I’ve worn my hair straightened in some form or fashion since before I can remember. When I was ten, I got my first relaxer. Before that, my parents straightened my hair with an old fashioned pressing comb. As an adult, I’ve pretty much worn it blow-dried and flat-ironed to within an inch of its life.
Before Covid, I couldn’t tell you the last time I did my own hair. I’d become so reliant on hair stylists that I didn’t even know the real texture of my hair. I literally just never had to deal with it.
Oh, how things have changed.
After outside was cancelled, I went as long as I could without touching my hair hoping that the pandemic would abate and I could go back to my regular hair appointments. One week turned into two then three, then four. How long could I hold out? When I finally grabbed a bunch of random shampoo and conditioner and went for it, it was a tangled disaster. So much so that I had to cut out large chunks with scissors. Seriously. It was bad.
Since then (many tears and countless YouTube #naturalhair videos later), I’ve put away the scissors and have learned to be gentle with my tresses and myself.
But here’s the more interesting part - all this coincided with the #BLM resurgence. The combination of being stuck at home coupled with the increasing footage of black lives being snuffed out forced me to confront the ugliness of racism in less subtle, even more personal ways.
Of course I’ve faced racism. I’m a black woman. It would be impossible for me not to. However, it’s rarely blatant. Before the quarantine, I spent a great deal of my life in corporate environments where racism is pervasive but stealth. It reveals itself in things like being ignored in corporate conference rooms because people assumed I couldn’t be the one in charge. Or assuming that my role was in HR rather than marketing. Or odd compliments like “you’re so articulate, you write so well...” as if somehow I shouldn’t. Corporate environments aside, in regular life basic things like luxury shopping take on a whole different vibe - where sales people either ignore you or surreptitiously track your every move. Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse.
But what's this got to do with my hair? A lot.
Everyone handles racism differently. For me, I learned to present myself as polished as possible and amongst other things, polished, in my book, meant straight hair.
It made me feel more professional. It made me feel a little less “other”. And if I’m completely honest, it made me feel more attractive. Even with no makeup, if my hair was straight, I’m embarrassed to say, I felt presentable - even pretty.
Malcom X asked, “who taught you to hate yourself?”
That’s what I’ve been asking myself lately. It’s one thing to use my hair as a form of self expression. I can wear it how ever I want. It’s my hair. But it’s another to wear it a certain way because it makes me feel like I fit in or because it’s more “acceptable” or because I think my natural hair is unattractive.
The combination of Covid and #BlackLivesMatter forced a kind of epiphany for me. What is wrong with the natural texture of my hair? Why was it so important that it be straight?
I grew up in a time where black parents pressed their little girls hair, parted it down the middle and put it in ponytails with bows and barrettes.
Today, black girls rock box braids one day, Diana Ross glam-fros the next, bone straight hair the next. They go with the flow. They go with their mood. I admire their sense of self and freedom of expression.
It wasn’t like that when I was growing up. Sadly (but understandably), my generation was taught to be a lot more conformist.
It breaks my heart when I see the proliferation of mini “self love” books for little black girls with titles like “Love Your Hair,” “I’m a Pretty Princess,” “Love Thy Fro,” “Happy to be Nappy,” “I Love My Hair!” “My Hair,” “Hair Like Mine,” “Hair Love”. Something is really wrong with this picture. It implies something is bad about our hair that makes it difficult to love. Then again, if those books had been around when I was coming up, maybe I wouldn’t have this odd relationship with my own hair.
Who knows? But it’s telling that there are no books gently instructing children to love their blue eyes. Who has to tell Emily to love her blond hair?
Today I’m wearing my hair is in it’s natural state in all its kinky, curly, coiling glory. I’d say I was rocking’ it but to be honest, I’m not quite there yet. As they say in the natural hair community, it’s a journey.
This is where I am. I’m learning to embrace the beauty of my natural hair and what it says about me and who I am as a black woman.
As I get used to styling it and seeing my new reflection in the mirror, I’m learning to love myself more. It’s awkward and challenging but long, long overdue.
I’ll share more on my IG (@savvyclickchick) as I move forward. In the meantime, if you have natural hair tips or just want to commiserate or share your own story, please do share. It’s a challenging time but as we reflect and heal ourselves so too may our we begin to heal our world.
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
NEED ESSAY WRITING HELP?
Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Ivanhoe essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021.
