Black women have been wading the turbulent waters of beauty for centuries. In a society where beauty is narrowly defined as white, skinny and tall, it is a powerful thing when a black woman can proudly declare she loves her skin, nose and even hair. In addition, this generation is seeing the emergence of natural hair, where black women are ditching relaxers and texturizers for their "naps", "locs", “kinks" and “curls”. Black women choosing to wear their hair naturally, should not be met with a shrug of the shoulders but seen as a powerful symbol. This is because their actions challenge Eurocentric standards of beauty, help repair identity that's been distorted through the slave trade and colonization and encourage self-love in women.
When black women wear their hair naturally it is a revolutionary gesture. Likewise, it is defying what society tells people is beautiful. For example, only black women who choose to wear their hair straight such as Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna are deemed beautiful by the media. Media is a powerful conditioning tool that tells people what they should aspire to be. It is then a grand gesture to embrace one's natural hair despite the limited representation of that on television. As well, going natural allows black women to regain power. Black American women spend an estimated 4 billion dollars a year on wigs, weaves and extensions, with most of the market being controlled by non-black communities. However, with the emergence of the natural hair movement there has been a decline in the sale of relaxers and texturizers. Black women are becoming aware of the financial consequences and are more selective with where they decide to spend their money. This demonstrates that when black women embrace themselves it gives them power- power to define beauty and even financial freedom to invest in important matters such as education and self-development. The natural hair journey forces black women to address distorted ideals that were propagated during the slave trade and colonization. Likewise, it is impossible for women to navigate their natural hair journey without confronting internalized anti-blackness. For example, Ijeoma Oluo, editor and writer of the Establishment, echoed the sentiment of many, when she said going natural made her confront the disdain she had for her hair when she was a child. Black women (and men), must unravel their personal notions about "good hair" vs "bad hair" and understand “good hair” is not determined by texture but by health. Similarly, the increase of black women wearing their hair naturally puts pressure on the black community to address views on hair. For example, in India Aires song, "I am Not my Hair she says " good hair means curls and wave, bad hair means you look like slave, at the turn of the century its time to redefine who we be". This song calls out problematic views some community members have about the natural texture of other people's hair. It is important to realize that before the slave trade, hair was often a sense of pride, creativity and even a marker of status for many ethnic groups across the African continent. It’s about time people recapture their former glory and love the uniqueness that is Afro-textured hair. Moreover, the embrace of natural hair can begin a domino effect with other issues such as colourism. Women such as Lauryn Hill and Lupita N'yongo are cultural icons who force people to deal with their notions of beauty. Hair is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to disqualifying people from being beautiful. Factors such as skin tone, nose shape and size are included on the beauty checklist. The natural hair movement is a catalyst to begin having these conversations on beauty and unpacking the historical baggage that comes with racial trauma. Lastly, going naturally encourages black women to love themselves. Regular interaction with their hair through combing, twisting and washing allows black women to love their unique curl pattern. This is important because a positive body image and high regard for oneself is needed to navigate the world. Therefore, black women wearing their hair proudly begins them on that trajectory to high self-esteem. Finally, when a black women wears her hair naturally she helps redefine the beauty standard altogether. For example, Nina Simone, singer and songwriter boldly proclaimed how beautiful she was despite the fact that she fell short of the beauty standard. This demonstrates that once a person accepts one feature they have naturally it makes it easier to accept other features. It is even safe to say, people will turn up their noses at a beauty standard that seeks to undermine the very features they have naturally. Hence, black women wearing their hair naturally is one step closer to loving themselves. In conclusion, it is important to not shrug off the natural hair movement as a trend but to acknowledge it as a challenge to an exclusive beauty culture , the catalyst to community healing, and self-love.
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I was born in the year 2000 and that makes me a "millennial". From our love for technology, thirst for social justice and equality I would say we have a lot of positive qualities to offer the world.
