Natural hair stereotypes. Is it really that bad?

These are my confessions...

1. I'm natural.
2. I have been to Africa.
3. I write poetry.
4. I don't eat pork.
5. I'm a tree hugger.

I could go on and on but you get the picture. I pretty much encompass all the stereotypes of black women who wear their hair in its natural state. A few things on the list I have done before I was natural, the others despite the fact that I'm natural. Either way I embrace all the stereotypes about natural sistas because once a person gets to know me I will either confirm or disprove the assumption.

Though while perusing blackgirlwithlonghair I read a post where some women were adamantly against the tree hugger/mother Africa stereotypes that came along with their decision to no longer relax their hair. I mean these women were mad. Neck rolling, finger shacking, in your face mad (see what I did, I played up another black woman stereotype). And I for the life of me could not understand why these women were so frustrated. Many of them gave reasons such as "I don't want to be put in a box" or "It's just hair, it's not a big deal."

The thing is, most stereotypes attributed to natural haired women are not that bad. People are more likely to assume you're educated, down to earth, politically aware, a freak, and generally an overall nice person. In my opinion that is a damn good box. Its as if these women are saying "don't be fooled by my ability to defy social stigma and wear my hair as it grows out of my head, I can be as ratchet as the girl with the blonde weave, with 3 babies by 4 different men, who works the popcorn stand at CVS."

And in all seriousness black people, we are kinda a big deal. There is rarely something happening in the black community that the world does not pay attention to. Examples? Of course?

1. The African continent.
2. Jazz.
3. The Civil Rights Movement.
4. Rock n' Roll. Yes that was our sh!t, Elvis was the king of thieves.
5. Hip Hop.
6. Booty.

And now Hair. If it was just hair, Madame C.J Walker would not have had the consumer base to amass her fortune. If it was just hair Koreans wouldn't be sending their kids to med school off our Remy weave purchases. If it was just hair there would be no need for workplace seminars on how "ethnic" hair is unacceptable for the workplace, and little black girls wouldn't beg their mothers for relaxers. If it was just hair hell we would all be natural!

I understand that with all the adversity faced by black women everyday some might find it offensive to be judged on something that should be trivial, but based on the fact that natural black hair is still an anomaly in our communities assumptions will be made, besides stereotypes do have some truth in them they may not all apply to you personally but is it really that serious?