As a black woman who lives in South Korea, I'm always struck by how accepting everyone is of my hair. I thought when I first came here that I should straighten it like I did in the USA so it wouldn't stand out as much. But honestly, no one cares at all. my hair can be as curly and as big as it wants to be and no one says anything bad about it. And when I get braids, the most people say is that it looks pretty but they worry that it's probably expensive and takes too long to do lol
As a European I'm really curious, do you feel like you stand out with your hair more in the US than in Korea? Do black women still feel the need to straighten their hair in America? Sorry for asking, I'm just interested😊
I’m from America and i’m so sorry you felt that you needed to straighten your hair. As much i wish that everyone was excepting, that sadly isn’t the case. i’m glad you live in a place where people are more excepting, i hope you know that not everyone in america is like that! :/
Same. I've lived in Korea for years and I can do anything with my hair and be left alone. My hair grew soooo long here because I didn't feel the need to straighten it to look professional at work. I don't get judged by my hair here at all.
@@kofuku7087 I definitely stand out more in Korea than in the US but when people notice my hair in Korea it's usually just that they think it's interesting. In the US, even when I talk to family members and they comment about my hair its about how they think I should 'do something with it'. Even though they're also black, they still seem to feel that my hair in its natural state is not professional or something. But that's of course just me. I haven't lived in the US for like 5 years so I'm sure things have changed overall but I have no direct knowledge of it
In the U.S., my Italian coworker admired my long natural hair and asked why black women always straightened their hair. She said that straightening the hair took away all the charm! I agree!
Your grandma is the most "woke" grandma I've seen and that includes American ones as well. And the girls getting their hair done in pain was so relatable. I'm young and even remember using a hot comb on the oven and braids HURTTT.
And the part with the braids! My god, the first time I got my hair braided/cornrowed i cried! I wanna get my hair braided again soon though cause my hair is getting very long and braids are easier to take care of. As for the part with using kitchen grease on their hair, I used to use the Blue Magic coconut grease in my hair, but because I'm half white too, the grease began to be too much for my hair. I can't use Suave or VO5 conditioners, but the ethnic products are often too much for my hair too. So far OGX has been one of the only "in the middle" products I've found that my hair likes. not too heavy and not too thin.
@@brandimullins8813 what hair type do you have because if you’re hair is thinner having braids in can actually damage your hair and scalp as for grease typically black hair does produce as much oil as white hair but since your mixed i wouldny recommended using hair grease often and when you do dont you too much also i would use water based products along with grease
@@lavendermilk3010 I have pretty thick and poofy hair and a lot of it. I also have very dry scalp, and I did notice that when i used grease, the less my mom put in my hair the better. Though i cant really blame her for not knowing how to care for my hair. my mother is white and i grew up without my father, who wouldn't have known how to take care of my hair either because he was an only child and didn't take care of his other daughters either. so my hair care history is basically "try out everything and see what works and what doesn't". thanks for the advice!
@@brandimullins8813 when i mean hair type i mean like 3a 3c or something for me personally i have 4c so my hair gets super dry really easily if you dont know what i mean google hair type chart and pick the the one that most resembles your hair type
Even the pictures they showed when talking about it made me so sad! It made me think of the Native Americans, who were forced to cut their hair and assimilate.
@@Maki-00 right. It made me think of Chinese foot binding. How mothers would break their daughters feet and fold them inward to be smaller. Because that was beautiful and the standard of a woman.
I am Vietnamese and 48 years old now. When I was 11 or 12 years old, my best friend who was black came over for dinner and a sleep over. I was so excited because sleep overs were something we Asians weren't allowed to do. I remember helping her put foam rollers in her hair before we went to bed because she wanted to look pretty when we went to the amusement park the next day.
Um the fact that you made her feel comfortable enough to do her hair around you is kinda huge. I was always embarrassed about my hair because I'd get bullied at school. I would make sure my hair was done before going to friends house
true. also having my grands tell me that it's just the grease popping, when I thought she burned me and when she actually did burn me, she tell me to put some coco butter on it 😅
@@ELmayberry my sister could not straighten my hair to save her life, We have 2 completely different hair types. I remember running from her when she tried to straighten my hair😂
@@liqhtx8027 well for me i prefer things such as box braids and other styles that use weave. wearing your natural hair doesn't mean you can't wear wigs and weaves and vise versa. no people who wear such aren't mentally ill and in the world today we have freedom to wear as we feel we look best in.
Grandma OK is such a beautiful and kind woman, when she could relate the ladies having their hair cut to her own elders being forced to cut their hair it was so sad, and to hear her talk about the war, how wonderful that she gets to enjoy life with her granddaughter now when her childhood had such sadness
@@moniquefuge4820 Koreans also suffered a lot of oppression under Japanese forced occupation. One example is how, during WWII, women were taken from their homes by the japanese army and used as sex slaves, known as comfort women. Whatever the people or country it's important to be aware of the crueler most terrible parts of history so we can all learn from it. And comparing experiences helps understand that in the end we're all human and vulnerable to oppression and violence.
thank you. I'm 50 and I still struggle wearing my own hair out. We were told it was ugly for so long, its hard to not question our own beauty. Thank you for seeing our humanity
I’m sorry that happened, and is still happening to this day. My opinion doesn’t matter (as it shouldn’t), but I just want to let you know, your hair is beautiful
It kinda caught me off guard how hard that hit. You get so used to people trying to be so politically correct that it just comes out cheap and disingenuous. But here, there’s no politics, no groups, no agenda or personal opinions, just one soul speaking to another soul. Its never been about race it’s always been about right and wrong. It took her 8 minutes to do more than america has done in 80 years
I’m British Icelandic but live in the US and I’m sorry that America is so intolerant, I can’t believe how people can still find ways to be racist when y’all are absolute angels on earth. Black women are 1. Absolutely GORGEOUS 2. Extremely sweet and 3. (Hope this isn’t rude) the best Bakers ever.
@@NaishiYT if they don’t care then they don’t see us as human. Part of being “human” is seeing someone else just like you see yourself, something she understood without explanation because she sees us as human, nothing more or nothing less. Treating us as a bunch of crying overgrown babies is not very human at all, especially coming from someone who still crying because the British tried to tax your tea hundreds of years ago. See the difference? It’s empathy and understanding instead of dismissive name calling
@@NaishiYT bro you can’t pull up with a name like pinkchu and talk about black people like that and expect me to assume that you are black lol. But still tho I care about people that I don’t know because I would hope others would do the same to me, that’s what being human is to me. Otherwise why would the internet even exist if nobody cared about anyone they didn’t know? Maybe we just grew up in different places because people treating me like family even though we’re not is literally what defined me as a person. That’s what I think of. I was lucky tho most people don’t get that chance, and that can make you resentful and hateful towards others. It’s not healthy to not care, maybe it’s convenient when it’s someone on the opposite side of the country, but when it’s someone right in front of your face that’s different. In my experience black people are only treated well because people are scared of us trying to get revenge for slavery, they want to sleep with us because of stereotypes, or they want to make themselves seem cool or woke for having a black friend. You can tell because they always assume that we are ghetto then call us white when we’re not. Black people are not allowed to be normal individuals without white people trying to claim us as one of them. We’re just caricatures to them. Then again visiting Africa changed my perspective a lot on this, it’s just twisted in America
Exactly why I don't get why people say "it's just hair". It is a part of culture. As you said, in some cultures long hair is connected to power or religion etc. In my culture, the men used to braid their hair in preparation for battle like a ritual. Much more with african americans, where it's tied to so much pain, we need to respect that.
@@fjp9 Okay you don't value hair as much, but that doesn't mean other culture's shouldn't. Do you know how much hairstyles were erased from history? By cutting their hair and forcing them to keep it away they erased Black identity and years of culture. That has significance! Its not simply "oh worse could happen" its what the hair signifies. Years of culture and heritage
Hair in the Native/Indigenous and Black community is never “just hair”. Which is something I wish people would understand. It’s often embedded into our cultures and represents who we are as people. In many Native cultures, our hair is so sacred to us, but colonizers back then made our ancestors cut their hair. It’s really tragic. We believe our long hair is a connection to the earth and our spirituality. We only willingly cut it at certain parts of our life, funerals, representing pain etc. In the black community natural hair shows strength and power with hairstyles also rich in history.
Don't mean to disrupt you, but hair had a higher meaning in about ALL cultures Even is it simply grows out of our head it is never considered to be only "hair". My ancestors, for example, from the Germanic tribes also had their hair cut when they were enslaved. Often times, Roman dominas used the hair from their slaves as a wig. Men were also forced to look "modest" while trimming their hear and shaving their beards off.
@@ClaireEmilia I must have misread. I thought I was watching a video about black women's hair. Melanie and I must have missed the part about all cultures and all hair. Let me go back and view it again. Thanks for pointing that out.
@@ClaireEmilia The issue here is, if you don't mean to disrupt, make your own comment and then people can read and learn from it. You just all lives mattered someone else simply sharing something. It is no secret of how Natives and those of African descent were treated in America/Western society... it's almost like you tried to one up Melanie.
