Free1souls Weblog

WestIndianSpitfireSpeaks. — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:55:40 +0000

My Hair Journey

WestIndianSpitfireSpeaks. — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:51:49 +0000

I’ve been thinking alot about the journey I’ve been on for the past few years. The decision to go Natural, has been an interesting life changing experience. The experience of actually going from the perm to the Natural style as a black woman is quite an intersting one. From my mom’s constant nonsupportive, non understanding bantar to the requent stares of my peers my journey taught me more abut myself than I ever thought I would learn by simply not perming my hair anymore. I got my first perm when I was 12 years old, officially intiated into the Black womanhood. My father greatly opposed my getting a perm but couldn’t hold my mom back any longer, as she was completely tired of fighting with my thick, unruly hair. I remeber my desire to have this perm. The othergirls in my class had had perms for years, but coming from a West Indian background my family did things a little differently. I ached for that creamy white burning sloution to be on my head. When I finally ot my wish there was twinge of sadness for what was lost. Even then I knew my dad had a bit of truth in his wish for me not to perm my hair. It was more about accepting myself as I was, rather than black pride but i suppose its all coming from the same place anyway. Its all about Self Love. When i washed my hair free of all the chemicals and looked into the mirror, water dripping down my nose…I felt so pretty. The smoothness of my hair that I had always wanted to achieve but never could quite get with the hotcomb, was there. I loved it. When I went school all i recieved was complements. I finally had the look of all the other girls, I fianlly felt like I was one of them. That was 6th grade. By the 9th rade I was out of The Catholic school environment slowly trying to undo all the damage it did. I was always uneasy with my decision to perm my hair and as I learned more about my culture, about what wonderful people we are as Africans and I heard people speak about their love for themselves and their hair, I started to consider that I made the wrong choice. As a poet, people around me were more in touch with self, as I began to listen to spoken word artist I learned so much about myself and the beleifs I held dear. I really started to question how I wore my hair. Suddenly it mattered so much to me the perseption I gave to People as i walked around with chemically straighted hair. Why did so many black women do this? Do white people think I want to be like them? That was the thought that horrified me most of all, mostly because of past experiences. Because of my family and their deep rooted European brainwashing it wasn’t as easy convincing my mother aboutthe change I wanted to take. She already thought I was pretty strange and this new addition to my personality was not helping. So for the next few years i went back and forth not perming my hair, then perming it my mom taunting me all the way, forcing me to perm it for special occasions..like prom. It wasn’t until I went to college and met like minded people that I was finally able to free myself. And I haven’t regretted it for one moment. It was like having a baby on your head, everything is so new, you have to learn your body over again, learn how to comb your natural hair, learn how to style for the new you. So this is whats been on my mind…I’d like to share this and all the other life changes I’ve made in the past few years from religion, to environment, to politics, with anyone willing to listen. I am full of Peace so don’t be afraid!

One. Hotep.

Hello world!

WestIndianSpitfireSpeaks. — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:42:30 +0000

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Free1soul's Weblog

Free1souls Weblog

My Hair Journey

Hello world!