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 PAPER WRITING HELP?
Resume stanford .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Process essay on how to play football
Esl university essay ghostwriters websites us
Critical analysis essay writers websites au
Cheap custom essay ghostwriting websites au
How to write a cv grad school application
Certified welder sample resume
Esl creative essay editor services au
examples maintenance technician grotu[/url] creative writing editor website for school vccmg 2021[/url] argumentative essay editor sites au dztkc[/url] assistance boston ma usrga[/url] 10_5c2e20 ebooks that teach you how to write music
Custom admission essay ghostwriters service for college
Marketing advertising resume
Classification essay drunken brawler
Sample of a good short essay
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
stanford [/b][url=http://studybay-com.timeblog.net]studybay[/url]
]
dewey online essays zmteq[/url] reference in apa lolde[/url] to put salary requirements in a cover letter fixnj[/url] writers websites for mba mblww 2021[/url] proposal editing websites usa eokmc[/url]Esl research paper writers websites for college
Professional homework writer websites gb
Lisamarie miramontes dissertation
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
stanford [/b] accounting essay ogogx[/url] sedaris collection of essays tiqku 2021[/url] for fine jewelry sales snwwr[/url] electrical maintenance engineer zdtwm 2021[/url] pro[/url]dissertation vita
http://howwevacation.com/community/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=studybay
http://arcanum.konghack.com/index.php?title=Essaypro_essayprocom
http://gematodiatrofi.hua.gr/wiki/index.php?title=EssayTyper_essaytypercom
Top creative essay on usa
loans online[/url]Pay to do best reflective essay on usa
Paper presentation websites
]
https://www.ckcomunicacion.com/web-ideal-para-mi-negocio/
https://hernandoeducationfoundation.org/forums/users/edubirdiecom/
Cheap phd blog
Do my management letter
Pay to do marketing research proposal
https://www.con-vergence.com/quote/?cf_er=_cf_process_609d2f815f40b
http://www.division-gaming.net/test2000/index.php/forum/2-welcome-mat/3049698-write-a-descriptive-essay-powerpoint#3049698
http://www.sicilyyachtagency.com/forum/donec-eu-elit/265499-best-admission-essay-ghostwriters-websites-for-mba.html#294859
Resume stanford
resume flight attendant tlegx[/url] personal statement writing site for mba yvgic[/url] resume paper walmart – Other skills resume section zoltr 2021[/url] format reference list textbook pkmlf 2021[/url] stanford [/b] essays for scholarship cnakx[/url] to write a pixel shader evidq 2021[/url] resume promoter qmimy 2021[/url] dissertation abstract writers sites usa vjufc 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://www.sentiens.us/home-page/novus1?unapproved=20201&moderation-hash=9b067dec7662db11269da1e1e7a21c33#main#comment-20201
http://self-test.ufoproger.ru/test/default/view/19#comment-177032
http://nazarbek.asia/ru/node/11?page=7710#comment-385572
Two page resume format example
stanford [/b] annotated bibliography proofreading websites us txkqj[/url] to write a screenplay synopsis qxlls[/url] presentation proofreading websites uk umrzb[/url] code essay papers wxcnj[/url] diving essay summary – Esl thesis proposal writer sites au ofeac 2021[/url] critical thinking skills zanfc 2021[/url]Critical thinking videos
Weekly homework packets
Sexy teen photo galleries
skinny porn pictures porn for wmp girl servent porn free lesbian no sign up porn nature loving russian twinks xxx pornhttp://milfordporn.jsutandy.com/?aaliyah
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Resume of system administrator .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Hotmail search and resume database
Resume cosmetic weschester retail
Literature review writers for hire us
Thesis statement for history and memory
Help me write composition content
Top school essay proofreading for hire au
Labelling theory essay
to do communication biography lxfli[/url] resume dish network commercial vnxxg[/url] academic essay ghostwriting for hire us[/url] i broke my leg essay[/url] dca10_fCustom research proposal writers websites for phd
Free essays on into the wild
Unix administrator pa resume jobs postings
Sina valadkhan thesis
Free essay on prescription drug abuse
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
of system administrator [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=http://studybay-com.onesmablog.com]studybay[/url]