@@Purplechick101 uhhh excuse me for sharing some part of history. Let's face it: if I made an own comment I would still get the "all lives matter" claim xD
As a Black American woman part of "going natural" is undoing the stuff that was taught over generations. Thank you for doing this video....blessings to you and grandma
As a black woman,I really appreciate that you even,took the time to understand our hair,to see what we went through, & realized the hardships of both cultures is very thoughtful. Your grandmother is a beautiful soul💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
her anecdote about the black soldier was so sweet. im glad she at least has that fond memory to look back on amidst the pain of what her family went through during the war
I appreciate that you used your channel to learn about black history along with your grandma! I’ve seen other channels make videos about what Koreans think about black people, which just ended up being very hurtful and not constructive at all. I love your content and initiative to learn about other cultures!
Yes, black hair is a culture of it's own. Even today we are judged for natural hair many times. Unfortunately, many have not been mentally elevated. Some companies and school see traditional black hairstyles as "distracting" or "unseemly " Even in 2021 we are still fighting for free hair choice.
it’s so gross how people are viewed and treated differently because of their HAIR. y’all have the prettiest hair i swear- don’t let anyone tell you otherwise 💕💕💕
yay big thumbs up to your history awearness! I just want to give you a big hug!! thank you for try to learn about something might be extremely uncomfortable and sensitive, I know it's not easy to do that. much much love from S.Korea!
I forgot the name of the tribe. But there’s a tribe in Africa where the women put clay on their braids and their skin to help their skin glow. It’s super pretty but it’s also practical since it protects their skin from the sun and bugs.
I love that you related things to Korean history. It's easier to understand someone else's culture and history when you can relate with your own. Much love ❤
Same history here from us Natives in "america". Our whole existence was made illegal in our own homelands. Children forced into the boarding schools also known as residential schools separated from family and culture and hair shaved off. Language made illegal too. This persisted until well into the 1980s in some places.
I remember my grandfather trying to teach me what he could remember of his tribes language. I thought he was trying to teach me Spanish. Later realized what it was when I grew up. I asked the last time I saw him alive. He remembered nothing. Language lost.
I'm half Korean, half Black, living in California. I've been keeping my hair natural for a number of years now, but my mom still gives me grief about it and wants me to keep it chemically straight so I look more Korean and my hair will be "more pretty". This video really gave me life, thank you so much.
It really strikes me that Gramdma was able to watch this and have empathy for Black people going through these struggles and trauma, but people in our own country aren't able to.
Know that many people from outside of America do empathise and understand the struggles! There's more poeple understanding than hating! It's just that the ones hating are the loudest, making it seems like they are far higher in numbers.
Unfortunately, it's because the people in our country neither respect nor empathize with Black people. It is very easy to hate entire swaths of people if you barely consider them human or that they bring all/most of their suffering upon themselves. And these people tend to be either the most influential or connected to them.
@@arrongrady732 Three days ago, I witnessed a white woman argue "all lives matter" and that "people are going to riot no matter what the verdict is." I live in Minneapolis.
@@ixelbonobonoyap5796 it dialed down a lot of the gruesome stuff, but overall it's a good intro to the basics of black hair. it's easy for someone who knows nothing about it to understand, and they can dive into the details later if they choose to
I’m a half African have Asian girl, and i have faced discrimination for my skin and hair from a young age, I love seeing videos of people learning about the culture of natural hair, because the more people learn this information the more love will spread towards the natural hair movement💖💖
This is a year late but I’m sure you’re very beautiful! Asian and black women are very pretty so I can’t imagine being mixed with the two. You must be insanely gorgeous ✨ you are unique and created to look exactly the way you do! You are beautiful and you are enough :)
Love how you and grandma are so willing to learn and understand more about black culture, especially starting with hair. Seeing the best comparison of how the top knot in Korea was cut away and banned really made me kinda tear up. The parallels were strong. Also, I'm kind of wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing the Korean voice over version. I teach in S. Korea right now and while students are very accepting of my hair and things I do with it, It would be great to have it explained in Korean for them with the visuals of the video used.
@@hsnrb9959 Yes it's very true Korea has an issue with stalking, etc., but it's literally far safer than the US? It has half the murder rates, half the r@pe rates, it's not safe for women anywhere in this god forbidden world but South Korea is definitely safer than the US. Women can walk home late at night after a girl's night out in Korea without carrying a taser with them.
It’s so interesting to see people learn what I’ve experienced or been taught since birth as a black woman. Sometimes we forget that our own experiences aren’t the same as others. I feel like the knowledge of my hair history wasn’t even taught to me, it just feels like it’s always been there. I’m happy you both took the time to learn. I learned something too about Korean and Japanese history. Thank you
this comment is so lovely just like the video. this is what the world should be like, peaceful learning of each other’s cultures. i really wish everybody was like zoe and grandma Ok, and the people in this comment section. i’m asian american, and i love learning about other cultures and their experiences, but i can’t say that most people in the u.s feel the same lol. anyway i don’t know why but your comment made me especially emotional haha. i hope you have a nice day
@@misojimo2154 awww thanks. I agree with everything you said. I find that this channel usually fosters positive conversations in the comments. I’m glad mine could brighten your day a bit.
@@keerag4274 yeahh :(( roughly, three years ago i stopped going to the hair salon bc the girl would always apply the hot comb which causes breakage and damaged my hair which broke my hair. i was devasted for years bc i kept trying new protective style with my hair, but she kept feeling the need to apply more heat to my hair. i have nothing against her though, but i was just upset atm.
I definitely cried at the end of this because of how far we’ve come and how blessed we all are to do whatever we want with our hair.. yet still sad for some who feel they need to do all these alterations or to cover up with hats, or wigs in order to be accepted. It’s typically only in the workplace now. Thank you so much to her grandma for all her compassion.. so so comforting.
I'm glad to see this being reacted. My mom is in her late 70s (had me very late) and she is now embracing her hair more, albeit she does struggle with loving it sometimes. Because of the natural hair movement, she stopped relaxing and I just recently saw her natural hair and found out she was 4c. For 30 years, I never knew that and never saw it natural. Crazy, huh? It's easier to love my own hair because I didn't have a lifetime of hating it and having people speak negatively about it. So now I'm teaching her how to take good care of it from scratch. It's also interesting because she's from Panama, and has been relaxing her hair since she was a kid, so straightening black hair to look "professional" or "refined" definitely permeated around the world.
Gosh I can only imagine growing up hating a part of yourself and then have a daughter teach you to love that part of yourself, that is making the wholesomeness in my heart flow out in tears. ❤
I’m from Panama and I too was addicted to the creamy crack.Growing up I did not receive hate because of my hair like your mother experienced or wanted to look more “Eurocentric” like a lot of other people did, my perm was because of the amount of work my hair was. Even now my hair is extreme to the point where I go to natural hair salons and it takes 2 stylists to blow dry my hair. On top of my hair being dense, easily matted even after detangling, limited products around to help and then my tender scalp, it was a recipe for disaster growing up. It was so bad that I would hide from hair wash days, scream and holler as my mom tried to do it because everything hurt and my hair was a lot, to the point where my sisters begged my mom to perm my hair in 6th grade. Finally 4 years ago I decided to go natural but it’s been difficult and I am ,finally now this year, after having a natural friend teach me, am able to manage it more. I love that you are helping your mother and that is such a blessing.
This was great. Zoey, you have a lot of Black subscribers, thank you for not shying away from showing your grandma things involving us. It feels good to be seen as any other human culture instead of always politicized by racists. Thank you.
@@sruthi671 Who cares? Those companies still haven't gotten with the program in terms of hair porosity, moisture retention, sulfates, silicones etc. It's time to put companies that care about the different needs our hair has to the forefront.
I didn't know head shaving was also a thing during Japans colonial rule so thanks for teaching me something. I wanted to give my condolences for your grandmothers loss during that time. That's a lot of pain to have to live through. It was really cool to see you guys react to something so personal to me culturally. 💖
You are not alone. I cried 😭 after watching this video. I love the fact she's a young Korean woman teaching her grandmother about black history is beautiful. No matter our age as human beings we always have a lot to learn. The more we learn about other people and cultures we realize that we all have something in common no matter where we come from. That's what makes the world become a better place.
@ The Gynoctacy TakeOver lt made me cry too- because so many white people like me can't take two seconds to not center ourselves in the pain we have inflicted on other nonwhite people- including white passing biracial people. It's "too much" to accept criticism, and try to absorb what we hear and reflecting how we can control how we think, and be aware of the things we say and do.
As an African American woman living in the USA, I applaud your efforts to share your journey and educate/entertain so many via the curiosity you share with your grandmother. I learned something new about our history and was devastated by your Grandma sharing her experience during the war. Racism and classism have and continue to inflict so much damage, seemingly impossible to stop, but this 8 minutes is helping to heal the state of ignorance so many of us live in because the details of how brutal and cruel the treatment of fellow humans is appalling and horrific. Thank you! Hugs to you and grandma 😍😊😁
Your grandmother is such a sweet and kind soul. I started to cry when she was heartbroken about our history as black women because I feel the same when Asian women recall what happened during the Korean war. God bless you both!!!
