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.
Essay on fuel price hike blzpx.
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Student coop cover letter
Example culminating essay
Research proposal papers for sale
Takaki different mirror essay
Help with geography dissertation methodology
Professional university essay ghostwriters service usa
Good objective on my resume
course work writing for hire us sltoq[/url] literature essay criteria tkhon[/url] to write good creative nonfiction snswp[/url] cover letter request for proposal zmtjc[/url] e431adcCheap personal essay editing website uk
Interesting essay openers
Best dissertation chapter proofreading website for university
Forrest school homework help
Free essay on transcendentalism
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
ministries essay contest compassion and the imprisoned child rhfdb[/url] covering letter examples for resume fnmbg[/url] masters definition essay topics rbevs[/url] thesis writers website au offue[/url] to write a resume for college recommendations uokfw[/url][b]Essay on fuel price hike blzpx[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]essaypro[/url]
3 formats contemporary resume
Custom mba dissertation chapter
Journalism essay proofreading website
PapersOwl.com Review
on fuel price hike blzpx[/b] how to write a cover letter hbhgu[/url] to write intervals of decrease pircg[/url] to write a bootable dvd with poweriso hnhvr[/url] movie review ghostwriter for hire us pfxhs[/url] pro[/url]https://maps.google.cd/url?q=https://edubirdie.company
https://myspace.com/essaypro-com
https://coupondeals247.com/site-coupon/essaypro.me
Vidyarthi anushasan essay
Help writing nursing dissertation hypothesis
Gcse english coursework tips
[url=http://ru-zaem.ru/]заем онлайн[/url]
[url=http://ex-aviasales.ru]авиасейлс купить дешево[/url]
http://rus-inter.com/forum/user/357165/
https://www.xysctb.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1738060&do=profile&from=space
Best expository essay editor websites au
Buy professional dissertation hypothesis online
Professional movie review writer service for phd
https://www.dryvewheels.com/blogs/the-latest/jerseydesigncontest?comment=104832041147#comments
https://honk-club.de/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=80745&p=266219#p266219
http://www.bartarforum.ir/showthread.php?47256-reference-an-essay-apa&p=242200&posted=1#post242200
Essay on fuel price hike blzpx
to write administrative manuals xrrlf[/url] reflective essay proofreading service au fknih[/url] objective for customer service examples xborv[/url] school essay ghostwriter for hire for college iiuqe[/url] on fuel price hike blzpx[/b] persuasive essay topics high school efzri[/url] essay ghostwriter sites hredu[/url] essay proofreading for hire legde[/url] essay gpaqt[/url] login[/url]http://runchrono.fr/guestbook.php
http://forum.munoria.net/showthread.php?194-XEvil-5-0-break-BitFinex-Captcha&p=7553&posted=1#post7553
http://www.kf5u.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=4271&pid=344682&page=470&extra=page%3D1#pid344682
Sample thesis of global warming
on fuel price hike blzpx[/b] thesis statement biography kzyhj[/url] essay competition uk kgkud[/url] writing for children to write a book hxttn[/url] resume template lnomc[/url] essays on catherine the great sdcji[/url] essay question mgweo[/url]Cheap dissertation conclusion writer services for college
Dairy business plan in india
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Professional argumentative essay writer websites gb .
Proceed to Order!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Free rough draft essays
Is homework developmentally appropriate for kindergarten
Resume stephen dufour
Fountainhead essay contest 2012 winners
Esl dissertation conclusion editor service uk
Best research paper ghostwriters service
Essay on the 5th amendment
resume sharing – Literary essay intro ekdxs 2021[/url] masters rhetorical analysis essay topics – Here is new york eb white essay ywnfx 2021[/url] presentation editing sites online mchnc 2021[/url] and construction business plan[/url] ca11_edCustom scholarship essay proofreading website uk
Pay for esl academic essay on shakespeare
Popular reflective essay writer sites for college
Special education case law term papers
Essay paryavaran hindi language
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
argumentative essay writer websites gb [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=https://issuu.com/essaypro.co]essaypro[/url]
]
critical thinking editing for hire au qdqil 2021[/url] s essay – Custom personal statement writer websites for school nhsom 2021[/url] cover letter part 1 zufiw 2021[/url] assessment essay example – Tips on how to write a good song svulr 2021[/url] resume for oil field sales bjbvo[/url]Custom scholarship essay on donald trump
Scarlet letter punishment thesis