As someone who enjoys listening to political and cultural commentary I've noticed "millennials" are often described as overly sensitive by political pundits such as Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson. I often go back and forth between whether this is true or not. I know what it feels like to be emotionally attached to an opinion and feel like my identity is under attack. On the other hand, wisdom informs that, referring to an opposing view as "stupid " or "uneducated" doesn't make my opinion any more valid. My goal is not to see debate as a mental flexing of the muscles but to exchange ideas. Nevertheless, I've realized its normal to get offended. It's normal to be passionate about certain topics, especially if you see it as apart of your identity such as "race" or "gender" or "sexuality". However, I'd encourage people to push past their initial offence. We all need to think critically about our views and have the ability to argue them logically. I'm not asking you to be an emotionless robot who spits out facts on command but I'm pleading with you to research both sides of an argument inorder to logically craft responses to opinions you disagree with . In other words, I'm daring you to argue. And to argue well. Until the ink drips, Akua B Dear Darkskin girl,
You’re not ugly. This world is ugly for trying to make you feel that way. I’ve been darkskin for 17 years and I know a thing or too about navigating the world as a darkskin black women. I know what it feels like to receive dismissive glances from boys who are only a few shades lighter than me, or to be on the receiving end of snarky comments about my skin color, or to overhear peers cry out in despair as they notice their skin has gotten darker (eye roll), as if it’s the worst thing on the Earth. But what if I told you that you don’t need the world’s permission to love yourself? Melanin- the substance responsible for the dark pigment of your skin is so dope. Did you realize your skin is kissed by the sun? Did you know the 1st women looked like you and your skin tells the story of humanity? Did you realize your skin means you’ll age 20 times younger than your lighter counterparts? We are not sad songs. Our skin is not a curse or a cause for shame as some would like us to believe. We are the handiwork of the creator of this universe- all our glorious shades point to our maker and that makes us beautiful. "Good hair means curls
and waves Bad hair means you look like a slave At the turn of the century Its time for us to redefine who we be" - I am Not my Hair I often joke that India Aire's, " I Am not My Hair" is the natural hair anthem. Women like India Aire have been a great encouragement to me in choosing to wear my hair naturally. I stopped relaxing my hair 3 to 4 years ago and it was a conscious decision to affirm my beauty and challenge the beauty standard that often excludes black women. It deprives them of their inheritance as women. In addition, The "Maafa" - translated The great disaster (Swahili word for the Atlantic Slave trade and colonization) propagated very evil lies about our worth, beauty and humanity and along the way we started to believe them. In the past community members have internalized and normalized the idea that kinky coily hair is “bad hair” and curly mixed hair is more beautiful. The darker the person, the more unattractive and the lighter the person, the more appealing. We have continued to perpetuate and believe those lies allowing these lies to live on today. And as silly as this may seem to some people, wearing the hair that naturally grows out of my head is how I chose to resist and decolonize. Going natural is helping me confront my notions about “good hair” vs “bad hair”. For most of my life my hair has been a source of anxiety. What do people think of it? Do people realize its longer than it looks? Why can’t I learn to style it? And is an afro seen as feminine? I realize a lot of the anxiety black women feel about their hair stems from consistently being compared (and comparing) themselves to women who look nothing like them. For example, my hair defies gravity and naturally grows toward the sun. So why am I constantly asked how long my hair is as if it grows down. Is that even a fair question? What if I asked people with straight long hair how big or tall their hair could get? I don’t think I am over reacting because a lot of black women have been made to feel ugly and it’s not right. In all honesty I don’t expect or encourage black women to rely on this society to validate their beauty but instead to find their worth in God, learn to love themselves and work on creating spaces in our community for dialogue and healing. Similarly, black men need to be included in the conversation of beauty because as someone so beautifully articulated on twitter” the same message black women get that they are not beautiful black boys get that black women are ugly” and its wreaking havoc on relationships within the black community. We need to do a better job of reminding little black boys they are handsome, their brown hues, rounded noses, naps, kinks and curls included. Thus putting them in a position to love themselves and affirm black women if need be. Ultimately, as a Christian I understand that beauty is fleeting and passes away. I don’t want to be self obsessed and won’t encourage others to be either. Nevertheless, I realize people have genuine concerns and I wanted to address them. As Marcus Garvey, the famous Jamaican Pan-Africanist said " God made no mistake when he made us black with kinky hair… Take the kinks out of your mind not your hair". Now is the time for us to love ourselves, each other and strengthen our community. Race is a social construct that does not exist but was created to oppress different groups of people and justify their mistreatment. Nevertheless, it holds real weight for many people in our society, with many people associating positive characteristics such as intelligence, or athleticism with certain "races" and negative characteristics such as criminality and poverty with others. "Blackness" falls on this made up racial spectrum and can often mean to people that they have gotten " the short end of the stick". This is definitely not true and so here are 10 reasons I am Black and proud and you should be to :