@itsme Emma Not really, Not with Black woman Hair struggles. They know about Slavery and Racisms that present today many don’t know abt the struggles of Black hair.
@@88trainstation Actually i do because where I come from they teach us about everybody around the world. Please do not come for me because I like people to see that we're not "ratchet or criminals"
@@88trainstation Not at you acting like ppl don’t also know abt other cultures struggles and what not. Do you know me??? For you to ASSUME I don’t know other cultures struggles. You duck ass just wanna fucking argue which might I add ever time a South Korean watching something where they are learning abt black Culture it’s always those few people who gotta come out the wood works acting like ever black person don’t take the time to learn about others struggles outside our own. We don’t own struggles so OFC some of us Learn abt others.
Her grandmother is so kind and understanding. It takes one whos suffering to understand another whos suffering, she faced the same(yet different) form of torture and yet shes so kind and compassionate. Absolutely love her.
My heart breaks for Grandma Ok as a little girl. Living in an occupied country with no medicine to save her mother and grandfather. Starvation was also widespread and she must have been so very alone and scared and hungry. That she came out of it remembering the smile of a US soldier says so much about the beauty of her soul. When I see these videos I just want to hug her.
Thing is we’re still passing CROWN act legislation on a city to city basis and at a snails pace to protect against black hair discrimination. We’re still struggling to be free with our hair in the 21st century
Your gran is so lovely and her heart is beautiful! :) As a Blasian (my father was black) this video really touched me. Thank you for this beautiful video.
I love seeing the perspective of people who haven't grown up in this "American" culture. I love when people from outside of it understand the atrocities of what black people have gone through and can even relate to... And that's just on the single topic of hair. I've lived through a few of these decades and even now, people try to tell me how to wear my hair and I refuse to listen. I had a jheri curl before i had a relaxer... and they weren't my choices. But it was my choice to go natural and short. Doing my family history, I have only been able to go as far back as the Civil War because my family were slaves in the south... and we know the plantation that owned them. and we were able to figure out how strong they were and that gives me strength today. Thank you for reacting to this ♥ You're doing amazing things here!
i swear y’all have the most gorgeous hair 🥺 don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise 💕 and i’m so sorry for what you and your family have gone / are going through 🥺💕
i’m asian-american and i also love seeing how people from other countries react/understand issues like these. i have noticed that they (people from a lot of countries around the world) can understand it much better than americans can, and see things differently. with less hate. with more of an open mind and open eyes.
I can't imagine how someone would even think it's okay to tell someone else how to look. It's so disrespectful towards you as a person and culture. I never thought black hair would be so full of symbolic meanings, so now I truly see the level of disrespect.
@@misojimo2154 I have a feeling this might partly be because most other cultures are far older compared to the American one, so most cultures already went through historic moments like these, making the people learn from their past and grow open minded to someone else's past.
@@Fleedermauws There are kids being kicked out of school for wearing their hair in dreads or natural afros. With excuses that just sounds like "their hair is too cool" or something just as ridiculous. Hair being forcefully shaved without consent... And this is happening today. In some jobs and, up until recently, the military wouldn't allow for black hair to be natural or even in braids. These restrictions are all about trying to make blacks assimilate into white culture... but then the whites accuse the blacks of encroaching upon their rights... or copying... It's a whole mess of racism and cultural erasure. If this video can get more people to understand the disrespect like you see, then I'm here for it. This is still a battle today. Things have gotten better. But the battle is still going.
I am having PTSD looking at the hot comb! I remember as a little girl, my mom would have the metal comb on the stove fire getting hot to straighten my hair. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 If my ear was accidentally burned, it was awful! I will never straighten my hair again!
I remember hating it so much getting burned every min mom would have to hold me there to get it done saying like "You'll like it when it's done jamia it has to be done" thank god in middle school I was like "Enough is enough mom I don't want to go through this anymore why do I have to go through it" I never used a hot comb again
@@enderless6055 My mom relaxed my hair when I was 3 or 4 and continued to straightening it throughout my childhood. I stopped straightening my hair in college and never looked back! やったー！
I REALLY enjoyed this. Just sitting down for a nice chat with Grandma is the best. The granddaughter is so respectful and Grandma is so loving understanding.
I loved this. I love hearing the similarities that grandma ok drew with events from her own life, as I didn't know that korean men were forced to cut their hair during the war.
I love learning about Korean culture and their history. The atrocities that they've endured at that time is very similar to the treatment of black people. Battleship Island is a great movie to watch and reading about the holiday, March 1st Independence Movement Day, reminds me a lot of the marches MLK did and how they were treated. So, yes, I agree, we have very similar histories. If only each side learned more about the other.
@@lovablecharacter8167 it’s almost like a domino effect lol. The March first movement inspired Gandhi and India’s independence movement that then inspired MLK.
@@freshlilies7154 oh wow, learning something new. I knew MLK was inspired by Gandhi, but not that Ghandi was inspired by the March 1st Movement. That's very interesting. Now I want to research more 😊
The windows of my school bus were always covered with a thick coating where students would lean their heads against them. It was pretty gross in reality.
Personally speaking im really sick of black people seeking validation from everyone outside of our communities. It is always cathartic to receive compassion though
😭 this was beautiful 🥰💕🙌🏾 I'm and African-American and I felt....I felt so accepted watching how you both engaged the content as a human watching another human's pain and not pitying nor denouncing nor minimizing our experiences but really sympathizing and EVEN empathizing with us on a heart to heart human to human level ♥ ❤ 💓 💖
Wow I can’t imagine losing 3 family members in one year... But it’s really nice that you guys looked at this video. I think it says a lot when people at least try to understand other cultures. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Brava!!! It’s also crazy how these behaviors have been passed down through generations. The cast iron skillet with the grease got to me on a soul level LOL
it’s upsets me so much how different races were treated so poorly and inhumane. i’ve always been so stunned by the beauty of other races, i’ve always thought black women especially were so gorgeous! i’m an almost 14 y/o white girl and it’s really shocking how long it took to be educated on black history. or just the history of other races in general. i knew a little bit about it and the slurs that were/are used against them, but that’s all i knew about it. i feel like it’s a subject that should be tought at a very young age rather than waiting until middle school. especially with kids hearing racial slurs and repeating them not knowing what they mean, it can be so damaging to kids of other races.
That's really considerat eof you. I remember being 10 years old at school and a white kid opposite just sat there calling me the n word repeatedly whilst I was eating my lunch and the table for of teachers next to us refused to do anything about it. I felt so invalidated.
@@SobrietyandSolace Similar thing happened to me. same age also at lunch. The only difference was I didn't know what the n-word meant at the time so I just laughed it off :/
I agree that these things should be spoken about. In kindergarten a white girl said her parents told her not to play with black kids and 3rd grade they made fun of my natural hair. Tough world out there.
@@SobrietyandSolace, oh my god. Yes. I find it depressing that so many people can relate. For me, it was in Middle school. 6th or 7th grade I think? Idk, but it was in one of those 2.
I cried 😭 after watching this video. I love the fact she's a young Korean woman teaching her grandmother about black history is beautiful. No matter our age as human beings we always have a lot to learn. The more we learn about other people and cultures we realize that we all have something in common no matter where we come from. That's what makes the world become a better place.
Istg your those type of people who gets offended by the littlest shit, you know what I'm talking about, talking about. I am not gonna go into full detail.
I love how people are learning the historu and significance of my brother's and sister's beautiful hair. Some just see it as a trend or a style but it means more than that. I stan understanding others....
When i arrived in Seoul I decided to just have my hair straightened assuming i wouldnt bring attention my self and i was wrong. I went home for a week and decided to get box braids and i literally wanted to cry because everyone loved it and honestly it felt more of a warm welcome. People felt more comfortable speaking to me. And it felt great knowing that i could embrace myself and be comfortable while they also embraced me and let me know it was ok to be myself. I was not expecting it at all and it really opened my eyes.
Okay but tears legit started falling down when I heard Grandma OK’s family wasn’t allowed to get medicine for her sick mother which caused her death 😭😭😭😭
Grandma OK has such a beautiful soul. She's so open to the different things Zoey shows her with nary a judgemental thing to say. This world could benefit from more gentle souls like her!
I want to thank you for taking the time to share and educate. I've had locks for 17 years and my hair is very significant to me. I love watching videos about other cultures, but don't often see one about my culture, especially so respectfully done by someone of a different background. Honor to your family, grandmother and her struggles during the war. You are both beautiful and shining examples of what society needs more of.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I clicked on this video, but I’m glad I did. I appreciate the sympathetic acknowledgement from both generations; and as a 59-year-old Black woman, I learned a few things about Black hair history, too! Thank you :-)
This was amazing. Do you think you could convince Grandma OK to do a video with you telling us a little bit about her younger years? She obviously has lived an amazing life and it would be so special to hear her talk more about Korea as she has grown up, as it is a perspective we never see from the Western world! Only if she is comfortable but I'm sure we'd all like a video about her!
