended a while ago, didn't it? Well... at least physical slavery kinda ended... sort of... that's a different topic.

Congrats to Gabby Douglass! She has overcome a lot and gave black people a good reason to be proud.  What? Her hair you say? You don't understand. Ms. Douglass is not a supermodel. She is an athlete for the Olympics. Her hair you say again? Are you serious? It doesn't look cute? Wow.
If you are a black woman and you don't wear weave or get a perm, the chances are that your hair probably looks a lot like this.

"As American teen gymnast Gabby Douglas continues to wow the world with her grace, style, and growing collection of gold medals, an unfortunate backlash is making the rounds. Various social-media sites and platforms have begun to chastise the new sports darling for, of all things, the upkeep of her hair." Does this make you feel a shamed of people? Not yet?
This woman is white so her hair texture is different.  Nonetheless, no one is dressed for a photo shoot.
This child is the victim of a race that hates how they look and are perceived by white people.

Douglass is one of the few African-American gymnasts ever to compete in the Olympic Games and the first black woman to take the all-around individual title—has helped her capture the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. Even President Obama called her to congratulate her on her gold medals. However, on social media outlets, the most important detail that many blacks noticed was that they didn't like her hairstyle. So you're going to tell me that black people are embarrassed that a superstar and accomplished Olympic black superhero doesn't have a Beyonce weave? Sadly, yes.

The outrage over Douglass' hair has become an online sensation. What I think has happened is that black people have become so entrenched in looking and acting like and wanting to be white, that they feel our representatives for anything black related, should appear more white. It's not who we are but who we have become. This outrage over hair has only proven how self conscious black people have really become over the years and I think leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr or even Malcolm X would turn over in their graves if they were privy to the outrage blacks are making over hair.

Maybe black media is to blame and perhaps blacks need to take a closer look at what is really going on.  I'm sure if you check out any popular rap video you will see light skin and white women with large rear ends shaking themselves for the camera.  Looking white has always been "the thing to do" in black culture and this new outrage over hair is testimony of how petty, insecure and ridiculous black people have become. 

Think about it... Douglass is black, and therefore she has hair that is similar to the texture and type of hair that most black people have.  The fact that she is performing in the Olympics will make it quite difficult for her to maintain a perm, when her mission is to really win a medal.  And at a time when black people should be the most supportive and the most proud, they tear down this young lady and complain that her hair doesn't look like a supermodel.  The outrage is silly and it is my belief that black people need to wake up.  There also needs to be an apology made and this is a time that blacks deserve to be criticized for allowing this nonsense to go viral. I can't take the silliness anymore. I am not ashamed of Gabby Douglass. I am ashamed that the majority of black people are so insecure about being black that they would let this thing become as big of an issue as this has become.

There was a time when black people would be insulted if someone made a comment about black people having nappy hair. In fact, when a white person made the famous comment about "them nappy headed black girls," he lost his job. Then it was said that we are too touchy and sensitive. And now we have turned a similar issue into the laughingstock of the internet. If I didn't know better, I would say this justifies the previous statement that was made years ago and the radio host should receive his job back. There is a great deal of contradiction here.

So in effect, a black superhero who should be commended for her efforts instead of ridiculed has yet another obstacle to face.  Besides being the only black person to compete in the Olympics and win two gold medals, she now has to fight off rumors about "her bad hairstyle." When in fact, I don't really see what the big deal about her hair is. Or could it be that enough white people didn't make any insulting remarks about black people that we could complain about this year, so they had to insult themselves? Black women used to get upset when a black woman wore a ridiculous weave. Now black women get insulted because she is not wearing a ridiculous weave. Maybe black people just like being the laughingstock. That must be it!

omg, how embarrassing i just found this link on the HOME page of yahoo.  http://shine.yahoo.com/team-mom/defense-gabby-douglas-hair-191700322.html

[Dawn]

i think she's an easy target because she's a very petite (she's only 4'11") black-black very young woman (not light skin and not biracial) in a sport that you don't find many black people, then to top it off she's GREAT at what she does.  it was the way of people "keeping her in her place."  like the subconscious thinking is  "girl you ain't good enough to be a house n*gga, you ain't got no good hair, get back out to that field."  that's my opinion.

