Sadly, hair style & texture has been used for years to 'reinforce' claims of inferiority about people of African heritage. It is 'different', so it is 'inferior'. And, as Azizi suggests, many folks have tried to emulate Caucasian styles by allowing hair to grow, then using complex processes to straighten and style it...sometime leading to serious problems.

   Back about 35 years ago, there was a controversy in Wichita, Kans. where I was living because a white barber has refused to cut a black man's hair, claiming he simply didn't have the training or experience.
There was a protest, asserting that it was simply discrimination....and off it went!

Well, I happened to be listening to a radio talk show as it was being 'discussed', when a seemingly elderly (by the sound of her voice) white lady called in and proclaimed..." he shouldn't be expected to cut a black man's hair. Why, they don't even have real 'hair'...it's just sort of a kind of wool!"

To his credit, the talk show host lit into her and 'explained' that she had no idea of the truth and was just repeating rumors and slander, and that HE would not allow that sort of remark on his show without making it clear that he considered it stupid & insulting.

...but you see why hair gets such attention, when all it is is one genetic adaptation to an earlier environment.