Grandma OK, thank you for sharing your story. What a tragic thing to experience, I can't imagine. For someone who has been through so much, you radiate such light and positivity. You are so inspiring. Every time I see a video with Grandma OK, I learn something new about her that makes me even more of a fan 💙
Thank you both for your valuable time and showing interest in the historical struggles of black women's hair and the many challenges that society has tried to force on generation after generation. Although it isn't always as obvious as the past, black women are still faced with this very ugly battle of having natural hair accepted and is still considered unprofessional in many work environments. Your interest in black women's hair throughout history is greatly appreciated. Take care and stay healthy. (Smile)
i’m asian-american and tearing up at this sksjsjsjq zoe and grandma ok are amazing :”) if most people were like this the world wouldn’t have half its problems
Its just so beautiful to see someone invest the time to learn or understand another culture. I am from Kenya, Africa but this video made me smile and to be honest, I learned something too. Great job!
@@mooniebby8294 Yes those memories are all bad for me. I love that I could care a less about what anyone thinks about my hair these day. I like it and that is all that matters. I would not now or ever put that hot iron anywhere near my head.
I'm Arab from Jordan, my 11 years daughter is obsessed with everything Korean, I was a bit worried that she may get some racist comments but I was surprised how polite this society is. The grandma reaction proves it more.
Well not all Korean are nice like all humans so some people can be racist .... Because i Saw 90 day fiancé and a Jordan men was almost gonna get killed by his own family for date a Black woman.... That's not mean every people in your country are like that....
@@ijustwannabehappier-v4973 this is really surprising to me, because Sayidna(our master) Bila one of the most prominent companions of our Holy Prophet was a "black" from Abbysinia! And we still learn in religious schools that Abbysinia support for refugee Arab early Muslims saved Islam by grace of Allah. I'm really sorry to hear this. Peace and love.🌹🕊️
@@4_4_4.. But thats the thing, every time black people bring up racism and antiblackness in arab or just muslim communities, people try to gaslight them with the whole ''Bilal'' thing which is so wrong in itself. We dont live in the Prophet's times anymore, this is 2021 and racism still exists. Also if Bilal was to exist now, muslims and arabs would still treat him like trash. Just stop bringing up religion to deflect from the problem. Thank you. This is not geared towards you, im speaking in general. But i appreciate you.
@@ijustwannabehappier-v4973 Stop stereotyping all arabs and muslims, whites and asians are racist. Instead educate them on why its wrong and to tell others on why being racist is not good
Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness and information to your audience. This touched my heart, truly. You and your grandmother are beautiful people as well and a video like this is appreciated more than you know. Thank you
I absolutely love how accepting and sweet your grandmother is. When she spoke out her family's experiences during the war my heart hurt for her. It is a shame anyone should go through these things. I admire her strength and resiliency.
I always wanted to educate myself better on black hairstyles so i can understand cultural appropriation better (and hence not unintentionally support anyone doing it) and this video really helped me do it.
I loved this video. I think it’s amazing how open minded your grandma is and that she always has empathy and the ability to show love for other cultures. I think this video shows WHY black women are so touchy about our hair because of the history behind it. So when ppl appropriate it and take out styles while there are still black women and men discriminated for it please understand the upset.
As a black girl I loved this video. Thank you for showcasing the good and bad about black culture. I love natural hair even though mine is chemically straightened. It's just more convenient for me personally.
Wow🥺🥺. It so touching to know some Korean really love and appreciate black beauty. You have earned yourself a subscription and I love your grandma ❤️❤️
Your grandma has such a good, loving, open soul. A truly great woman. I would love to hear more about her life- all she has experienced and what has shaped her most. Her philosophy. Her understanding of life. Any advice she could kindly offer my younger and very much struggling self. Please relay to this absolute gem of a lady how much I truly respect, admire, and adore her. And her granddaughter is truly blessed to have such a close relationship with her grandma and vice versa. Such love. So beautiful. Sincerely something exceedingly special. Love to you both (especially Grandma, if I may respectfully call her that) all the way from Jackson, Ohio, 45640, USA! 💜💜💜
This was an amazing video! I love seeing people learn about a variety of ethnicities. I cannot wait to watch more of your videos they are always so entertaining!
Me as a white European am,so glad for this video, even I didn't understand the extent of the pain connected to hair in the black culture, I always loved the curly hair, the way it naturally grows big and luscious, I couldn't really understand. Now my heart aches and I hope we can keep walking in the direction of respect and acceptance.
As a black woman who lives in South Korea, I'm always struck by how accepting everyone is of my hair. I thought when I first came here that I should straighten it like I did in the USA so it wouldn't stand out as much. But honestly, no one cares at all. my hair can be as curly and as big as it wants to be and no one says anything bad about it. And when I get braids, the most people say is that it looks pretty but they worry that it's probably expensive and takes too long to do lol
As a European I'm really curious, do you feel like you stand out with your hair more in the US than in Korea? Do black women still feel the need to straighten their hair in America? Sorry for asking, I'm just interested😊
I’m from America and i’m so sorry you felt that you needed to straighten your hair. As much i wish that everyone was excepting, that sadly isn’t the case. i’m glad you live in a place where people are more excepting, i hope you know that not everyone in america is like that! :/
Same. I've lived in Korea for years and I can do anything with my hair and be left alone. My hair grew soooo long here because I didn't feel the need to straighten it to look professional at work. I don't get judged by my hair here at all.
@@kofuku7087 I definitely stand out more in Korea than in the US but when people notice my hair in Korea it's usually just that they think it's interesting. In the US, even when I talk to family members and they comment about my hair its about how they think I should 'do something with it'. Even though they're also black, they still seem to feel that my hair in its natural state is not professional or something. But that's of course just me. I haven't lived in the US for like 5 years so I'm sure things have changed overall but I have no direct knowledge of it
In the U.S., my Italian coworker admired my long natural hair and asked why black women always straightened their hair. She said that straightening the hair took away all the charm! I agree!
Your grandma is the most "woke" grandma I've seen and that includes American ones as well. And the girls getting their hair done in pain was so relatable. I'm young and even remember using a hot comb on the oven and braids HURTTT.
And the part with the braids! My god, the first time I got my hair braided/cornrowed i cried! I wanna get my hair braided again soon though cause my hair is getting very long and braids are easier to take care of.
As for the part with using kitchen grease on their hair, I used to use the Blue Magic coconut grease in my hair, but because I'm half white too, the grease began to be too much for my hair. I can't use Suave or VO5 conditioners, but the ethnic products are often too much for my hair too. So far OGX has been one of the only "in the middle" products I've found that my hair likes. not too heavy and not too thin.
@@brandimullins8813 what hair type do you have because if you’re hair is thinner having braids in can actually damage your hair and scalp as for grease typically black hair does produce as much oil as white hair but since your mixed i wouldny recommended using hair grease often and when you do dont you too much also i would use water based products along with grease
@@lavendermilk3010 I have pretty thick and poofy hair and a lot of it. I also have very dry scalp, and I did notice that when i used grease, the less my mom put in my hair the better. Though i cant really blame her for not knowing how to care for my hair. my mother is white and i grew up without my father, who wouldn't have known how to take care of my hair either because he was an only child and didn't take care of his other daughters either. so my hair care history is basically "try out everything and see what works and what doesn't".
thanks for the advice!
@@brandimullins8813 when i mean hair type i mean like 3a 3c or something for me personally i have 4c so my hair gets super dry really easily if you dont know what i mean google hair type chart and pick the the one that most resembles your hair type
@@brandimullins8813 i would also recommend using aloe for your scalp it is water based so it moisturizes and heals your scalp
When she started talking about how her own family also had to cut off their har I got a little teary-eyed. Its so sad people had/have these mindsets.
I cried like a baby! 😭😭😭
right?? it’s so heartbreaking.. people of older generations always have some of the saddest stories and upbringings 🥺
Even the pictures they showed when talking about it made me so sad! It made me think of the Native Americans, who were forced to cut their hair and assimilate.
Yup the Japanese did a lot of horrible things to east asians and also us southeast asians
@@Maki-00 right. It made me think of Chinese foot binding. How mothers would break their daughters feet and fold them inward to be smaller. Because that was beautiful and the standard of a woman.
I am Vietnamese and 48 years old now. When I was 11 or 12 years old, my best friend who was black came over for dinner and a sleep over. I was so excited because sleep overs were something we Asians weren't allowed to do. I remember helping her put foam rollers in her hair before we went to bed because she wanted to look pretty when we went to the amusement park the next day.
awwww my heart is so warm-
❤️❤️❤️
What her hair look like after the amusement park? LOL
I'm curious, is there a reason sleepovers weren't allowed?
