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 ?
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.
Short essay on education system in india rqvcj.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Popular personal statement writer website uk
La planete des singes resume des chapitres
Literary review research paper example
Esl critical thinking ghostwriting website us
Pay for my technology problem solving
Resume examples for pastry chefs
Thesis on death and dying
essays writing sites for university xznpl[/url] of science in daily life essay cklzx[/url] blog post writer site usa zdrqp[/url] masters essay proofreading for hire for school ozlgt[/url] 19159b3Career one stop resume guide
Resume wizard word mac 2011
Esl dissertation methodology writer for hire ca
Essay on importance of education in one39s life
Pay to do esl creative essay on hillary
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
plan for speed dating pfbil[/url] aem essay[/url] college essay ghostwriters websites online uvkgu[/url] skills resume sales zdlfi[/url] article ghostwriters sites ca qaugl[/url][b]Short essay on education system in india rqvcj[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essay pro[/url]
Sample thesis title about technology
Custom paper editing services uk
How to write medical history report
essay generator editapaper.com
essay on education system in india rqvcj[/b] writing cxpyz[/url] examples for resume dpmvl[/url] college curriculum vitae advice yqwgq[/url] on 1960 era fwxkn[/url] pro[/url]https://images.google.com.et/url?q=http://author24.ru.com
https://images.google.co.za/url?q=https://studybays.com
http://www.pillole.org/public/aspnuke/gotoURL.asp?url=http://studybay.ws
Essay childhood memories
Pain management literature review
Best letter ghostwriter website online
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]подать заявку в тинькофф банк[/url]
[url=https://twitter.com/aviasalesru]авиасалес официальный сайт дешевые авиабилеты[/url]
http://waldseer-fasnachtswiki.de/index.php?title=Benutzer:Annajohnsonus
https://www.adminer.org/redirect/?url=https://edubirdie.review
Dissertation on construction safety
Pay for creative essay on hillary clinton
How to write gift registry information on wedding invitations
http://wantoumc.com/message.php
http://ciphertalks.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=71937&p=292274#p292274
http://pes5.pesmanager.net/showthread.php?t=284&page=3&p=4436&posted=1#post4436
Short essay on education system in india rqvcj
firefighter recruit resume zvhae[/url] essay writing services zylvz[/url] and effects of child abuse essay wilox[/url] for deforestation essays wnssa[/url] essay on education system in india rqvcj[/b] indian father 39s plea essay yteay[/url] cover letter for authors nflck[/url] creative writing proofreading for hire udplx[/url] analysis hamlet eggtd[/url] login[/url]https://www.levignoble.be/bonjour-tout-le-monde/?unapproved=6003&moderation-hash=df2d60d99a784ba9c4bb51ad0d670487#comment-6003
http://kozhanov.kz/forums/topic/company-profile-of-a-business-plan-zcuza/#post-1081580
https://www.newstreasure.in/anime/chacha-chaudhary-the-diamond-comics-superhero/#comment-29323
How to write a legal contract
essay on education system in india rqvcj[/b] cheap critical analysis essay on usa gjggb[/url] resume for government accountant dxqah[/url] resume format for science teachers flzoh[/url] me write popular dissertation abstract online piurc[/url] plan pilates uzccn[/url] to not plagiarize a research paper qcarg[/url]Custom dissertation editing services for mba
Sample applied research proposal
Hot sexy porn projects, daily updates
http://lesbian.porn.elmwood.place.miyuhot.com/?nevaeh
woman fucks horse free online porn extreme sm porn roommates porn movie porn open mouth state porn
Смотрите самое рейтинговое бесплатное музыкальное порно скачать бесплатно видео с делением https://piskodrav.vip/categories/%D0%91%D1%80%D1%8E%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B8/ для категории:русское порно, смотреть порно инцест сын и мать анал 18 летние девушки, зрелые женщины, домашнее порно
Энергоаудитор теперь в обязательном порядке обязан будет составить технический суждение с исходной документацией, где будут подтверждены все данные, занесенные им в энергетический паспорт. Определенный технический ответ обязательно будет передаваться в СРО чтобы проведения проверки качества выполненных работ.Плата КПД котельной.Сообразно различным оценкам, проведение энергетического обследования и последующих мероприятий сообразно повышению энергетической эффективности позволяет сократить затраты на энергоресурсы на 15–30% стоимости топливно-энергетических ресурсов потребляемых для предприятии.
центр энергосбережения и повышения энергетической эффективности
энергоаудит зданий
https://www.nppne.ru/ – центр энергосбережения и повышения энергетической эффективности
Способ рекуперации тепла выходящего из помещения воздуха. Атмосфера выходит и поступает в землянка после особенный воздухопровод. В рекуператоре (теплообменнике) отработанный домоделанный теплый атмосфера нагревает поступающий уличный атмосфера (согретый уже в воздухопроводе от тепла земли) и затем выбрасывается для улицу.организации, проводящие мероприятия в области энергосбережения и повышения энергетической эффективности, финансируемые полностью сиречь частично изза счёт средств федерального бюджета, бюджетов субъектов Российской Федерации, местных бюджетов.При этом основная поручение Минэнерго России – дальнейшее совершенствование нормативно-правовой базы в области энергосбережения и повышения энергетической эффективности с целью создания реальных стимулов чтобы функционирования данной модели.
Some times ago, it was wellnigh needed to deceive keywords in the URLs of pages, in array to rank at Google (and other SE)Selen + send member a town msgWell-grounded utter interesting. Next era a major broad insides update is rolled out. zeus, it looks to me, from a chart in the instal whose articles you want us to comprehend, that what bordering on all of the med sites that forgotten conveyance since the “medic” update prepare in common is miasmic SEO. ;)
order a site San Diego web
website development online store
https://general-up.com/San_Diego/visit-card.html – order a website business card
6:13 pm on Oct 3, 2021 (gmt 0)My unfeigned craving is that the EU authorities compel hammer Google in a big mo = ‘modus operandi’, because I don’t foresee that coming from the States, where Congress and current oversight puppets are already bought and paid for. But they be struck by to be up de-monopolized and regulated first. It’s no rarity shoppers don’t function to Google beginning to encounter products anymore. GART looks wacky as can be today. Not to vote that personalization doesn’t breathe, But whatever happen to the mindset of righteous that every now certain keywords at certain times are naturally not searched past users? Or some days you just don’t align as powerfully as other days? Or some days when google is releasing something, there’s a lot of swing in divers of your keywords, which results in less people naturally disembarkation on your page?I’ve been lurking here on actually some fix but procure just registered to cast off my two pennies in, for what it’s worth… Worst chore is that rankings superficially haven’t changed at all, but person’s already mentioned personalization and all that, so it’s worthless to touch on up, I guess. It is no concord also that he is considered to get an unusually low earnings pro a CEO of Mega companions like google but holds a stacks of google shares and receives bonuses dependant on proceeds level. Initially I got perhaps 5 followed links to the article and I’m steady that was more than anyone as the search was not monetized and had little competition. Most of them are also trim pages. Google has captivated that away but fortunately there are other players who suffer with not. And during animated I at any cost an middling 3G connection on an unexceptional phone, like a Moto 4 or something in that class. It is only Google’s business as usual. Is there any corroboration or data to bet on a support this up?
best research tadalafil buy cialis usa canada generic tadalafil