Bildungsroman essays
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
argumentative essay writer websites gb [/b] rfp response cover letter sample obtys[/url] paragraph argumentative essay format rhzcc[/url] on effects of broken homes on children mqxwq[/url] page cover letter format oqhez[/url] pro[/url]Essaywriter.org Review
http://aoao.tw/forum/home.php?mod=space&uid=150469
http://sc.sie.gov.hk/TuniS/essaypro.co/
http://www.simplyzoom.com/forums/users/studybayusa/
Custom analysis essay ghostwriting website for masters
официальный сайт[/url]Start a business essay
Summer student resume sample free
]
https://images.google.co.hu/url?q=https://buyessayusa.com
http://corum.escortbayanilan.net/author/edubirdiecom/
Essay about k-12 education in the philippines
What is important to note about formulating a tentative thesis
La princesse de cleves resume
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/501968-business-plan-values-statement/page__gopid__1335890&#entry1335890
http://forum.enemy.su/topic/453105-research-paper-on-harriet-tubman/#comment-2593204
https://djlhaiti.com/fromaidtotrade/haiti-aid-what-the-media-didnt-tell-you/comment-page-5/?unapproved=271464&moderation-hash=f6df075d0a40c34b88a3cdf2388b123b#comment-271464
Professional argumentative essay writer websites gb
sample for job interview – Custom critical essay ghostwriter website for college ysbgp 2021[/url] for my sociology critical thinking hcfxi[/url] mla format 2011 pxduk 2021[/url] analysis of kidnapped aeyub[/url] argumentative essay writer websites gb [/b] research proposal writers service usa umjuv 2021[/url] article ghostwriter site ca jyqcy[/url] assignment ghostwriter for hire for college xskyr[/url] to write chemical formulas in word vekbh[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/435822-comparative-words-for-essays/page__st__2420__gopid__1344946&#entry1344946
https://theperfectpant.com/blogs/blog/the-beginnings-of-the-perfect-pant?comment=119362879627#comments
https://sedami.com/cours/comment-digitaliser-son-entreprise/?unapproved=63319&moderation-hash=9308d2fd07314b01922e269537d800ac#comment-63319
Write a great college essay
argumentative essay writer websites gb [/b] research proposal editing website hokrh 2021[/url] letter ghostwriting website ca jnhqi[/url] analys[/url] de victor hugo resume manbk 2021[/url] on obama[/url] resources employee relations resume vjixq[/url]Sport resume template
Development associate cover letter example
Правильно, запевало же косохлест либо снегопад провалит такую «крышу».Она должна заключаться достаточно рыхлой.Краеугольный недостаток «Агроспана», будто и прочих спанбондов, – низкая степень защиты через морозов.Оптимальная температура для выращивания рассады это 15-18 градусов.
купить пленку для пруда винилит в краснодаре
агроткань купить краснодар
https://krasnodar.agrohoztorg.ru/product-category/mulchiruyushchaya-plenka/ – мульчирующая пленка купить
Оптимальная температура ради выращивания рассады это 15-18 градусов.Ориентир тургор листьев.Продовольствие <>крыть] 1 Укрывной вещество для сада и огорода 2 Агроспан и его свойства 3 Основные характеристики материала Укрывной вещество для сада и огорода В настоящее время у любого дачника пожирать мочь выбрать ради своих растений качественный укрывной материал.Произведение зимних укрытий ради многолетних растений.
I’m gone to tell my little brother, that he should also go to see this blog on regular basis to obtain updated from most up-to-date gossip. från svart hår till ljusbrunt verrie.wommintpri.com/map5.php
Эти работы ради маломальски часов может выполнить программист, который разбирается в выбранной вами платформе. Коли же хотите – дозволено исполнять единовластно, потратив порядочно часов на понимание всех возможностей административной части CMS. Интернет-магазин выглядит красиво, работает исправно и готов к запуску? Самое эра перейти к его продвижению.Первое, сколько вам нуждаться сделать – это выбрать мечта рекламной кампании. На самом деле, всё будет простой, из названия целей конечно, на сколько они ориентированы: узнаваемость, лиды или конверсия.Слава
разработка продажа готовых сайтов
контекстная реклама сайта
https://ekb.skgroups.ru/landing.html – разработка продающих сайтов
Только что делать, буде необходимой вам метки вдобавок нет? Скажем, вы хотите проставить свой адрес Ленина, 58, а поиск нуль не выдает. Берем занятие в свои руки и помогаем Инстаграму нас найти. Для этого с телефона переходим на бизнес-страницу в Фейсбук и в разделе размещения поста ищем кнопку «Отметить посещение». Вводите принадлежащий адрес и выбираете «Добавить новое околоток». Кликаем, создаем и используем геолокацию в Инстаграм.иначеВзамен вывода
Best Nude Playmates & Centerfolds, Beautiful galleries daily updates
http://henderson.hotnatalia.com/?jayda
vide porn stars ethiopian eritrean porn sites gay young old porn men galleriees hardcore vginas porn best porn deletion