Um the fact that you made her feel comfortable enough to do her hair around you is kinda huge. I was always embarrassed about my hair because I'd get bullied at school. I would make sure my hair was done before going to friends house
"Put your ear down" lol such an iconic phrase when getting your hair pressed
Yeap 😳
true. also having my grands tell me that it's just the grease popping, when I thought she burned me and when she actually did burn me, she tell me to put some coco butter on it 😅
Who here had a wooden spoon they had to hold over their ear while granny used the hot comb
@@ELmayberry my sister could not straighten my hair to save her life, We have 2 completely different hair types. I remember running from her when she tried to straighten my hair😂
@@mountainpotato4138 oh no.. poor you😱
Grandma's zebra shirt has me LIVING
I think it’s zara
A fashion moment tbh
@@josiahlewis5838 ikr?? she’s a fashion icon 😌💅
Oof i WANT it
Agreed, her blouse is beautiful 🤩
As a black girl with natural hair, I clicked on this video so fast!
Same lol
same
@@liqhtx8027 well for me i prefer things such as box braids and other styles that use weave. wearing your natural hair doesn't mean you can't wear wigs and weaves and vise versa. no people who wear such aren't mentally ill and in the world today we have freedom to wear as we feel we look best in.
im an african and this hits different
@@liqhtx8027 your welcome :)
Grandma OK is such a beautiful and kind woman, when she could relate the ladies having their hair cut to her own elders being forced to cut their hair it was so sad, and to hear her talk about the war, how wonderful that she gets to enjoy life with her granddaughter now when her childhood had such sadness
@Sabrina Hughes ?
@Sabrina Hughes please shut up, how insensitive can you be?
That was very interesting to hear her compare the two experiences. I’d learned something. Also, never respond to TROLLs 😈 guys.
@@moniquefuge4820 Koreans also suffered a lot of oppression under Japanese forced occupation. One example is how, during WWII, women were taken from their homes by the japanese army and used as sex slaves, known as comfort women.
Whatever the people or country it's important to be aware of the crueler most terrible parts of history so we can all learn from it. And comparing experiences helps understand that in the end we're all human and vulnerable to oppression and violence.
@@moniquefuge4820 exactly just ignore them then report them.
thank you. I'm 50 and I still struggle wearing my own hair out. We were told it was ugly for so long, its hard to not question our own beauty. Thank you for seeing our humanity
I’m sorry that happened, and is still happening to this day. My opinion doesn’t matter (as it shouldn’t), but I just want to let you know, your hair is beautiful
your hair is beautiful
“How can they do that to humans?” Made me cry a little. Not a lot of people see us as humans. Still.
It kinda caught me off guard how hard that hit. You get so used to people trying to be so politically correct that it just comes out cheap and disingenuous. But here, there’s no politics, no groups, no agenda or personal opinions, just one soul speaking to another soul. Its never been about race it’s always been about right and wrong. It took her 8 minutes to do more than america has done in 80 years
I’m British Icelandic but live in the US and I’m sorry that America is so intolerant, I can’t believe how people can still find ways to be racist when y’all are absolute angels on earth. Black women are 1. Absolutely GORGEOUS 2. Extremely sweet and 3. (Hope this isn’t rude) the best Bakers ever.
@@tteee7241 Aww!! Appreciate it much! I feel everyone is sweet, it just depends on who they are😊😊
@@NaishiYT if they don’t care then they don’t see us as human. Part of being “human” is seeing someone else just like you see yourself, something she understood without explanation because she sees us as human, nothing more or nothing less. Treating us as a bunch of crying overgrown babies is not very human at all, especially coming from someone who still crying because the British tried to tax your tea hundreds of years ago. See the difference? It’s empathy and understanding instead of dismissive name calling
@@NaishiYT bro you can’t pull up with a name like pinkchu and talk about black people like that and expect me to assume that you are black lol.
But still tho I care about people that I don’t know because I would hope others would do the same to me, that’s what being human is to me. Otherwise why would the internet even exist if nobody cared about anyone they didn’t know? Maybe we just grew up in different places because people treating me like family even though we’re not is literally what defined me as a person. That’s what I think of. I was lucky tho most people don’t get that chance, and that can make you resentful and hateful towards others.
It’s not healthy to not care, maybe it’s convenient when it’s someone on the opposite side of the country, but when it’s someone right in front of your face that’s different. In my experience black people are only treated well because people are scared of us trying to get revenge for slavery, they want to sleep with us because of stereotypes, or they want to make themselves seem cool or woke for having a black friend. You can tell because they always assume that we are ghetto then call us white when we’re not. Black people are not allowed to be normal individuals without white people trying to claim us as one of them. We’re just caricatures to them. Then again visiting Africa changed my perspective a lot on this, it’s just twisted in America
Exactly why I don't get why people say "it's just hair". It is a part of culture. As you said, in some cultures long hair is connected to power or religion etc. In my culture, the men used to braid their hair in preparation for battle like a ritual. Much more with african americans, where it's tied to so much pain, we need to respect that.
only people with no culture ever say that. it's very telling
@@aden-lj7wb exactly cuz ive heard tons of white americans say its just hair when its not
which culture is that?
@@fjp9 Okay you don't value hair as much, but that doesn't mean other culture's shouldn't. Do you know how much hairstyles were erased from history? By cutting their hair and forcing them to keep it away they erased Black identity and years of culture. That has significance! Its not simply "oh worse could happen" its what the hair signifies. Years of culture and heritage
@@fjp9 I quote " there could be worse things happening in your....". Isn't stripping a group of their culture apart of the worse things?
Hair in the Native/Indigenous and Black community is never “just hair”. Which is something I wish people would understand. It’s often embedded into our cultures and represents who we are as people.
In many Native cultures, our hair is so sacred to us, but colonizers back then made our ancestors cut their hair. It’s really tragic.
We believe our long hair is a connection to the earth and our spirituality. We only willingly cut it at certain parts of our life, funerals, representing pain etc.
In the black community natural hair shows strength and power with hairstyles also rich in history.
I adore Native men with long hair, it must be Taino genes calling
Don't mean to disrupt you, but hair had a higher meaning in about ALL cultures Even is it simply grows out of our head it is never considered to be only "hair". My ancestors, for example, from the Germanic tribes also had their hair cut when they were enslaved. Often times, Roman dominas used the hair from their slaves as a wig. Men were also forced to look "modest" while trimming their hear and shaving their beards off.
@@ClaireEmilia I must have misread. I thought I was watching a video about black women's hair. Melanie and I must have missed the part about all cultures and all hair. Let me go back and view it again. Thanks for pointing that out.
@@ClaireEmilia The issue here is, if you don't mean to disrupt, make your own comment and then people can read and learn from it. You just all lives mattered someone else simply sharing something. It is no secret of how Natives and those of African descent were treated in America/Western society... it's almost like you tried to one up Melanie.
@@Purplechick101 uhhh excuse me for sharing some part of history. Let's face it: if I made an own comment I would still get the "all lives matter" claim xD
This makes me so sad. Not just for the African Americans, but hearing from grandma what her family went through too! My love to all, and I’m sorry.
As a Black American woman part of "going natural" is undoing the stuff that was taught over generations. Thank you for doing this video....blessings to you and grandma
As a black woman,I really appreciate that you even,took the time to understand our hair,to see what we went through, & realized the hardships of both cultures is very thoughtful. Your grandmother is a beautiful soul💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
her anecdote about the black soldier was so sweet. im glad she at least has that fond memory to look back on amidst the pain of what her family went through during the war
I appreciate that you used your channel to learn about black history along with your grandma! I’ve seen other channels make videos about what Koreans think about black people, which just ended up being very hurtful and not constructive at all. I love your content and initiative to learn about other cultures!
YES!!!!! not that "Korean meets a black person for the first time" bullshit😒
*cough* awesome world.
@@shineexokpop6824 unrelated I love your name💕💕..
@@awildandraginghoshiappeari1199 oh thank you! Yours is unique as well😂
@@shineexokpop6824 honestly
Yes, black hair is a culture of it's own. Even today we are judged for natural hair many times. Unfortunately, many have not been mentally elevated. Some companies and school see traditional black hairstyles as "distracting" or "unseemly " Even in 2021 we are still fighting for free hair choice.
it’s so gross how people are viewed and treated differently because of their HAIR. y’all have the prettiest hair i swear- don’t let anyone tell you otherwise 💕💕💕
@@hyunjinsamericano2650 Ur so sweet 🥺❤ also I luv ur name btw lol 😆💓
@@saniyahhannah3956 omg tysm haha!! 🥺💕💗💓💞
The positivity in this comment section makes me so happy as a black person, love yall❤️
@Fonxa_Ltd0007 yeah it’s sad but true, I was just happy to finally see a mostly positive comment section for once lol
I'm Japanese and when I heard about what Japan did to Korean, I teared up
Thank you.
Thank you (I’m Korean btw).
The comfort women history ?? If so bruhh I cry and I feel so bad little kid teen.
yay big thumbs up to your history awearness! I just want to give you a big hug!! thank you for try to learn about something might be extremely uncomfortable and sensitive, I know it's not easy to do that. much much love from S.Korea!
Now imagine what the whole world has done to black people so moving. Then people will ask why the emotions and want to tell you how to feel
I forgot the name of the tribe. But there’s a tribe in Africa where the women put clay on their braids and their skin to help their skin glow. It’s super pretty but it’s also practical since it protects their skin from the sun and bugs.
