Ask Professor Locs: Money and Hair

Hi guys it has been crazy busy but you know I like taking time to catch up with my readers and what is on their minds.  So here are some questions from the Ask Me Anything section of the Professor Locs site.

Question: Why is it family members always borrow money and promise to pay it back on the 3rd? Then when the 3rd of the month comes, you can't find them. Now I'm waiting for them to get their tax return to see what kind of excuse they got then.

Answer: I know exactly what you are talking about.  Family and friends can drive you crazy.  People ask Hey, you're from Texas why do you live so far away from your family.  I love my family but they are crazy and I have found that living at least a time zone away works best for me...lol. 

A general rule of thumb is to only lend the amount of money that you can depart with comfortably.  I like to use the crack head rule.  When you are on the street and you get hit up by a nice crack head for some money and you put out.  You really don't expect to go to that same corner and get a return on your investment a week later do you?  Apply the same principle to relatives and you will save yourself a lot of worry and drama.

Question: What do you think of white people co-opting traditionally black hairstyles?

Answer:  The nature of the mainstream is to co-opt culture from marginalized communities.  Couture fashion is driven by what is hot and trendy in the streets.  Hair styles are no different.  We have seen a history of this from musicians covering Black music and styles.  Many of the current hot artist of all colors studied at the Michael Jackson school of Pop Art, including Usher and Justin Timberlake. 

Some say the highest form of flattery or praise is imitation.  Let's face it Black culture is cool, exciting, original and hip, who would not want to have some of that...smile. I talk about the obsession of Black hair in my post "I Brake for White Women". 

I have locks and often see a white brother or sister with locks.  They always look at me a little strange as if I am going to berate them for wearing their hair like mine.  I have no problem if that is how you want to rep yourself.

Chris Rock recently did a very funny film Good Hair where regular folks along with celebrities discuss the unique and complicated world of Black hair.

The only problem I have is when people confuse cultural signifiers with cultural authenticity.  Wearing a "Black" hairstyle does not make you Black just like perming your hair or wearing weaves makes you European. 

But beware those folks who look ethnic and wear Black hair and "urban" style, you have to take it all.  The bad credit, racial profiling, diabetes, high blood pressure, student loans, lower wages and being followed in the store...lol.

If you guys have any burning questions or observations please share on Ask Me Anything portion of my blog.

Comments

[Professor Afro]

Usually black people like my hair, but once I did get an angry comment from an old Black Panther that was something to the effect of "man, the Black man can't have nothing that the white man don't try to steal!"

[proffessorlocs]

That is too funny Professor Afro...lol. You keep rocking your look it is way cool man...smile

Professor Locs

[proffessorlocs]

That is too funny Professor Afro...LOL.

You keep rocking your look because it is way cool...smile.

Professor Locs

[Marla]

Loooove you, Professor Locs!