]
sentimentale resume[/url] of theoretical framework in thesis opzci 2021[/url] online essay scorer tghgt[/url] duncan resume commercials zjeqd[/url] caulfield catcher in the rye essay lqnwr[/url]Popular creative essay editor websites us
Order family and consumer science dissertation conclusion
Sample resume for senior manager marketing
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
of system administrator [/b] letter for hr administrator job ipbra[/url] cover letter samples dbfvb[/url] bears homework hassle – Nietzsche on the genealogy of morals first essay xmftg 2021[/url] rubric essay question[/url]MasterPapers.com Review
]
https://ai-db.science/wiki/Everything_about_Payday_Loans_Online_USA
https://www.google.co.uz/url?q=http://author24.ru.com
http://www.ahbbs.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=520794
Cliff database essay free note paper sociology term
Popular dissertation results writers site usa
Make resume in indesign
[url=http://ecologia.belpromocenka.by/]санитарно защитная зона предприятия[/url]
[url=http://aviasakles.ru]aviasales.ru[/url]
http://alturl.com/hk9ur
https://www.underarmouroutlet.cc/index.php?action=profile&u=3439
Essay classroom management plan
Esl creative essay ghostwriting services usa
Implementing a heterogeneous network thesis pdf
https://www.ghanzibrand.com/blogs/news-1/offshoot-project-with-remi-fargier?comment=123752579123#comments
https://sneakerbinge.com/blogs/news/top-5-kanye-west-yeezy-sneakers?comment=125854548045#comments
http://www.vintagegibsonforum.com/index.php?threads/book-report-english-novels.123479/
Resume of system administrator
literature review writers website ca pykui[/url] user interface resume dsjly[/url] et iseult resume du chapitre 2 ahmdm[/url] to do best definition essay[/url] of system administrator [/b] of the d39urbervilles essay ensiq[/url] beyond mountains essay help mgpih[/url] persuasive essay writers sites zejag[/url] term paper editor service us saxnl[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://flextechgroup.com/why-install-a-voip-phone-system/?unapproved=97740&moderation-hash=984dac4095a818f4dcfc34d0dd9819cb#comment-97740
https://nubestsalon.com/blogs/latest-news/13491093-tame-frizzy-hair?comment=126500667551#comments
https://shopdefinefoods.com/blogs/news/4239432-erins-new-blog-juiceboks?comment=124258058416#comments
Esl course work writing website for college
of system administrator [/b] mary anne fields tykel[/url] article proofreading sites for school kuizu 2021[/url] to do cheap paper – Cheap homework ghostwriters website au qkttn 2021[/url] art resume[/url] a procedures manual[/url] active verbs in a resume – Sales and marketing resume work years mvgdl 2021[/url]Dissertation works cited
Write a java program to create calculator
Доброго времени суток господа!
Минеральные удобрения применяются уже десятки лет и подтвердили свою эффективность на практике. Перед тем, как приобретать удобрение, чтобы определить, чего конкретно не хватает в почве на ваших сотках – используйте лакмусовые индикаторные бумажки для определения кислотности почвы. И после этого, осознанно выбирайте необходимое удобрение, концентрат и регулятор кислотности для почвы. Kristalon разработал современные эргономичные составы минеральных удобрений и выпускаются в форме водорастворимых кристаллов и сбалансированным составом макро/микро элементов. Помимо увеличения роста растений, плоды, полученные с этих культур спокойно можно добавлять в детские и диетические блюда, что показывает максимальный уровень безопасности для здоровья. Для улучшения общего состава почвенного состава на вашем участке могут послужить комплексные минеральные удобрения, мелиоранты, гуминовые удобрения. Дополнительная подкормка и защита также помогут вам в борьбе за урожай и цветущий сад.
Нам будет приятно видеть у нас на вебресурсе
От всей души Вам всех благ!
https://forum.l2mars.com/index.php?/topic/13216-%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%BA%D0%B8/
https://www.emrald.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=693788
http://wildkids.biz/user/agrohimuzw/
http://vnsharing.site/forum/member.php?u=2066522
http://www.host199.com/space-uid-134989.html
Custom problem solving proofreading sites uk .
Proceed to Order!!! https://maps.google.ms/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
UYhjhgTDkJHVy
Girls of Desire: All babes in one place, crazy, art
http://dreammoivespornellington.moesexy.com/?zoe
throat gagging porn porn angilina young teen video porn thumbs blowjobs porn videos mature fun porn