[Dawn]

i just don't see what's the problem is with her hair?  i really don't.  if she were wearing this style in a beauty pageant, yeah, it's a problem, but doing gymnastics, no, i don't see a problem at all...not even a little bit.   and yes, if she wore an afro, people would have FLIPPED OUT!  her only other options were braids, but living in iowa with a white family for 2 years, and now in london and not knowing anyone as well as going out for 12 hours to "get her hair did" was probably not an option.



here are track women, and their hair to me is not any better nor worse.  their hair looks exactly how i would expect it to look.

[Vashti Lebron]

I haven't read any of the critical articles about Gabby--I've just seen titles and such about the comments people are making.  I noticed her hair while watching but I didn't think that much of it.  She's doing a great job and I'm proud of her.

The outrage over Douglass' hair has become an online sensation. What I think has happened is that black people have become so entrenched in looking and acting like and wanting to be white, that they feel our representatives for anything black related, should appear more white.

Looking white has always been "the thing to do" in black culture and this new outrage over hair is testimony of how petty, insecure and ridiculous black people have become.

I think these statements are somewhat ironic because I think Gabby, herself, or the people behind her attempted to make her "appear more white" with the way her hair is now.  They suffer the exact same mentality as her critics, it seems.  If in fact that is her natural hair that's been pressed straight for the Olympics, she felt the pressure from somewhere to

A) Straighten her hair out to fit in with the other girls
B) straighten her hair to represent black America 'well'...in other words her natural wasn't presentable enough in it's kinky state to perform at the Olympics
C) Straighten her hair with the people responsible knowing good and well that a press/flat iron wasn't going to withstand all the sweating. 

I think it's unfortunate that she probably felt too ashamed and maybe wasn't allowed to go out there with her natural hair (presuming it is natural) which would have obviously held up better under the moisture from the sweat.  Her hair looks long...they could've twisted it and pulled it back into a bun or braided it in the front and puffed it in the back or something.   

I think it's sad that she or the people backing her would prefer that she go out there with clips holding down 'monster teeth' and brown gel (in other words, gross hair) just so she can "represent" with straight hair.

However, I acknowledge that black America is so sick that she would probably have received even more static about her hair if she hadn't straightened it at all.

Im not saying she deserves any of the insults and like I said, I only briefly noticed her hair, but paid more attention to her achievements on the USA team. 

[Dawn]

Black America Owes Gabby Douglas A Huge Apology-Do Blacks Hate Themselves?

i found some of the insulting tweets!

[Dawn]

arcane, this is one of the best post written on this site (see original post below), and i agree, black america needs to apologize to gabby, she does NOT deserve to have to go through this ESPECIALLY at this time and at her age, for absolutely nothing.  can you even imagine how this 16 year old great young lady must feel right now?

gabby and family, i am sorry that you all have to go through this. stay strong, peace and blessings.  love, dawn ali.

VIDEO BELOW (Who Taught You To Hate Yourself?)  Malcolm X Said:  "the most DISRESPECTED person in america is the black woman!"

WHO TAUGHT YOU TO HATE YOURSELF? (May 5, 1962, Los Angeles)

[Arcane]

What the hell is wrong with black people these days? Growing up and having my own Afrocentric views and pride about who I was and where I come from, I never dreamed a day would come where I could honestly say that I am a shamed of being black. I mean, come on... black people need to wake the hell up! It's like blacks today are walking around lost and clueless. 