The Himba tribe in Southern Angola :)
They're from the country Chad 🇹🇩...
@@toyintijani8374 They’re from northern Namibia.
@@daniellebeck2879 These Chadian women use chebe powder not red ochre like Himba women from Namibia.
himba
It makes me so happy to see how loving Grandma OK is once again, It gives me so much hope I wish everyone was like her 🥺
It is really nice to see that, hopeful.
I teared up when Grandma talked about her family during the war😢 I wanted to give her a big hug. She’s such a sweetheart
I love that you related things to Korean history. It's easier to understand someone else's culture and history when you can relate with your own. Much love ❤
This is what we need to move forward, relating to somebody else pain is good... peace
Same history here from us Natives in "america". Our whole existence was made illegal in our own homelands. Children forced into the boarding schools also known as residential schools separated from family and culture and hair shaved off. Language made illegal too. This persisted until well into the 1980s in some places.
I remember my grandfather trying to teach me what he could remember of his tribes language. I thought he was trying to teach me Spanish. Later realized what it was when I grew up. I asked the last time I saw him alive. He remembered nothing. Language lost.
I feel your pain 😞
@@corimyers4985 Wow, that's devastating. Is there anyway to find your grandfathers tribe or someone else who may know the language?
Like the movie rabbit proof fence?
@@wanderingwind6602 They were here first sis... Have they found ours?
I'm half Korean, half Black, living in California. I've been keeping my hair natural for a number of years now, but my mom still gives me grief about it and wants me to keep it chemically straight so I look more Korean and my hair will be "more pretty". This video really gave me life, thank you so much.
It really strikes me that Gramdma was able to watch this and have empathy for Black people going through these struggles and trauma, but people in our own country aren't able to.
Know that many people from outside of America do empathise and understand the struggles! There's more poeple understanding than hating! It's just that the ones hating are the loudest, making it seems like they are far higher in numbers.
Unfortunately, it's because the people in our country neither respect nor empathize with Black people. It is very easy to hate entire swaths of people if you barely consider them human or that they bring all/most of their suffering upon themselves. And these people tend to be either the most influential or connected to them.
Uhhhhh.....really? You think people in America have no empathy? Wow!
@@arrongrady732 feeling attacked much? If you have empathy, there's no reason to comment like that.
@@arrongrady732 Three days ago, I witnessed a white woman argue "all lives matter" and that "people are going to riot no matter what the verdict is." I live in Minneapolis.
as a black girl, I swear to God I haven't clicked so fast on a video-
i feel that 👀
Same
Same
How’d you like the video? What are your thoughts?
@@ixelbonobonoyap5796 it dialed down a lot of the gruesome stuff, but overall it's a good intro to the basics of black hair. it's easy for someone who knows nothing about it to understand, and they can dive into the details later if they choose to
As a black girl with Afro African hair I just love how open minded they both are!
I’m a half African have Asian girl, and i have faced discrimination for my skin and hair from a young age, I love seeing videos of people learning about the culture of natural hair, because the more people learn this information the more love will spread towards the natural hair movement💖💖
This is a year late but I’m sure you’re very beautiful! Asian and black women are very pretty so I can’t imagine being mixed with the two. You must be insanely gorgeous ✨ you are unique and created to look exactly the way you do! You are beautiful and you are enough :)
Love how you and grandma are so willing to learn and understand more about black culture, especially starting with hair. Seeing the best comparison of how the top knot in Korea was cut away and banned really made me kinda tear up. The parallels were strong.
Also, I'm kind of wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing the Korean voice over version. I teach in S. Korea right now and while students are very accepting of my hair and things I do with it, It would be great to have it explained in Korean for them with the visuals of the video used.
As a black girl for a love of South Korea, I clicked on this video solo fast
We all in this together ❤
@@demonkitty_toebeans 😺😺😺
South Korean women are really nice but that country isn't safe for women - search 'molka crimes' and you'll see why
@@hsnrb9959 😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓
@@hsnrb9959 Yes it's very true Korea has an issue with stalking, etc., but it's literally far safer than the US? It has half the murder rates, half the r@pe rates, it's not safe for women anywhere in this god forbidden world but South Korea is definitely safer than the US. Women can walk home late at night after a girl's night out in Korea without carrying a taser with them.
It’s so interesting to see people learn what I’ve experienced or been taught since birth as a black woman. Sometimes we forget that our own experiences aren’t the same as others. I feel like the knowledge of my hair history wasn’t even taught to me, it just feels like it’s always been there.
I’m happy you both took the time to learn. I learned something too about Korean and Japanese history. Thank you
this comment is so lovely just like the video. this is what the world should be like, peaceful learning of each other’s cultures. i really wish everybody was like zoe and grandma Ok, and the people in this comment section. i’m asian american, and i love learning about other cultures and their experiences, but i can’t say that most people in the u.s feel the same lol. anyway i don’t know why but your comment made me especially emotional haha. i hope you have a nice day
@@misojimo2154 awww thanks. I agree with everything you said. I find that this channel usually fosters positive conversations in the comments. I’m glad mine could brighten your day a bit.
4:42 NOT THE HOT COMB. THE MEMORIES 😭
frrrr 😭
@@keerag4274 yeahh :(( roughly, three years ago i stopped going to the hair salon bc the girl would always apply the hot comb which causes breakage and damaged my hair which broke my hair. i was devasted for years bc i kept trying new protective style with my hair, but she kept feeling the need to apply more heat to my hair. i have nothing against her though, but i was just upset atm.
I can still feel the heat!
Yess 😭😭 I still can feel my ears burning
@@Annaxindi the struggle is real smH 😫
So lovely to see this willingness to learn and black people been spoken of in a positive and human way. Bless
I definitely cried at the end of this because of how far we’ve come and how blessed we all are to do whatever we want with our hair.. yet still sad for some who feel they need to do all these alterations or to cover up with hats, or wigs in order to be accepted. It’s typically only in the workplace now. Thank you so much to her grandma for all her compassion.. so so comforting.
I'm glad to see this being reacted. My mom is in her late 70s (had me very late) and she is now embracing her hair more, albeit she does struggle with loving it sometimes. Because of the natural hair movement, she stopped relaxing and I just recently saw her natural hair and found out she was 4c. For 30 years, I never knew that and never saw it natural. Crazy, huh? It's easier to love my own hair because I didn't have a lifetime of hating it and having people speak negatively about it. So now I'm teaching her how to take good care of it from scratch. It's also interesting because she's from Panama, and has been relaxing her hair since she was a kid, so straightening black hair to look "professional" or "refined" definitely permeated around the world.
Gosh I can only imagine growing up hating a part of yourself and then have a daughter teach you to love that part of yourself, that is making the wholesomeness in my heart flow out in tears. ❤
I’m from Panama and I too was addicted to the creamy crack.Growing up I did not receive hate because of my hair like your mother experienced or wanted to look more “Eurocentric” like a lot of other people did, my perm was because of the amount of work my hair was. Even now my hair is extreme to the point where I go to natural hair salons and it takes 2 stylists to blow dry my hair. On top of my hair being dense, easily matted even after detangling, limited products around to help and then my tender scalp, it was a recipe for disaster growing up. It was so bad that I would hide from hair wash days, scream and holler as my mom tried to do it because everything hurt and my hair was a lot, to the point where my sisters begged my mom to perm my hair in 6th grade. Finally 4 years ago I decided to go natural but it’s been difficult and I am ,finally now this year, after having a natural friend teach me, am able to manage it more. I love that you are helping your mother and that is such a blessing.
This was great. Zoey, you have a lot of Black subscribers, thank you for not shying away from showing your grandma things involving us. It feels good to be seen as any other human culture instead of always politicized by racists. Thank you.
I've always thought African hair was just beautiful, I hope more women take to having the confidence to wear it natural because it is glorious!
Wait that's so sweet thank you!
Agreed! African hair is gorgeous! I also hope more people will wear their hair natural and be proud!
Oh yes!, it's lovely. I love seeing free African hair. It looks so soft. :)
@@sruthi671 Who cares? Those companies still haven't gotten with the program in terms of hair porosity, moisture retention, sulfates, silicones etc. It's time to put companies that care about the different needs our hair has to the forefront.
This comment ❤️
I didn't know head shaving was also a thing during Japans colonial rule so thanks for teaching me something. I wanted to give my condolences for your grandmothers loss during that time. That's a lot of pain to have to live through. It was really cool to see you guys react to something so personal to me culturally. 💖
Goddammit why am I crying LMFAO
It’s ok to cry, it matters a lot and makes me sad too as a black person 👍
Same.
You are not alone. I cried 😭 after watching this video. I love the fact she's a young Korean woman teaching her grandmother about black history is beautiful. No matter our age as human beings we always have a lot to learn. The more we learn about other people and cultures we realize that we all have something in common no matter where we come from. That's what makes the world become a better place.
@ The Gynoctacy TakeOver lt made me cry too- because so many white people like me can't take two seconds to not center ourselves in the pain we have inflicted on other nonwhite people- including white passing biracial people. It's "too much" to accept criticism, and try to absorb what we hear and reflecting how we can control how we think, and be aware of the things we say and do.
