This Financial Expert Says Black Women Can Increase Their Wealth If They Stop Getting Weaves

Chile, misogynoir is alive and well. And make no mistake, folks with all kinds of education and expertise know how to package it so well that it often doesn’t present itself for what it really is. Indeed these folks will use their expertise as the basis for their respectability bullshyt, but it’s all the same stuff we’ve heard over and over and over. The burden of all that is wrong in the world always seems to always fall on the shoulders of black women.

Here’s what Dr. Boyce Watkins had to say about Black women and wealth via his Facebook page:

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Listen, he gave himself away 6 words in with, “hair weaves,” but there are so many things wrong with this post that it’s hard to know where to begin. The glaring misconception here for me is the premise that black women aren’t buying black and that the cosmetics and hair supplies we use aren’t black-owned.

A simple google search will tell you: that is a lie! Every year there is an increase in the number of black-owned cosmetics companies, hair companies and beauty supply stores nation-wide. Don’t believe me? Check out these lists HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE HERE, and HERE.

So let me get this straight, we’re out here fighting for our men, raising their children, putting out, cooking (I don’t but I know a lot of us do), running our own businesses,  and now we can’t even get our hair done? Really, Dr. Watkins? Really?

All of this under the premise of uplifting and educating our community, but you mad about our weaves? This is the message you put out into world about black women? And make no mistake, I’m convinced all of this is about weaves. He doesn’t like them, thinks they are too expensive, and that we shouldn’t buy them. And instead of just saying that, he wraps the same message up in some fancy shmancy financial literacy BS. Because we all know the best way to reach and help your own people is by publicly criticizing them.

Just last year Fortune Magazine released this statistic (read the article HERE)

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 Dr. Watkins seemed to celebrate this statistic, but one commenter wasn’t letting him get away with it.

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Overall, the comment section on this post was lit. My sisters were NOT trying to hear it, but this one, for me, sums it up the best:

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According to Wikipedia:

Boyce D. Watkins (born June 20, 1971) is an American[1] author, economist, political analyst, and social commentator. Formerly a member of the finance faculty,[2] and currently a Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University,[3][needs update?] he also is a Distinguished Scholar with the Barbara Jordan Institute for Policy Research, and was previously a Visiting Fellow at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and the Centre for European Economic Research (Mannheim, Germany).[4][5] Watkins is also a faculty affiliate with the College Sports Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[6] He has authored several financial advice books, including Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with your Partner in Ways that Feel Good, Black American Money, as well as What if George Bush were a Black Man?; his work has also appeared in such publications as the Journal Of Small Business Management[7], and The Journal of Economics and Business.[8]

Read more about Boyce Watkins HERE.

Thoughts??

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7 Comments

  1. Nesta's Song says:

    Girl! I almost didn’t read your post thinking – here we go again – it’s me I am the problem. LOL! Thanks for standing up for us. I am 40+ years old and am just realizing that I have to learn to take care of me. No more giving and giving and giving until I am left with nothing. I’ve worked hard to get where I am in life and damn it if I wanna get me hair done – so be it! Thanks sista!

    1. girl, NEVER!! I’m a black woman and a feminist, don’t EVER think I will use this space to shit on us. Not gonna happen. Thanks for reading!

  2. These men have got to S.T.O.P. ! Seriously, black women are not being held back by “hair weaves” if we did why then would we be the most educated group (by percentage of population) getting more degrees than every other group, the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs and (unfortunately for many reasons) outpacing black men in education 2 to 1.
    Also, I can’t remember wear I read it but I’ remember pretty accurately reading an article about how black women actually spend the most of their money HELPING their community, families etc. and that being the reason that we don”t have higher wealth. As in we take care of everyone else and put ourselves last financially. Obviously I think we are entitled to do with our money as we wish but I can’t stand these dudes that act like we are so irresponsible while they bring absolutely nothing to the table. They can get out of here with that mess. We are literally expected to prop up everyone all the time and when we even take a second to look after ourselves and own self care we can’t even have that!

  3. If black men spent more time building an infrastructure and becoming economically more sovereign for the sake of black women and black children like every other non black man does for his clan, our black communities would not look like cesspools of despair and poverty. But instead of being men, they want to blame black women. They stay being busy but non productive worrying about black women’s weaves and beauty regimens. Proving once again for all to see that they don’t have what it takes to be real men. Ladies keep heading for the exit.

  4. His comments don’t offend me. I listen to radio shows that feature experts with financial tips and money saving advice. I have friends and relatives give me advice. Some of it I follow. Some of it I don’t. I’ve also given advice it but only if I know the person well. I don’t see anything worth being mad about.

  5. Well I’ve learned to do my own hair and stay debt free. Soooo black men you’re turn…..I’ll wait….

  6. Ladies please -.he is right.
    I’m mostly white, but. I’ve saved a fortune by dyeing my own hair, instead of having it done at the salon. This money pays for a vacation every year.
    Also – and I’m not being disrespectful, just curious – does a weave make you feel that much better about yourself? If the answer is “yes”, then it’s worth every penny. But if it’s “no”, why not try giving it up for awhile? I for one find natural black hair very attractive.Lee

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