Kickin’ It With The Kinks Documentary Screening

Yesterday I attended a private screening of Kickin It With The Kinks, a documentary exploring the perceptions and complexities of ‘natural’ black hair care. It was hosted by Amaru Wilcox, owner and writer of Amaru Don TV,  documentary writer Mundia Situmbeko and documentary producer, Cynthia Butare.

What started off as a university project has turned into a documentary that should be viewed in all schools with ethnic minority pupils and in homes to help challenge the misconceptions that may have been passed down from generation to generation within our own homes about what constitutes beauty and elegance amongst black and mixed race women.

The documentary was eye opening and though provoking, I’ve been rocking my natural hair on and off for the majority of my life though admit to having been an addict of the ‘hair crack’ (relaxer/ chemical hair straightener) for the duration of secondary school. To me it was more simple math, it cost too much to have your hair relaxed, both in monetary terms as well as in missed opportunities. Oh I don’t want to exercise too hard as it will sweat out my relaxer, I can’t go swimming it will damage my relaxer etc. Why should hair dictate my life?

Listening to the stories within the guest panel and on the documentary itself, what was interesting to note is that for many, it was our perceptions of what others would think of a woman with natural, Afro, curly, kinky hair that acted as a barrier. In actual fact, those opinions and reactions we feared never transpire.

As one of the panelists, newsreader Lukwesa Burak pointed out, when she made the decision to big chop (cut off her chemically processed hair, in favour of a short afro) her producer shrugged and was more interested to know why she hadn’t had her natural in the first place. He pointed out that as a white man, nobody would expect him to manipulate his hair into an Afro were he to work in Africa, so why then did she feel she had to manipulate hers to fit another cultures image?

The documentary highlighted many interesting points about confidence, self image and choice. It is a woman’s choice to wear a weave if it makes her more comfortable within herself or to wear it in its natural state for the very same reasons. It is a matter of choice and rights, we should not feel obliged or pressured by the media or peers to do one or the other.

I really hope Kickin It With The Kinks is able to reach a larger audience even if just to allow more discussions within the black and ethnic minority communities about self image and embracing what makes us unique.

Find out more about Kickin It With The Kinks http://kiwtkinks.com/