Crying because some old Korean accepts black womens hair?? Learn to stop seeking approval from other races and love yourself. Smh.
As an African American woman living in the USA, I applaud your efforts to share your journey and educate/entertain so many via the curiosity you share with your grandmother. I learned something new about our history and was devastated by your Grandma sharing her experience during the war. Racism and classism have and continue to inflict so much damage, seemingly impossible to stop, but this 8 minutes is helping to heal the state of ignorance so many of us live in because the details of how brutal and cruel the treatment of fellow humans is appalling and horrific. Thank you! Hugs to you and grandma 😍😊😁
Your grandmother is such a sweet and kind soul. I started to cry when she was heartbroken about our history as black women because I feel the same when Asian women recall what happened during the Korean war. God bless you both!!!
I feel so happy that you are showing her us and our history because a lot of people don't know it.
@itsme Emma Not really, Not with Black woman Hair struggles. They know about Slavery and Racisms that present today many don’t know abt the struggles of Black hair.
And do you know about other people's struggles? Some people say "people don't know what we went through!" and then proceed to hate on other cultures
@@88trainstation Actually i do because where I come from they teach us about everybody around the world. Please do not come for me because I like people to see that we're not "ratchet or criminals"
@@88trainstation Not at you acting like ppl don’t also know abt other cultures struggles and what not. Do you know me??? For you to ASSUME I don’t know other cultures struggles. You duck ass just wanna fucking argue which might I add ever time a South Korean watching something where they are learning abt black Culture it’s always those few people who gotta come out the wood works acting like ever black person don’t take the time to learn about others struggles outside our own. We don’t own struggles so OFC some of us Learn abt others.
I loved how dignified this story of "Black Women's Hair" was. Thank you, I thought I would be offended but you handled it with deep respect.
Her grandmother is so kind and understanding.
It takes one whos suffering to understand another whos suffering, she faced the same(yet different) form of torture and yet shes so kind and compassionate. Absolutely love her.
My heart breaks for Grandma Ok as a little girl. Living in an occupied country with no medicine to save her mother and grandfather. Starvation was also widespread and she must have been so very alone and scared and hungry. That she came out of it remembering the smile of a US soldier says so much about the beauty of her soul. When I see these videos I just want to hug her.
Loved this! As a black woman, I appreciate this. Your grandmother is such a beautiful person inside and out!
Thing is we’re still passing CROWN act legislation on a city to city basis and at a snails pace to protect against black hair discrimination. We’re still struggling to be free with our hair in the 21st century
This was a beautiful cultural exchange. It made me tear up to see other cultures saying positive things about our history because it’s so rare.
Your gran is so lovely and her heart is beautiful! :) As a Blasian (my father was black) this video really touched me. Thank you for this beautiful video.
I love how open-minded grandma OK is. She is such a beautiful woman inside and out. And thank you for educating people on the topic of black hair!
I love seeing the perspective of people who haven't grown up in this "American" culture. I love when people from outside of it understand the atrocities of what black people have gone through and can even relate to... And that's just on the single topic of hair. I've lived through a few of these decades and even now, people try to tell me how to wear my hair and I refuse to listen. I had a jheri curl before i had a relaxer... and they weren't my choices. But it was my choice to go natural and short. Doing my family history, I have only been able to go as far back as the Civil War because my family were slaves in the south... and we know the plantation that owned them. and we were able to figure out how strong they were and that gives me strength today. Thank you for reacting to this ♥ You're doing amazing things here!
i swear y’all have the most gorgeous hair 🥺 don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise 💕 and i’m so sorry for what you and your family have gone / are going through 🥺💕
i’m asian-american and i also love seeing how people from other countries react/understand issues like these. i have noticed that they (people from a lot of countries around the world) can understand it much better than americans can, and see things differently. with less hate. with more of an open mind and open eyes.
I can't imagine how someone would even think it's okay to tell someone else how to look. It's so disrespectful towards you as a person and culture. I never thought black hair would be so full of symbolic meanings, so now I truly see the level of disrespect.
@@misojimo2154 I have a feeling this might partly be because most other cultures are far older compared to the American one, so most cultures already went through historic moments like these, making the people learn from their past and grow open minded to someone else's past.
@@Fleedermauws There are kids being kicked out of school for wearing their hair in dreads or natural afros. With excuses that just sounds like "their hair is too cool" or something just as ridiculous. Hair being forcefully shaved without consent... And this is happening today. In some jobs and, up until recently, the military wouldn't allow for black hair to be natural or even in braids. These restrictions are all about trying to make blacks assimilate into white culture... but then the whites accuse the blacks of encroaching upon their rights... or copying... It's a whole mess of racism and cultural erasure. If this video can get more people to understand the disrespect like you see, then I'm here for it. This is still a battle today. Things have gotten better. But the battle is still going.
I am having PTSD looking at the hot comb! I remember as a little girl, my mom would have the metal comb on the stove fire getting hot to straighten my hair. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 If my ear was accidentally burned, it was awful! I will never straighten my hair again!
I remember hating it so much getting burned every min mom would have to hold me there to get it done saying like "You'll like it when it's done jamia it has to be done" thank god in middle school I was like "Enough is enough mom I don't want to go through this anymore why do I have to go through it" I never used a hot comb again
@@miapark498 sameee. I got burned so many times, I'll never go back to those days
Yes my grandma hot combed my hair almost every other Sunday morning for church. The whole house is smoking and smelling like grease
My mom always forced me to perm my hair so it can be straighten, and now i just hate my hair lol
@@enderless6055 My mom relaxed my hair when I was 3 or 4 and continued to straightening it throughout my childhood. I stopped straightening my hair in college and never looked back! やったー！
I REALLY enjoyed this. Just sitting down for a nice chat with Grandma is the best. The granddaughter is so respectful and Grandma is so loving understanding.
This is exactly the kind of empathy and appreciation we should be treating one another with
I loved this. I love hearing the similarities that grandma ok drew with events from her own life, as I didn't know that korean men were forced to cut their hair during the war.
It’s funny how people often but black people and Koreans against each other when we both have very similar histories.
@@freshlilies7154 THIS.
I love learning about Korean culture and their history. The atrocities that they've endured at that time is very similar to the treatment of black people. Battleship Island is a great movie to watch and reading about the holiday, March 1st Independence Movement Day, reminds me a lot of the marches MLK did and how they were treated. So, yes, I agree, we have very similar histories. If only each side learned more about the other.
@@lovablecharacter8167 it’s almost like a domino effect lol. The March first movement inspired Gandhi and India’s independence movement that then inspired MLK.
@@freshlilies7154 oh wow, learning something new. I knew MLK was inspired by Gandhi, but not that Ghandi was inspired by the March 1st Movement. That's very interesting. Now I want to research more 😊
Jheri curls stain pillows. My mom had one when I was a kid and the chemicals soaked the pillow cases.
Like that one scene from "Coming to America"...
pillow cases, car windows, the whole back of church clothes, everything. Jheri Curl was...not the best thing that ever happened to our hair...
The curl activator not chemicals
The windows of my school bus were always covered with a thick coating where students would lean their heads against them. It was pretty gross in reality.
@@ValyTraveler the couch scene🤣
thank you for reacting to this, this means a lot for black people.
i agree~
ikrr
agreed.
Personally speaking im really sick of black people seeking validation from everyone outside of our communities. It is always cathartic to receive compassion though
@@Sentenceenhancer are you talking about that randomly or are you saying that’s what happened rn in the comment section?
This was beautiful. I enjoyed seeing your reactions. Very empathetic and embracing of humanity in different forms.❤️
😭 this was beautiful 🥰💕🙌🏾 I'm and African-American and I felt....I felt so accepted watching how you both engaged the content as a human watching another human's pain and not pitying nor denouncing nor minimizing our experiences but really sympathizing and EVEN empathizing with us on a heart to heart human to human level ♥ ❤ 💓 💖
Wow I can’t imagine losing 3 family members in one year... But it’s really nice that you guys looked at this video. I think it says a lot when people at least try to understand other cultures. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Brava!!! It’s also crazy how these behaviors have been passed down through generations. The cast iron skillet with the grease got to me on a soul level LOL
I'm so glad to see Grandma OK reacting to this. She's an amazing person. We all love you Grandma OK ❤️❤️❤️
it’s upsets me so much how different races were treated so poorly and inhumane. i’ve always been so stunned by the beauty of other races, i’ve always thought black women especially were so gorgeous! i’m an almost 14 y/o white girl and it’s really shocking how long it took to be educated on black history. or just the history of other races in general. i knew a little bit about it and the slurs that were/are used against them, but that’s all i knew about it. i feel like it’s a subject that should be tought at a very young age rather than waiting until middle school. especially with kids hearing racial slurs and repeating them not knowing what they mean, it can be so damaging to kids of other races.
That's really considerat eof you. I remember being 10 years old at school and a white kid opposite just sat there calling me the n word repeatedly whilst I was eating my lunch and the table for of teachers next to us refused to do anything about it. I felt so invalidated.