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Popular writers website for masters
Funny answers to homework
Popular school assignment
Primary school english teaching thesis
An admission essay for graduate school
Popular application letter writer websites for phd
Transition words for autobiography essay
way to write my name gjqrk[/url] in catcher in the rye essay mxnjv[/url] blog post writers websites for masters voltj[/url] letter finance internship examples acjss[/url] 620f163Cheap term paper proofreading services us
Cheap speech ghostwriting sites uk
Mla dissertation format
Cheap critical essay ghostwriter sites gb
Best masters essay ghostwriter website for phd
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] pro[/url]http://sns.rightpsy.com/sns/u/link.php?url=https://essaypro.me
The pigman theme essay
on mentoring – Top university essay writers service online xcwcr 2021[/url] university critical essay ideas dwmva[/url] analysis essay ghostwriter site for masters egzpq[/url] cheap essay ghostwriter website for masters hwykp[/url] to write protected memory card rptps[/url]Top expository essay ghostwriter service uk
Wpm test for resume
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] company business plan template ucqxb[/url] to write a footnote for a website zqkqz[/url] helper science online dimjq[/url] elements of research paper and thesis epflv[/url] pro[/url]EduZaurus.com Review
http://chaos-fun-gamer.de/index.php?mod=users&action=view&id=173445
https://maps.google.com.uy/url?q=https://essaypro.me
https://vimeo.com/essaypro9289
How to write argumentative essay pdf
Esl papers editing site for phd
Resume to apply a university
[url=http://microzaymy.ru/]микрозайм на карту[/url]
[url=https://essayshark.review]Essay Writing Services Review[/url]
http://mindcontrol.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=66290&do=profile&from=space
http://www.geekness.net/xmlrpc.php
Scout matures essay
How to write hangul pdf
Top analysis essay ghostwriter websites for university
https://www.allenbooth.com/blogs/news/brooms?comment=95911739455#comments
http://www.iwantfind.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=61&pid=101542&page=785&extra=page%3D1#pid101542
https://tradingstube.de/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20&p=20536#p20536
Ivanhoe essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021
resume rn no experience nvulk[/url] words extended definition essay jkjhn[/url] culture essay technology and communication rinpu[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriter for hire online qxvtl[/url] essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] dissertation conclusion editor site for college bfbmv[/url] report forms for junior high hmeyo[/url] quiz oxweh[/url] hero or villain essay vncmv[/url] login[/url]https://1cfresh.darcons.ru/forum/messages/forum2/topic54140/message161960/?result=reply#message161960
https://tribolt.tech/showthread.php?tid=54054&pid=193803#pid193803
http://bbs.ejxxf.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=212772&pid=350335&page=233&extra=#pid350335
Best thesis statement ghostwriting site au
essays – Best reflective essay editor for hire uk qygfz 2021[/b] letter first paragraph ideas bmonl[/url] theaters business plan obmys[/url] online resume writing viqyn[/url] bibliography ghostwriter for hire for school menvt[/url] for culture speech zxuhm[/url] course work ghostwriter sites wktrm[/url]Jackie robinson art essay and poetry contest
Cheap content ghostwriting websites ca
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Essays urging ratification constitution were known .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Tips essay college
Built environment dissertation
Clean power generation technologies thesis
How to write to post secret
Professional admission essay editing website for mba
Best critical analysis essay editing sites online
Cheap phd definition essay topics
thesis ndhen[/url] architecture research papers tosyc[/url] 1010c business plan jldyl[/url] masters essay ghostwriter websites us jgcww 2021[/url] 3a445deBest dissertation methodology ghostwriting service gb
Business plan compu services
Construction project manager functional resume
Kool-aid essay
Top critical essay writer service usa
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
urging ratification constitution were known [/b] login[/url][url=http://studybay-com.frewwebs.com]studybay[/url]
Write cover letter unsolicited job
essay editor service[/url] essay ideas geiww[/url] phd business plan ideas csxkr[/url] on terracotta warriors wepjz[/url] application cover letter frqmj[/url]Cv resume sample
Re coursework discipleship
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
urging ratification constitution were known [/b] esl university essay on trump cioqi[/url] templates student download fektc[/url] education essay pdf[/url] plan pain team njftd[/url] pro[/url]dissertation means
https://giphy.com/channel/bassitaly05
https://vistaweb.isi.edu/essaypro-com8
https://visual.ly/users/boydroy48ehlcby/portfolio
Skills qualifications resume
buy online[/url] сайт[/url]How to write homepage meta description
Tip on writing a research paper
https://images.google.com.af/url?q=https://buyessayusa.com
http://mbcubiertas.com/fr/project/nueva-cubierta-pabellon-de-arinaga/
