A Hair-Raising Encounter
I’m no doubt going to be called oversensitive. And even though I can’t begin articulate my frustration after watching this, I’m going to try. Aevin Dugas is the current world record holder for the world’s largest Afro. She was a guest on the BBC show, ‘Impact‘ recently. This interview is a great lesson in how not to act when you see a person with Afro/braided/freshly cut/freshly washed (lol) hair.
The interview has some really funny parts in it. We learn, for example, that the world’s smallest man can fit into her hair. We also learn that her sister likes to throw stuff in her hair. That’s badminded and funny all at once!
But back to the interview. It’s so deep to me. Here are some standout parts: 1: The host, after acknowledging that it must be annoying for Dugas to have her hair touched all the time, promptly asks if she can touch Dugas’ hair. (NB: I know… Dugas gave her permission, but it was clear that resistance was futile).
2: The host shrieks with excitement after touching said hair.
3: And here is a sample question: ‘Do you bang into things?’ … (before you even try to explain the question with ‘but her hair is so big’, let me say this. That’s the point. It’s hair, not brick.)
I will say this, Dugas seemed to have fun, and the host really was trying not to get too excited about the whole thing.
But, in the end, I was left mostly shaking my head.
I’ve asked myself if it would have mattered if the interviewer was a woman of colour. The answer is no. It wouldn’t have mattered. I’m not even mad that they chose to highlight that world record as a topic of conversation. Why not?
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Jacquetta Szathmari: Don’t Give Up On Black People.
This week, New York based writer and comedian Jacquetta Szathmari talks to Christabel Nsiah-Buadi about her candid and provocative commentaries on race and class relations. Her one woman show, ‘That’s Funny. You Didn’t Sound Black On the Phone‘ was featured in the 2010 Hollywood Fringe Festival. In addition to her stage shows, Jacquetta is co hosting a podcast, with Katie Kazimir, called ‘Hey You Know It.’
Credits: All comedy show audio excerpts from via Jacquetta Szathmari’s You Tube site
Share on Facebook Read MoreHaitians Weigh In On Where to Give Resources
Haiti’s Cholera epidemic is the latest of several disasters to challenge the resources and the mettle of that nation. Claude Pressoir, co founder of Remember The Children Haiti, a not for profit based in Illinois that partners with grassroots organisations in Haiti, tells Christabel Nsiah-Buadi how groups like hers are responding to the most immediate challenges.
Then, former Haitian Prime Minister, Claudette Werleigh on why she believes the investment of time, rather than money, will be of greater help to the people of Haiti in the short and long term.
PLUS – Performer Gwyn Jay Allen on his musical hero Louis Armstrong and his latest album, ‘I Love Louis.’
Share on Facebook Read MoreElation At Cote D’Ivoire’s Historic Election
(From left: Precious Williams (photo by Lena Konstantakou) and a voter in the recent Cote D’Ivoire elections (UN)
This week – AllAfrica’s Cindy Shiner tells us why Cote D’Ivoire’s historic vote went to a runoff (set to take place in late November). Eloi Traore, an Ivorian living in the diaspora talks about the elation he felt at voting and why the people of Cote D’Ivoire are tired of being torn apart. us
Then — In the 1970′s thousands of West Africans sought English families to look after their children by placing adverts in magazines. How has this type of private fostering affected those involved and what protections are in place? Journalist, author and former foster child, Precious Williams gives her perspective. Her memoir is ‘Color Blind’ in the US (it’s called ‘Precious: A True Story’ in the UK).
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