I got a taste of black shame when such a big fuss was made over Mary J Blige's Burger King commercial.  Then it became known that black people can't advertise chicken for a fast food chain because they feel like they are being made fun of. Are you serious? Listen, I don't even sing... but if someone offers me a million dollars to sell some damn chicken, I'm going to take the money and pray for black people.  Slavery ended a while ago, didn't it? Well... at least physical slavery kinda ended... sort of... that's a different topic.

Congrats to Gabby Douglass! She has overcome a lot and gave black people a good reason to be proud.  What? Her hair you say? You don't understand. Ms. Douglass is not a supermodel. She is an athlete for the Olympics. Her hair you say again? Are you serious? It doesn't look cute? Wow.
If you are a black woman and you don't wear weave or get a perm, the chances are that your hair probably looks a lot like this.

"As American teen gymnast Gabby Douglas continues to wow the world with her grace, style, and growing collection of gold medals, an unfortunate backlash is making the rounds. Various social-media sites and platforms have begun to chastise the new sports darling for, of all things, the upkeep of her hair." Does this make you feel a shamed of people? Not yet?
This woman is white so her hair texture is different.  Nonetheless, no one is dressed for a photo shoot.
This child is the victim of a race that hates how they look and are perceived by white people.

Douglass is one of the few African-American gymnasts ever to compete in the Olympic Games and the first black woman to take the all-around individual title—has helped her capture the covers of Time and Sports Illustrated. Even President Obama called her to congratulate her on her gold medals. However, on social media outlets, the most important detail that many blacks noticed was that they didn't like her hairstyle. So you're going to tell me that black people are embarrassed that a superstar and accomplished Olympic black superhero doesn't have a Beyonce weave? Sadly, yes.

The outrage over Douglass' hair has become an online sensation. What I think has happened is that black people have become so entrenched in looking and acting like and wanting to be white, that they feel our representatives for anything black related, should appear more white. It's not who we are but who we have become. This outrage over hair has only proven how self conscious black people have really become over the years and I think leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr or even Malcolm X would turn over in their graves if they were privy to the outrage blacks are making over hair.

Maybe black media is to blame and perhaps blacks need to take a closer look at what is really going on.  I'm sure if you check out any popular rap video you will see light skin and white women with large rear ends shaking themselves for the camera.  Looking white has always been "the thing to do" in black culture and this new outrage over hair is testimony of how petty, insecure and ridiculous black people have become. 

Think about it... Douglass is black, and therefore she has hair that is similar to the texture and type of hair that most black people have.  The fact that she is performing in the Olympics will make it quite difficult for her to maintain a perm, when her mission is to really win a medal.  And at a time when black people should be the most supportive and the most proud, they tear down this young lady and complain that her hair doesn't look like a supermodel.  The outrage is silly and it is my belief that black people need to wake up.  There also needs to be an apology made and this is a time that blacks deserve to be criticized for allowing this nonsense to go viral. I can't take the silliness anymore. I am not ashamed of Gabby Douglass. I am ashamed that the majority of black people are so insecure about being black that they would let this thing become as big of an issue as this has become.

There was a time when black people would be insulted if someone made a comment about black people having nappy hair. In fact, when a white person made the famous comment about "them nappy headed black girls," he lost his job. Then it was said that we are too touchy and sensitive. And now we have turned a similar issue into the laughingstock of the internet. If I didn't know better, I would say this justifies the previous statement that was made years ago and the radio host should receive his job back. There is a great deal of contradiction here.

So in effect, a black superhero who should be commended for her efforts instead of ridiculed has yet another obstacle to face.  Besides being the only black person to compete in the Olympics and win two gold medals, she now has to fight off rumors about "her bad hairstyle." When in fact, I don't really see what the big deal about her hair is. Or could it be that enough white people didn't make any insulting remarks about black people that we could complain about this year, so they had to insult themselves? Black women used to get upset when a black woman wore a ridiculous weave. Now black women get insulted because she is not wearing a ridiculous weave. Maybe black people just like being the laughingstock. That must be it!