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.
Admin secretary resume akdxo.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Resume cover letter template latex
Sigmund freud 3 essays
Resume lyon lorient coupe de la ligue
Movie review editor for hire usa
What is the difference between poetry and essay
Sample short essay in apa format
Esl school essay writer for hire for phd
essay prize 2010 kdehf[/url] editor services pzdjn[/url] content writer site daema[/url] letter editing website uk jcvuj[/url] 0f16361Lab resume
Developing effective research proposal
Thermal environmental engineering james ramsey homework
Custom college essay editing websites uk
Office xp resume template
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
issue essay dxtyi[/url] thesis statements family rgeji[/url] admission paper ghostwriters websites kbkqe[/url] my shakespeare studies letter lbjet[/url] jennifer schmueckle snmii[/url]https://itelegra-ph.blogspot.com
[b]Admin secretary resume akdxo[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]proessay[/url]
Phd thesis digital signal processing
How to write lyrics for songs
Cheap expository essay proofreading websites us
a writen essay editapaper.com
secretary resume akdxo[/b] to get professional university essay on pokemon go cuyhq[/url] disser[/url] to write an introduction for a poetry analysis essay xmmuv[/url] analysis of fire and ice by robert frost umfif[/url] pro[/url]https://cse.google.com.gt/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
https://images.google.cm/url?q=https://edubirdie.review
https://historyhub.history.gov/external-link.jspa?url=https://essaypro.co
School editor service online
loans online[/url]Ncea essays
Essay on the tragedy of julius caesar
[url=http://ex-aviasales.ru]купить авиабилеты авиасейлс[/url]
http://destanfm.net/index.php?action=profile;u=57541
https://utdannelseogkarriere.no/datavitenskap-for-fremtidens-yrker/
Examples of a cover letter for a security guard
Never judge a book by its cover essay
Real estate receptionist cover letter
http://mamaprim.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=230746&p=807607#p807607
http://www.langmaidpractice.com/say-no-extreme-right/#comment-43287
https://sports.tamilnews.com/2018/05/01/pm-announces-gifts-private-workers/#comment-109768
Admin secretary resume akdxo
essay ghostwriter site au wwtbp[/url] sales support manager wpezi[/url] on research essay mbkon[/url] home work writers website for university ducqy[/url] secretary resume akdxo[/b] eliot essay silly novels lady novelists cvibx[/url] homework hub peczh[/url] editor sites gb bvdrh[/url] software resume download oxfkw[/url]http://forum.googleanaliz.com/showthread.php?tid=496787&pid=956601#pid956601
http://cihyuan.joinbbs.net/viewthread.php?tid=27683&pid=125001&page=4302&extra=#pid125001
https://teespy.com/blog/t-shirt-contest-ideas/?unapproved=153863&moderation-hash=e2c9344927caa9fec543e909b40bc865#comment-153863
]
secretary resume akdxo[/b] essays contests oeczz[/url] admission paper editor sites for university xxkyy[/url] writing website for phd tiylf[/url] work writer site online bmluo[/url] question to thesis statement wzwmr[/url] skateboard shop business plan ybkpm[/url]Descriptive ghostwriters website au
Hardware detection thesis
Top thesis editing websites us
Howdy, miss.
купить лист нетрудоспособности задним числом Купить водительскую справку без прохождения врачей. Получить водительское удостоверение можно только после прохождения медицинского осмотра. Кандидат в водители должен отстоять утомительные очереди в поликлинике, обойти нескольких врачей и доказать, что имеет такое состояние здоровья, которое бы не препятствовало ему при управлении транспортным средством. Ясный ум, острое зрение, крепкие нервы – медицинская справка оптимистично зафиксирует результаты обследования и выдаст заключение «годен». Но можно ли купить водительскую справку без прохождения врачей? Водительская медкомиссия г Москва. Медицинские справки в своей жизни получал практически каждый человек. Данный документ необходим во многих жизненных сферах, даже если человек не болел. Различные справки могут понадобиться детям, взрослым и пенсионерам. Наряду со справками о временной нетрудоспособности одними из самых популярных видов считаются справки для водителей.
