http://www.womanist-musings.com/2009/10/zahara-jolie-pitt-ask-your-mama-to-buy.html
Interesting post found in "Womanist Musings" on October 13, 2009. The writer stresses the importance of cultural competence (or lack thereof) in cross-racial parenting and adoption. This is a sticky subject because, on one hand, I believe that every child who would otherwise be filtered through the fostercare system *deserves* a loving family, regardless of race, ethnicity, or, ahem, sexual orientation of the parents. On the other hand, I completely acknowledge that for a child of color to be raised by white parents, there will be a disconnect in culture and life experiences. This writer references her mother as the person who would tend to her hair every week, something that was clearly a memorable part of her childhood. In this blog, Angelina (rather than Brad) is the main culprit for not treating Zahara's hair as it should be treated. Interesting.
This article really bothered me. I think you nailed it when you said that the purpose of adoption is to provide kids with a loving home. Yes, I get that Zahara's heritage should be honored, but really? Is her hair that big of a deal? My first gut reaction was that Zahara probably didn't want to have her hair done. I remember as a child that I thought it was the coolest thing in the world when I didn't have to do my hair. My mother would braid, bow, and all but bouffant my hair, and quite frankly, it hurt. Not only that, but putting so much pressure on a little girl's hair can set her up for major problems.
ReplyDeleteThe care of one's hair has nothing to do with respect of one's culture. It is only hair.