1. Regkam2 wrote:

hmmmm, I don’t know about pioneering. What’s so grand about a Black woman playing a maid/mammy role? This is what the white director and power structure saw (and still see) Black women as. It would have been pioneering role if she was playing a role of Queen Nzingha or Madame CJ Walker.

2. Mrs. Rivers wrote:

It is pioneering considering the era in which this film was created. The only roles a black woman could play during the 30s & 40s was a maid or mammy — not to mention its a time period peice and it would only be fitting for her to play the role that black people had during the time of the Civil War.

3. Tanya wrote:

I’ve seen “Gone With The Wind” like a thousand times, and I don’t remember her character at all.

What makes her/her role pioneering? Was she the FIRST black woman casted in a white movie or something?

4. Tanya wrote:

Madame CJ Walker – now that’s a pioneering figure!

5. Mrs. Rivers wrote:

Gone With the Wind is one of my favorite movies and perhaps Hattie McDaniel’s performance as Mammy was more pioneering than Butterfly McQueen’s role.

None the less, she was a black actress in a major motion picture that is still recognized as one of the best motion pictures in cinema history. Her and Hattie McDaniel’s performance helped pave the way for other black actresses to be able to play ALL roles in modern day cinema.

She deserves to be recognized.

6. Tanya wrote:

OK! Well there you have it!

7. cynthia wrote:

As controversial as this may sound, Madame CJ Walker made her fortune on a product that help black people seem more paletable to white and to each other by wiping away a sign of their heritage.

8. ~JJG~ wrote:

Initially I thought, “pioneering?” Nope! Then Mrs. Rivers put it into perspective. I accept the claim.

9. Tanya wrote:

Cynthia,

What do you mean by “paletable”? I can only gather that you mean akin.

Therefore, I don’t think I can agree that Walker’s products make black people “more ‘paletable’ [akin] to whites”.

I don’t think any black person with a perm can be mistaken for a white person. I don’t think permed black hair looks anything like white hair; nothing close actually (IMHO).

I honor Madame CJ Walker b/c I believe her products make life much easier for black women. Her products allow your hair to be more manageable and styled much quicker.

I don’t think perms “wipe away” our heritage, I think it wipes away the frustration of spending hours on our hair. Permed black hair is still black hair, and there’s no mistaking it for any other kind of hair (white, asian, etc.). So there’s no loss of identity or heritage. Only the gain of time and more styling options!

10. ~JJG~ wrote:

Tanya,

I do not agree that “perm hair is the same as black [natural] hair.” I have been natural for 7 years, and my natural hair state is in no way reminiscent of my hair when it was relaxed. The texture of my hair when it was relaxed is completely different from what it is today. A relaxer is a chemical altering agent, therefore by this characteristic alone, relaxed and natural hairs are different.

Additionally, I do not agree that relaxed hair makes styling quicker or easier. I have experience both relaxed and natural hair care regiments, so I believe my assessment is valid. When I had a relaxer, after washing my hair I had to blow dry and bump it with the curling iron. Now that I have natural hair, after washing it, I twist it or wear it curly. Different duties, but same amount of time.

I truly believe “to each their own,” but I love-love natural hair. I have encouraged several of my girlfriends to go natural and they have. I have even discouraged several of my girlfriends from relaxing their daughter’s hair. It bothers me to see a little black girl with a relaxer (I have seen a 3 year old with a relaxer–disturbing). When I see this, I think to myself that she has the rest of her life to damage her hair, there is no need start so early.

11. Tanya wrote:

JJG,

I NEVER said “perm hair is the same as black [natural] hair.”!

Where did you get that?!?!?! (You folks need to read more carefully!!!)

I’m black and I have a perm. I’ve had one since I was 14 years old. I know clear as day the difference between permed hair and natural hair.

What I said was, “Permed black hair is still black hair…”. Meaning even when the hair is permed you can still tell that it is genetically black hair. Perming doesn’t all of a sudden look like genetically white hair; it just becomes more manageable. Permed black hair looks NOTHING like white hair. That’s the point! Since Cynthia believes perming your hair makes you akin to whites.

“Permed black hair is still black hair, and there’s no mistaking it for any other kind of hair (white, asian, etc.)” That was my full sentence in #9.

You may believe, according to your styling procedures, that relaxed hair does not make styling any easier or quicker, and that’s fine. But I do! I’ve been both natural and relaxed myself, and blowing natural hair is quite the undertaking!!!

I’m sure your natural hair looks great on you, and I’m sure you can do some great styles with it. When I wore my hair natural is looked great too! But it was a headache to maintain.

My perm makes life easier for me, and many, many, many other women I know. So to Madam CJ Walker, I am grateful, very grateful!!!

12. Tanya wrote:

JJG,

PS – A 3 year old with a perm?!?!?! Now that’s just down right ridiculous! Some people just don’t know how to properly care for their children!

It was a hassle to convince my mom to let me get a perm at 14!!! In fact, I had to sneak and have my aunt take me to the salon, and my mom was mad at her for a day b/c of it!

13. ~JJG~ wrote:

Tanya,

I guess we will just have to disagree on the perm issue. I still don’t believe that relaxed hair is easier to maintain, than natural hair.

I honor and respect Madame CJ Walker for her business savyness and her marketing ingenuity, not because she created the relaxer.

14. Tanya wrote:

That’s fine! To each its own!

I just know that if I currently had a natural, it would take me a whole extra hour to get ready in the morning!

15. wouldn't you like to know? wrote:

Tanya that’s because your thinkin’ too hard…
me personally, i just get up, fluff my napps, and GO!
like the wind i tell ya….

being natural fucking rocks!!!

16. Tanya wrote:

LMAO!!!!

Maybe so WYLTK, maybe so!