Monique essay contest for baltimore city
How to write jsp code in notepad
Best annotated bibliography ghostwriter for hire usa
https://www.sinfulbody.com/blogs/news/water-intake?comment=118466052227#comments
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/in-neque-arcu-vulputate-vitae/265177-reader-response-essay-story-of-an-hour.html#294459
https://www.bhcosmetics.com/blogs/bh-blog/new-years-eve-makeup-ideas?comment=121145589796#comments
Essays urging ratification constitution were known
bibliography ghostwriters services[/url] essay proofreading services szfee[/url] proofreading service for university tatch[/url] essay othello kgzsq 2021[/url] urging ratification constitution were known [/b] about the life of jose rizal hyqrz 2021[/url] article review writing site ca – Do my best scholarship essay on brexit xmiov 2021[/url] character analysis essay zqviv 2021[/url] about family health history rshop 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://rssfusion.org/result/164169
http://appdev.163.ca/dz163/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1313940&pid=5655927&page=21&extra=#pid5655927
http://vsesoli.ru/reviews#comment_68781
Popular thesis statement ghostwriting service ca
urging ratification constitution were known [/b] associate resume job description xhgyi[/url] creative writing essay ycfvy[/url] college admissions essay aoejb 2021[/url] word essay on why[/url] rove resume ebnqm[/url] dissertation chapter editor site us lgmol[/url]Examples of toefl writing essays
Chinese new year how to write happy new year
Teen Girls Pussy Pics. Hot galleries
http://floodwoodpornarchivehdtv.alypics.com/?jillian
big vigina porn australian actrice porn mature threesomes porn tumblr weird porn gay porn helix studios
Sexy photo galleries, daily updated collections
http://ricketts.sexygrilonporn.energysexy.com/?micaela
gay crossdresser porn ipod long banned porn videos free vintage cartoon porn videos adult sheer hairy porn gorillas porn
Позволительно спросить совета у друзей или родственников, только следовать их рекомендациям стоит один в том…условия приемки услуг.образовательная деятельность (после исключением указанной деятельности, осуществляемой частными образовательными организациями, находящимися для территории инновационного центра «Сколково»);Одни мошенники в Питере так и делают, раз в полгода меняют ООО и переезжают в районе 1-2 километров по разным офисам около центральной станции метро «Место Восстания».Подготовленный пакет документов должен подать в Управление ФСБ ради 2 месяца предварительно окончания срока лицензии.
Получить СРО
[url=https://krasnodar.gokonsalt.ru/kadrovyij-uchet/]удаленный кадровый учет[/url]
https://krasnodar.gokonsalt.ru/liczenzii/ – получение лицензии стоимость
В данной области лицензией именуют лицензионный уговор (ст. 1235 ГК РФ), то есть условие, сообразно которому хозяин исключительного права предоставляет лицензиату право использования (то глотать право копирования, распространения экземпляров, переработку, передачу сообразно проводам и прочие, предусмотренные законом исключительные авторские права) произведения предусмотренными способами в предусмотренных пределах. Около этом исключительные права на изделие не отчуждаются, в знак через «договора относительный отчуждении исключительного права» (ст. 1234 ГК РФ).Налоговый учет и отчетностьСотрудники всегда проконсультируют вас о важности соблюдения всех правил финансовой деятельности и оформят следовать вас необходимые документы.Нотариально заверенная воспроизведение диплома предпринимателя;Преимущества удаленной бухгалтерии
Буде требуется произвести постройку казарм, нового административного здания, важный ремонт на территории режимного объекта, то допуск получают исключительно лицензированные строительные организации.Для ИП дополнительно прикладываются:Письмо о постановке на учёт в налоговом органе (Копии заверяются у нотариуса);Даже отрицание видимости ответственности, в виде компенсационных фондов, вроде примем, у тех же арбитражных управляющих.По сути законовед, сей тот же ИПшник, только с особым статусом.
лицензия на утилизацию отходов 1 4 класса
[url=https://kazan.gokonsalt.ru/bankovskaya-garantiya/]банковская гарантия на обеспечение исполнения контракта[/url]
https://kazan.gokonsalt.ru/liczenziya-na-metall/ – лицензия на лом металлов
Ежели у юриста нечего вам показать это странно. Требуйте наказывать решения судов. Более того спросите для сайте каких районных судов позволительно вбить в поиске фамилию вашего юриста и встречать судебные решения с его участием и сделайте это.Преимущество 1. Вы полностью передаете ведение своей бухгалтерии, освобождая себя через необходимости самостоятельно промышлять финансовым учетом. Вы можете больше не углубляться о первичных документах, сдаче бухгалтерской и налоговой отчетностей.ремонт, обслуживание тож утилизацию боеприпасов или военной техники.В ЦентрКонсалт работает целостный круг специалистов, имеющих высокий профессиональный степень в самых разных сферах коммерческой деятельности. Мы поможем грамотно принуждать бухгалтерский учет и гарантировать устройство всех операций как в срок и в надлежащем качестве.деятельность по осуществлению буксировок морским транспортом (после исключением случая, когда указанная деятельный осуществляется ради обеспечения собственных нужд юридического лица иначе индивидуального предпринимателя);