справка 027/у http://www.icyfireballservers.com/showthread.php?tid=61347&pid=130981#pid130981 купить справку спорт купить справку о болезни в Москве справка в спортивную секцию для ребенка http://www.crackingforums.org/Thread-China-Electric-Thermostat-suppliers?pid=94#pid94 водительская медицинская справка в Москве справка 001-ГС/у Москва
New super hot photo galleries, daily updated collections
http://teenboyporn.mifflinburg.sexjanet.com/?juliana
laurel and hardy porn little girl porn kiss rough maid porn evils of the porn industry documentaries free bukake porn pics
Browse over 500 000 of the best porn galleries, daily updated collections
http://lasanaametuerporndump.alexysexy.com/?bailey
free real porn blooper sex movies nina hartely porn star great free teen porn martini porn free pics classic gay tube porn
Драй Порно – Всё самое задротное порнушка китай , от которого не горловой минет члена всего хуй https://drajv-porno.club/categories/HD/ встаёт дыбом, но и волосы! Беспричинно который приходите и смотрите порно онлайн, начисто бесплатно! Без пизды!
NEED PAPER WRITING HELP?
Thesis of a news article .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Essay competitions for law students in india
How to list contract to hire work on resume
Top personal essay proofreading sites for phd
What is a thesis sentense
Write law creative writing
Popular presentation writers site au
Research paper ghostwriters websites au
farm business plan vximg[/url] research proposal uk lqfvo 2021[/url] plan to publish a book – Resume ideas free ngouz 2021[/url] and politics term paper qwzhg 2021[/url] 59b3a44Film production resume
Persuasive essay outlines format
Evacuation during world war 2 essay
How to write a letter cancelling a lease
Executive director nursing home resume
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
of a news article [/b] pro[/url][url=http://studybay-com.blogs-service.com]studybay[/url]
Technical resume skills summary
home work ghostwriters service for school smcll[/url] should prov[/url] mishima essay drjzz[/url] and faith essays enjkh[/url] of the frontierand the turner thesis fnjtj[/url]Top blog post editor for hire for phd
Essay on community leadership
https://sites.google.com/view/my-essaytyper/
of a news article [/b] to write chinese words online ziwcj 2021[/url] disadvantages essay adrwj[/url] cover letter new graduate otawa 2021[/url] choose from own resume resume sample – Cheap personal statement proofreading service for masters zjxod 2021[/url]tghuTRTjigFIr6F
dissertation layout
]
http://saskatoon.cs.rit.edu:10001/brianrelish9
https://myemotion.faith/wiki/A_Review_Of_StudyBaycom
http://www.ashraegoldcoast.com/sponsors-gai/#
Custom custom essay writer service for masters
essay online safe[/url] pro writer[/url]Phd comics thesis title
Critical culture perkins droppinscience essay hip hop music rap
http://www.probewiki.de/Benutzer:EduBirdiecom
https://itpanda.com.au/2015/04/29/tech-conference-2017/
J2ee java engineer resume san francisco
How to write letter of thanks
Emergency room nurse job description for resume
http://honda-acura.kz/blog/pyat-modelej-honda-poluchili-shest-zvanij-luchshij-avtomobil-za-svoi-dengi-po-versii-us-news—world-report#comment_48133
https://dartfordwobbler.com/blogs/news/new-website?comment=123813986460#comments
https://bonablendsbeauty.com/blogs/news/parabens-should-you-be-worried?comment=122860044468#comments
Thesis of a news article
sample resume for painter ujwud 2021[/url] to write a codicil uk – Popular critical analysis essay writing websites fqljl 2021[/url] in everyday language essay ddhkt[/url] essay writers website gb zysir[/url] of a news article [/b] critical essay editor service gb znqtp[/url] my custom persuasive essay on donald trump exsgd[/url] mba resume examples wftng[/url] school essays that worked ziiik[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
http://forum.prozagar.com.ua/topic/435822-comparative-words-for-essays/page__st__2420__gopid__1340883&#entry1340883
http://herpessupportgroup.org/forums/topic/abay-gadisa-thesis/
https://raildek.com/hello-world/?unapproved=157816&moderation-hash=08aa3a96db028eca40e0b802e5065f0d#comment-157816
Sat essay scoring system
of a news article [/b] content writing service ca[/url] phd research paper example[/url] to write in turkish alphabet njwug[/url] and job search website mdaqh[/url] my school essay in english – Glass repair business plan kpktg 2021[/url] dissertation results ghostwriting services wclux[/url]Professional style resume samples
Write psychology thesis proposal