@@SobrietyandSolace Similar thing happened to me. same age also at lunch. The only difference was I didn't know what the n-word meant at the time so I just laughed it off :/
I agree that these things should be spoken about. In kindergarten a white girl said her parents told her not to play with black kids and 3rd grade they made fun of my natural hair. Tough world out there.
@@SobrietyandSolace, oh my god. Yes. I find it depressing that so many people can relate. For me, it was in Middle school. 6th or 7th grade I think? Idk, but it was in one of those 2.
You're a good person. Don't let unkind people hurt the kindness out of you!
I cried 😭 after watching this video. I love the fact she's a young Korean woman teaching her grandmother about black history is beautiful. No matter our age as human beings we always have a lot to learn. The more we learn about other people and cultures we realize that we all have something in common no matter where we come from. That's what makes the world become a better place.
It’s not hard to just appreciate someone else’s culture, I think that’s something America struggles with a lot.
By America do you mean the White folks?
@@megvuru no America in general, even poc has a hard time with this or anyone who doesnt see the outside world that much. Which is America of course.
@@megvuru I don't see how one could think this person was only referring to white people by saying America. Americans come in all different races
Istg your those type of people who gets offended by the littlest shit, you know what I'm talking about, talking about. I am not gonna go into full detail.
@@megvuru your response tells me you’re offended
There hair is just sooo beautiful 😊🙌
🥺💕
Thankyou
Thank you 🤩
I love how people are learning the historu and significance of my brother's and sister's beautiful hair. Some just see it as a trend or a style but it means more than that. I stan understanding others....
i love your videos!!
as a black girl,i wanna see her reaction!!
now I've learned something new about Korean men when they had to cut their hair
This grandma is so open-minded, even my 40 year old mom doesn't have a mindset like her.
Love you grandma.
When i arrived in Seoul I decided to just have my hair straightened assuming i wouldnt bring attention my self and i was wrong. I went home for a week and decided to get box braids and i literally wanted to cry because everyone loved it and honestly it felt more of a warm welcome. People felt more comfortable speaking to me. And it felt great knowing that i could embrace myself and be comfortable while they also embraced me and let me know it was ok to be myself. I was not expecting it at all and it really opened my eyes.
Okay but tears legit started falling down when I heard Grandma OK’s family wasn’t allowed to get medicine for her sick mother which caused her death 😭😭😭😭
We must protect grandma at all costs, we love her!!!
Grandma OK has such a beautiful soul. She's so open to the different things Zoey shows her with nary a judgemental thing to say. This world could benefit from more gentle souls like her!
I want to thank you for taking the time to share and educate. I've had locks for 17 years and my hair is very significant to me. I love watching videos about other cultures, but don't often see one about my culture, especially so respectfully done by someone of a different background. Honor to your family, grandmother and her struggles during the war. You are both beautiful and shining examples of what society needs more of.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I clicked on this video, but I’m glad I did. I appreciate the sympathetic acknowledgement from both generations; and as a 59-year-old Black woman, I learned a few things about Black hair history, too! Thank you :-)
I stopped putting relaxers in my hair around 2013. Hasn’t been in my hair since.
This was amazing.
Do you think you could convince Grandma OK to do a video with you telling us a little bit about her younger years? She obviously has lived an amazing life and it would be so special to hear her talk more about Korea as she has grown up, as it is a perspective we never see from the Western world! Only if she is comfortable but I'm sure we'd all like a video about her!
My cousin is the one with the purple headwrap at 3.03 ! I'm so glad y'all watched this!
Grandma OK, thank you for sharing your story. What a tragic thing to experience, I can't imagine. For someone who has been through so much, you radiate such light and positivity. You are so inspiring. Every time I see a video with Grandma OK, I learn something new about her that makes me even more of a fan 💙
Thank you both for your valuable time and showing interest in the historical struggles of black women's hair and the many challenges that society has tried to force on generation after generation. Although it isn't always as obvious as the past, black women are still faced with this very ugly battle of having natural hair accepted and is still considered unprofessional in many work environments. Your interest in black women's hair throughout history is greatly appreciated. Take care and stay healthy. (Smile)
i’m asian-american and tearing up at this sksjsjsjq zoe and grandma ok are amazing :”) if most people were like this the world wouldn’t have half its problems
I love this grandma she is so open minded and kind!🤧💙
As an African American, I truly appreciate this education in other cultures.
Its just so beautiful to see someone invest the time to learn or understand another culture. I am from Kenya, Africa but this video made me smile and to be honest, I learned something too. Great job!
Hot comb were so scary, the amount of times I’ve been burnt in childhood isn’t even funny!
No it wasn't and till this day, I said never again. I remember all those burn marks and brown spots on the ear.
@@shaiyaraina3 I remember getting my forehead burnt 👀 worse weeks of my life.
@@mooniebby8294 Yes those memories are all bad for me. I love that I could care a less about what anyone thinks about my hair these day. I like it and that is all that matters. I would not now or ever put that hot iron anywhere near my head.
@@shaiyaraina3 Even if it is more work I love my natural hair so much more!
@@mooniebby8294 Same here MB, I'm loving my natural hair and just letting it grow out. Wash, wear and go. It is so much easier and cheaper.
Not the ear hold 🤣🤣. I don’t miss them hot comb days.
the ear hold immediately had me clutching my ear i could feel the burning
I'm Arab from Jordan, my 11 years daughter is obsessed with everything Korean, I was a bit worried that she may get some racist comments but I was surprised how polite this society is. The grandma reaction proves it more.
Well not all Korean are nice like all humans so some people can be racist .... Because i Saw 90 day fiancé and a Jordan men was almost gonna get killed by his own family for date a Black woman.... That's not mean every people in your country are like that....
@3amaintpretty Does not negate the fact that most arabs are usually antiblack.
@@ijustwannabehappier-v4973 this is really surprising to me, because Sayidna(our master) Bila one of the most prominent companions of our Holy Prophet was a "black" from Abbysinia! And we still learn in religious schools that Abbysinia support for refugee Arab early Muslims saved Islam by grace of Allah. I'm really sorry to hear this. Peace and love.🌹🕊️
@@4_4_4.. But thats the thing, every time black people bring up racism and antiblackness in arab or just muslim communities, people try to gaslight them with the whole ''Bilal'' thing which is so wrong in itself. We dont live in the Prophet's times anymore, this is 2021 and racism still exists. Also if Bilal was to exist now, muslims and arabs would still treat him like trash. Just stop bringing up religion to deflect from the problem. Thank you.
This is not geared towards you, im speaking in general. But i appreciate you.
@@ijustwannabehappier-v4973 Stop stereotyping all arabs and muslims, whites and asians are racist. Instead educate them on why its wrong and to tell others on why being racist is not good
why I love reaction channels that want to learn about music, history, etc! keep up the good work and smile
Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness and information to your audience. This touched my heart, truly. You and your grandmother are beautiful people as well and a video like this is appreciated more than you know. Thank you
I absolutely love how accepting and sweet your grandmother is. When she spoke out her family's experiences during the war my heart hurt for her. It is a shame anyone should go through these things. I admire her strength and resiliency.
I always wanted to educate myself better on black hairstyles so i can understand cultural appropriation better (and hence not unintentionally support anyone doing it) and this video really helped me do it.
I loved this video. I think it’s amazing how open minded your grandma is and that she always has empathy and the ability to show love for other cultures. I think this video shows WHY black women are so touchy about our hair because of the history behind it. So when ppl appropriate it and take out styles while there are still black women and men discriminated for it please understand the upset.
As a black girl I loved this video. Thank you for showcasing the good and bad about black culture. I love natural hair even though mine is chemically straightened. It's just more convenient for me personally.
Wow🥺🥺. It so touching to know some Korean really love and appreciate black beauty. You have earned yourself a subscription and I love your grandma ❤️❤️
Your grandma has such a good, loving, open soul. A truly great woman. I would love to hear more about her life- all she has experienced and what has shaped her most. Her philosophy. Her understanding of life. Any advice she could kindly offer my younger and very much struggling self. Please relay to this absolute gem of a lady how much I truly respect, admire, and adore her. And her granddaughter is truly blessed to have such a close relationship with her grandma and vice versa. Such love. So beautiful. Sincerely something exceedingly special. Love to you both (especially Grandma, if I may respectfully call her that) all the way from Jackson, Ohio, 45640, USA! 💜💜💜
This was an amazing video! I love seeing people learn about a variety of ethnicities. I cannot wait to watch more of your videos they are always so entertaining!
As a young black woman this makes me so happy
Seeing Cicely Tyson's name made me tear up. She really paved the way!
The subs don't even do the full justice of how complimentary, kind, and compassionate your grandma is to black hair through the years. You go girl!
Me as a white European am,so glad for this video, even I didn't understand the extent of the pain connected to hair in the black culture, I always loved the curly hair, the way it naturally grows big and luscious, I couldn't really understand. Now my heart aches and I hope we can keep walking in the direction of respect and acceptance.