What The Bible Says On Black Women’s Hair And Character
The connection between Black women’s hair, their character, and the Bible is worth revisiting. In my previous article, Black Women, Their Hair and Character Pt.I, I referred to the attitudes and practices still present within at least some Jamaica Churches regarding the hair of Black women. Highlighted here are some Biblical passages and how these passages have been used within mainly the Jamaican Christian community.
A cursory examination of the bible reveals the much deeper issue of women and beauty in the biblical world. And that issue gives rise to an even more troublesome and controversial discussion on Women and the Bible. These teachings has over time, shaped at least some present Christian attitudes and practices toward Christian women in general and their hair. Black women have not escaped the negative impact of this.
New Testament Influence
The writings attributed to Paul have become the biblical authority on hair. He is zealously quoted and used by critics of women with short hair, elaborate hairdos and uncovered heads.They usually base their claims on the following passages.
1 Corinthians 11:6,15 carries admonishments that “it is disgraceful for a woman to cut off her hair, for a woman’s long hair is her glory”. Hmmmm!
1 Timothy 2:9 charges women to dress with decency and propriety. Apparently, braided hair does not promote these qualities!
Hebrew Scriptures
Deuteronomy 21:12 - marrying a woman captured in war, she is to shave her head. Is this a sign of the woman’s grief? Or is the shaved head to make her un-attractive to aid the soldier’s abstinence because he would find her shaved-head repulsive?
Numbers 5:18 connects women’s hair to their character. However, this is based on a specific ritual to prove guilt or innocence in a woman charged with adultery.
The connection between biblical teachings and women’s hair is seen in these recorded views on women’s sexuality and their moral status. These teachings have been used to perpetuate various negative beliefs and practices toward women and their hair.
Biblical Teachings – Some Observations
Renowned feminist theologian Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, commenting on 1 Cor 11:6 in Harper-Collins Bible Commentary (2000, rev. ed.) mentions key historical cultural practices relevant to this text. According to her, unbound or disheveled hair was a sign of frenzy in the Greco-Roman world, and a sign of adultery among the Jews as in Numbers 5:18. The woman was seen as either out of control and also sexually promiscuous.
So how does this affect Black women?
In the bible, the issue of the status of women is one of those controversial subjects that often-times leave us with more questions than answers. So for example, when the Bible speaks on women’s hair and ‘long hair being a sign of a woman’s beauty’; the reader has to contend with two subjective terms in this statement – ‘long’ and ‘beauty’. So how long is long? What is the standard of ‘beauty’ being used? I have a question for you….
Don’t we usually mean by ‘long’, in the case of women, at least shoulder length and beyond?
Now seriously answer me this, how many women of Western African descent, not of racially mixed parentage, do you know to have ‘long’ hair. Loose kinky or nappy hair on most persons I know, when loose tend to go upwards or outwards not hang downwards. It’s not heavy enough. Plaits, braids, twists and locks get kinky hair to hang, and even gives extra length some women never knew they had.
Since ‘long’ hair does not come naturally to women of Western African descent, could this be part of the obsession with ‘long’ straightened, dyed, extensions and wigs? And is this obsession fueled by women’s need for more hair to care for or to appear beautiful to attract male attention?
I believe more than anything else, it has to do with dissatisfaction with race and physical features that have been historically classified as “ugly”. The Bible indirectly contributes to this. Religious beliefs sear deeply into the consciousness of individuals. When passages in the bible qualifies certain physical features as beautiful, such as length of hair, it indirectly affirms those who fall in this category. Something is also said about those who do not fit within these categories as well.
We continue this discussion with a look at the Church Fathers, and also the socio-cultural factors. More soon…
In the meantime, have your say.
Marvia
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May 25th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
[...] What The Bible Says On Black Women’s Hair And Character [...]
April 14th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Hey sis,
I’ve been lurking in your blog for a while now. I ‘ve always had issues with the bible overall (i am a conspiracy theorist so I won’t get into it).
It is my honest belief that people of the African Diaspora have been hoodwinked. Until we learn about our true selves via our authentic history (before slavery), we will continue to be called “nappy headed hoes” and believe it. I can’t even be mad at Don Imus. I am more disappointed that we say such words to ourselves everyday! We believe the untruths told about us because we do not know about our true culture and have adopted everyone else’s (i.e. our omission in the bible). Until we get to the point of loving ourselves from our “nappy” heads to the tips of our brown toes…. the madness will continue.
Peace
April 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Kinky,
Thanks for sharing. You are so right, the madness will continue.
I have not taken a complete departure from the Bible (obviously..lol). However, I do part company with any interpretation that supports and facilitates the wicked impulses in humanity to exploit and oppress other peoples.
And then, also agree with you that more of us as Black women need to become more aware of who we are and not what the media and popular culture tells us we ought to be.
Walk good,