What's the thing about Gabby Douglas' hair?

[Justice wanted]

First they complained about her outfits and I got the tale end about Gabby's hair on NPR. Really this young girl is doing something amazing and our citizens can only COMPLAIN about her outfits and hair?

[NYC_SKP]

1. She's black, you know. They have to criticize her.

Her hair, her dress, they just have to shit on her.

Fuckers.

[gateley]

2. Makes them feel superior. Sad little people.

[pnwmom]

11. I don't think the black women criticizing her are feeling superior.

I think they have been conditioned to worry about their hair, and so they worry about hers.

[gateley]

23. You may have a point -- our society has its priorities way messed up.

[pnwmom]

38. There is the feeling that high profile people like Gabby Douglas

must "represent" everyone in their racial or cultural group. And that's way too much pressure to put on any young person.

Besides the fact that being expected to look perfect while you're performing athletically is nuts.

[gateley]

41. As though the athlete wasn't under enough pressure as it is!

I feel so bad for her.

[Journeyman]

7. Who is "they"? I read most who complained about her hair were black women . . .

And the digs on her uniform came from Fox News.

Or is your pejorative inclusive?

[NYC_SKP]

14. Fox news is most definitely included in "they". nt

[pnwmom]

20. It's being discussed in many places. Here, for example:

http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[NYC_SKP]

26. I see a meta-discussion here.

They're discussing the discussion of the hair.

It neither supports or disproves the inherent racism of focusing laser-like on her because of her race.

The racism is there, and it may be coming from more than one direction.

Nobody is talking about an Asian player's hair or a European or South American's or Hispanic's hair.

[pnwmom]

10. From what I understand, the criticism is coming from black women.

Not that that makes it okay. But I think you have the "they" wrong.

[NYC_SKP]

13. How convenient-- and just how do we come to this understanding?

It would be very convenient for people to make it appear like the criticism is coming from blacks, but how do we really know that?

[pnwmom]

15. Here's where I first read about the controversy.

Do you think the blogger is a white person masquerading as a black person?

http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[WolverineDG]

25. hey, don't throw in facts & start confusin' people

when their minds are already made up!!!!

[NYC_SKP]

27. .

[enough]

40. That's an interesting site. Thanks for the link. (nt)

[Justice wanted]

16. I didn't hear the full NPR story and just caught the tail end.

[WolverineDG]

24. Sorry, it wasn't white people criticizing her hair

it was other African American women. (see blog link below)

[MichiganVote]

3. Sorry, Herr FOX news discovered she wasn't white.

[Justice wanted]

4. It is sad that they have to do this to an Olympian espeically a young Olympian.

[KamaAina]

5. It's kinky.

[Live and Learn]

6. I think it is called racism. nt

[pnwmom]

19. Is it racism when older black women criticize the look

of younger women's hair?

http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[NYC_SKP]

28. What is it then, black on black violence?

Those silly black people, why don't they leave black people alone?

[pnwmom]

36. No. It's just older women acting like picky mothers.

Women are often hardest on each other unfortunately.

[lonestarnot]

8. It's beautius?

[toddwv]

9. You'll notice that the right-wing media sources are only

bringing up these petty criticisms concerning black athletes.

First they roared about Serena and her 5 second shuffle.

Now they're attacking Gabby Douglass.

It's disgusting how far the right has fallen as its basest elements seem to be running the entire asylum from front desk to floor mopping.

[cantbeserious]

12. When The Stripes Finally Fall From The Cloth There Is Nothing Left To Hide

The Republicans Are What They Have Become and Have Been For A Long While Now:

-Rich
-Racist
-Elitist
-Snobs

[pnwmom]

18. It's not only right wing media sources which are discussing the issue.

http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[toddwv]

42. What about the complaints that her outfit

wasn't "patriotic" enough?

[pnwmom]

43. I'm sure those were Faux generated. n/t

[Zax2me]

35. It isn't petty to those complaining about her hair.

Take it up with them.

[Odin2005]

17. Apparently some African-Americans have politicized hair styling.

Based on what I've read when the poutrage first showed up, some black women think anything besides an Afro is "acting white".

[pnwmom]

21. Here's something from an African American blogger about sports and hair.

http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[WolverineDG]

22. Some African American women were blasting her for the way she wore her hair

the criticism wasn't coming from white people, btw.

See here: http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped/

[NYC_SKP]

29. Look at this thread, there's like 40 motherfucking links to the same single story, sportyafros.

Pathetic.

[Bonobo]

31. Yup, I was going to say something similar.

But it's sorta "meta"...

The "thing" about Gabby's hair is that people are talking about it.

So when "we" talk about it, we are doing the exact same thing.

If it is really a "non issue" to us, why are we perpetuating the conversation?

Hint: That is NOT a rhetorical question. There is an actual answer.

[NYC_SKP]

33. We agree...

I think, about the meta:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1092142

~~~

[WolverineDG]

32. What's pathetic is to keep insisting that only white people were complaining about her hair

and ignore the fact that this particular blog was where it was first brought up days ago. So of course people are going to cite it again & again.

[NYC_SKP]

34. Who did that? Who accused white people?

I see one link repeatedly posted as if it's EVERYWHERE.

One sorry link talking about people talking about her hair, different people including black people talking about the hair.

And this one story is catapulted by whom? By DU members and other blogs.

Is the repeated repetition of this single story exclusively black peoples' fault?

I responded to the OP question of what's up with the hair, and I provided my opinion.

Nowhere did I blame white people.

This is an American cultural problem, and we're all Americans.

[pnwmom]

37. People often only read responses to their own posts, so I posted the same blog

multiple times.

I think it gave a good overview of the problem.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

30. She has naturally curly hair. So do I.

When you sweat, no matter how much you try to avoid it, it does its thing again.

The style the gymnast girls are supposed to wear isn't conducive of curly/kinky haired girls. Pulled back in a messy bun, or pony tail may be fine if you've got straight or wavy hair. However, if you are sweating your butt off winning Olympic gold medals and have curly/kinky hair, it's gonna get a bit wild.

Why that became an issue I do not know.

Personally, as a former gymnast (even one with curly hair) all I saw was her amazing grace, form and awesome technique.

Anyone who saw anything else missed out. Big time!

[chowder66]

39. People gotta fuckin' hate. That is what is going on.

I am sick to death of people bagging on other people. Especially when "said person" ACCOMPLISHES something. Fucking hell.
People.....elevate the discourse.

JESUS