Letters.

BAD HAIR DAZE

Thank you, BLACK ENTERPRISE, for the very informative article, "Bad Hair Days" (November 2000).

As a long-rime subscriber and a somewhat informed African American, I am very disappointed with the [black-owned haircare] companies that sold out to the large cosmetic companies. I guess I am very naive about business, but t would think that since African Americans once owned 100% of the haircare market for African Americans, that it would be better to keep that market and sell to one another.

I say to the remaining owners of black haircare products, keep up the fight and if all else fails, merge. We have given up enough of our ownership, and all we have is our African heritage. I was taught that my hair is my crowning glory, and I would like to be able to buy products that are produced by African Americans. I am hopeful that an African American [haircare] company will be around when my daughter is old enough to understand our power as business owners.

Gloria Graham
Deerfield Beach, Florida
[e-mail]

Thank God, the word is finally out! I'm sure most black consumers have absolutely no idea that several of our largest black haircare institutions are now in the avaricious hands of white corporations. Your article on how we lost the black haircare market is the first consumer-directed piece I've seen that explains what's happening. I think even more of our companies will fall, having tremendous impact not only on our buying habits, but on out economic destinies as well. The relationship black-owned, mostly family-created haircare companies have with us has always been more profound than just seller to buyer. These companies led the way for a whole slew of black entrepreneurs in media, retailing, distribution, advertising, and research unparalleled in our history. They were training grounds for an untold number of professionals in management, finance, research and development, technology, and marketing who went on to start new companies and open up other industries for black entrepreneurs.

Is anyone really naive enough to think these realigned companies will put black people first in any way? Supporting, servicing, or responding to us is just hot what the L'Oreals of the world do best or they would have marketed their own products to black consumers long ago. The only way they can get a viable foothold in black haircare now, after ignoring us for so long, is through brands built with the blood, sweat, and tears of black families like the Johnsons, Gardners, and Cottrells.

These new owners are looking for ways to soft sell their avarice and sneak into our pockets. Why else would these changes go on with so little fanfare? They didn't want us to know what they'd done until they could figure out how to convince us that it doesn't matter. It does matter. The brands you buy and who's behind them does matter. Starting today, every man, woman, and child who puts products in their hair--both at home and in the salon or barber shop--should find out if that brand is black owned.

Then black consumers need to put pressure on L'Oreal, Alberto-Culver, and anyone else who believes that owning our brands automatically means they own us. They must be told clearly and resoundingly to continue to produce quality, work harder to understand who we are and what we want, maintain a predominantly black staff with a management [role in] decision-making, and give back to our communities (of consumers and businesses) in a big and impactful way. As my grandma always said, if you can't dance to my music, you can't live in my house!

D. Ann Johnson
Chicago
[e-mail]

I am a graduate student at Indiana University, and when I saw "How We Lost the Black Haircare Market" on the cover of your November 2000 issue at the library, I had to take a look.

I was shocked to find out how many popular hair products that we spend billions on are being made by Europeans (L'Oreal-France). I was also glad to find out what hair products are made by black companies and I will look for these.

Courtney Hamilton
Bloomington, Indiana
[e-mail]