Professional Resource Review

In the May/ June 1999 issue of The Horn Magazine, Michelle Martin reviewed the book Nappy Hair written by Carolivia Herron. Martin as an insider to the African American culture shed light as an insider reviewer of her opinion on the book. In the article in The Horn Magazine, titled “Never too Nappy”, Martin discusses both the book and the controversy that surrounds it in a critical review of the text. Martin states that, “Typically a negative term, nappy connotes unmanageability-hair that is too dense to comb with ease. Because hair-straightening chemicals have been widely available to African Americans since the nineteenth century, being called nappy headed (or peasy headed a term derived from peas) often suggests that the nappy-headed person is too poor, too careless, too unkempt, or too old-fashioned to "do something with that nappy hair" (Martin 1). From this she explains why the controversy may have emerged in a school as a teacher used this book in her classroom and the parents of children in her class were offended by the title and topic of the book.

Martin discusses this issue by portraying both sides of the controversy as she shows the negative connotation that people have with the word nappy, which shows where their issues might rise from. However, she also explains that many of the individuals that had a problem with the book had not yet read the text itself. Martin further states, “Herron's book, in the end, affirms that natural, unprocessed Afro hair is wonderful just as it is. Fostering self-love in the children who read these texts, these picture books do not suggest that children should change their hair in any way” (Martin 1). This is a positive thing that the book is trying to accomplish and therefore uses the negative term nappy and sheds positive light on the term as it shows an African American family that embraces the uniqueness of their hair. Martin further goes on to state that, “in some ways Nappy Hair and picture books like it are way ahead of African-American popular culture in that they resist conforming to white standards of beauty and affirm the beauty, versatility, and historical significance of natural Afro hair”(Martin1).

Overall Martins review of the book Nappy Hair is a well-balanced review in that she explains the issues people might have with the book and the reasons behind it. However, she also explains the text and the positive things that Herron as an author does with a traditionally negative view of the word “nappy”. As an insider to this culture Martin offers personal experiences in her review that show her connection to the culture and shed light on her views of this book as an insider.

Martin also discusses the connection between the illustrations and the call and response style of text as she states that “The call-and-response style of the narrative would be less effective without the visual affirmation that Brenda's family is actively participating in Uncle Mordecai's oral tale” (Martin1). Although I agree with the strong connection between the illustrations and the text in this book I feel as though the call and response text is not necessarily made stronger through the illustrations and that this style of writing might still be difficult to understand without background description in it before reading.

The strongest thing I think that Martin’s review did was bring up the idea that this book could be used as a discussion tool. She stated that, “Nappy Hair can help to foster open discussions about ethnic topics that people don't usually mention outside of their own families and communities”(Martin1). This came after a personal description of how as a young adult she had conversations with white people about the similarities and differences in their hair. Although I agree that this book could be used as an important tool for discussions I also think that discussion about the call and response technique and other uses of African American language used in the text could be topics of deeper discussion and discovery for children reading this text.
Overall, this review explained the book and both the positives and negatives that go along with it. She discusses the negative ideas that are associated with the word nappy and how this could result in criticism in the book, however, she also brings to light the idea that the author is using this traditionally negative word and is using it in this instance in a positive light. Martins overall opinion is that people should read the book before criticizing it and she feel as an insider that this is a positive book. My only criticism of this idea is that there may be other insiders out there who do not share the same view of this book even after reading it, and that they might not feel the same way about this as she does. The review also does not discuss other aspects of AAL used in the text of the writing and although it tries to address both sides of the debate over the book it seems to show a rather one-sided opinion from 1 insider on the issue. Martin seems to think she speaks for all insiders in her review and doesn’t seem to reflect on how other insiders might feel differently then herself, due to different life experiences.

Martin, Michelle. "Never too nappy”. The Horn Book Magazine 1 May 1999: 283-288.
Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSU library, East Lansing, MI. 1 Dec.
2007