1. Black Africans lay the foundations for math, art and science through the Nile Valley civilizations of Egypt and Nubia. 2. Blacks have contributed immensely to every faucet of life- from math and science to art. Important inventions such as the traffic stop light (Garrett Morgan) , the elevator, potato chips (George Crum) and even ice cream come from the genius of black men and woman. 3. Even in the face of great adversity, blacks in the United States, South America and the Caribbean continue to create art that enrich the lives of all people: 4. Music genres such as Hip-hop, Rock n' Roll, Gospel, Jazz, Rn'B, and Blues music are art forms that were created from the depths and souls of black folk. 5. African Americans are constantly reinventing pop culture through their style and shaping vocabulary with phrases like "lit", "fleek", "slay" and "dope". 6. The continent of Africa after centuries of colonization is an emerging market and home to a vibrant young population 7. There is so much diversity among people of African descent. From the Caribbean to Afro Latinas to Africans on the continent. "Black people" are found on every corner of the map! 8. We are constantly leading voices in the fight for justice. For example, African Americans fought for the rights and freedoms such as voting and access to major institutions, that many immigrant groups enjoy today. 9. If I could describe people of African descent with 3 words it would be: flawed, valuable and oh so beautiful. “Watch us walk, watch us move, watch us overcome, listen to our voices, the sway. The resilience. The innovation. .."- Solange 10. Genesis 1: 27 affirms my worth as an image bearer made to show the glory of God. My "black" skin is not a badge of shame but a snapshot of the handiwork of God. As my peers would say "being black is pretty lit" Links for further research: 1. Africa's Great Civilizations by Louis Gates Jr http://www.pbs.org/video/2365943916/ 2. Hidden Colours ( I don't agree with the worldview of all the presenters but the content is accurate 3. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas C. Oden https://www.amazon.ca/How-Africa-Shaped-Christian-Mind/dp/0830837051 4.7 Medieval African Kingdoms Everyone should Know About http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/12/05/7-midieval-african-kingdoms/ Until the ink drips, Akua B On this day 17 years ago, I made my grand entrance into this world and have been blessed with the gift of life ever since. Here are 17 things I've learned about God, life, and identity in the last 17 years:
1) I was passionately drawn to God 5 years ago and want to thank Him for capturing my heart at such a young age. Nothing can pluck me from His hand (believe me I've tried), not my skepticism, or my doubt, not even myself. 2) It's important to confront the evil people have done using Christianity. Although, I'm continually grieved by the sin of residential schools, colonialism and chattel slavery, and know that they're not true examples of Biblical Christianity, I'm not going to cower or look away. 3) Affirm the worth (and beauty) of dark skin individuals in a world that devalues them(me). 4) We cheat ourselves when we beg for a “'colorblind" world. There's nothing wrong with seeing the different skin colors, hair textures and ethnicities of people. 5) Reflection is key. 6) Race doesn't exist. But it does hold weight in the world and so people, (including myself) need to challenge personal prejudices in order to see people holistically. (Oh no! This is turning into an article about race... :) 7) Being sensitive or emotional does not make a person weak. 8) Vulnerable is one of the strongest things a person could be. 9) Don't sweat the small stuff. 10) I’m pretty cool. 11) Enjoy the present moment. What's the point of working hard to achieve a goal if you're not going to take time to enjoy it? 12) Don't let fear of offending people stop you from speaking your mind during conversation. 13) Sometimes saying "I don't know" is the most revolutionary statement a person could make. 14) Learn to thrive in a community of people who love you and hold you accountable. 15) Friendships are worth pursuing, even though they take you out of your comfort zone. There's nothing like being fully known and fully loved. 16) I haven't figured out the whole "race" thing (especially in the Canadian context). And that's okay. 17) I still have a lot of maturing to do. Until the ink drips, Akua B I use to recoil at the thought of being associated with the word angry, because I thought it would reinforce the narrative that already characterizes black women as aggressive, loud and even unfeminine. An archetype that doesn’t represent me or the many black woman I know. Nevertheless, as I've gotten older my outlook on the angry label has changed because I realize if black woman should be angry it is warranted. What other emotion could possibly articulate how it feels to both be black and a woman, but anger ? Not angry in a victim or an entitled sense, but in a way that makes the controversies surrounding race and gender personal for me.
