Not that word. The other one. Nappy. For me it’s not a negative or derogatory term, but a description of hair texture that is both very thick and tightly-coiled or curled. I understand many black people find the word offensive, so I have learned to be careful of it’s use. How do you feel about this word? If you are black and have natural hair, are you offended when someone calls your hair nappy? Do you make distinctions as to who has nappy hair and who doesn’t? If so, what’s your criteria?
This blog entry written by Trula Breckenridge. Thanks for visiting Dread Mama!
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I’m black, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. But I’m not American, so I don’t know what is offensive to (afro)Americans. I usually refer to african hair as kinky, but I don’t know if this is offensive or not either… Anyway, if you’re black, I think you have the right to refer to your own hair anyway you want, don’t you? It’s the same thing with dreadlocks. Some people with dreadlocks, believe “dread” is offensive, and only use the word “locks”.
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Hi Kwadwo! it’s so funny you mentioned not being American, because I am American and don’t always ‘know’ what is or is not supposed to be offensive. This is such a large country, some things are regional.
I also think you have a right to refer to your own hair any way you want.
The reason why i consider this word as an offensive description of black hair is that this word was invented by whites in slavery to demean black hair. The original definition of nappy is ‘ugly’. Ugly hair. Thats why whenever someone refers to my own hair as nappy (especially another black person) i get extremely offended. I understand that it is the norm for Afro-americans to use this word but then again, its now the norm for Afro-americans to say ‘n***a’ also…