For me, anger is the long standing discomfort with the world around me and results from the internalized racism of my peers, the over sexualization of women and the disdain for dark skin around the world. Although my first instinct is to run from this emotion with the justification of it not being godly or Christ-like, I think I'm going to sit in this anger awhile. I don't have to be fake or pretend I'm okay with the world around me when I'm not and neither do you Sometimes the best thing you can do is be honest with God. Take heart in the fact that God knows all about you and what you feel. He'll sit with you to work through these feelings whether they're valid or not. I think I've bought into the lie that associates Christian forgiveness with being passive and docile. I am on the journey to learning what forgiveness looks like in the Bible and encourage you to do the same. In the mean time : 1. Affirm your worth- you belong in this world whether the world knows it or not. 2. Be honest about how you feel with God and yourself. You aren't a better or godlier Christian because you don't experience anger. 3. Understand how the Bible deals with the vast array of emotions we experience as human beings. 4. Pray to God , wrestle with God and allow Him to do the work He needs to do in order to make you more like Jesus. Until the ink drips, Akua B "Christianity has done the most damage in our world", said my teacher when someone asked for her opinion on religions and their cultural impact on society. Taken aback by her statement, I challenged my teacher on her use of colonization and the crusades as examples of Christianity's destructiveness . This prompted her to rephrase his words, saying that, "people in the name of Christianity have done the most damage to this world".
My teachers' words still ring in my ears not only because they were offensive to me, but because her words are also simply not true. Therefore, it has got me thinking about how distorted Biblical Christianity is in the eyes of our society. Even the simple question of what a Christian is can garner different answers. Is the Christian the slave master who owns imported Africans, and uses the Bible to justify their actions? Is the nun who teaches her young First Nation students that they're inferior and contributes to their cultural genocide a Christian? Is it even possible to know what a true "Christian" is? These are fair questions, so I want you to journey with me as I address these questions through this blog series: The ABC''s of Christianity. I just came back from one of the most enriching experiences of my young life and I've been searching for the right words to properly articulate how I feel about my trip:
To say I'm honored would be an understatement. To be counted among 15 other amazing Canadians to represent my country was a pleasure and I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity by Fulbright Canada to do so. The three week exchange started on July 18th in Ottawa, followed by a home stay in Plattsburgh New York with a hospitable American family from July 20th to July 30th, and a week long visit to Washington D.C from August 1st to August 6th. Throughout my exchange I had the opportunity of sitting in workshops and meeting esteemed officials, attending site visits to places such as Parliament, the White house and the Abraham Lincoln memorial. And learned about the enduring relationship between the U.S and Canada and how I could help strengthen it further. However, my joy was not in the grand places I saw but the people I met- having the fortune to do life with other Canadians from provinces very different than mine such as Labrador, Nova Scotia and even Nunavut. As I reflect I can truly say I know I've made friends and know our respective departures are not the end of our interactions with each other. And if your a Canadian Youth Ambassador reading this, please know your an asset to your community and have more value than you'll ever know. I'm also thankful to our adult educators, Mike and Terri for pouring into all of us and seeing the value of youth civic engagement. Thank you to all the organizers and coordinators who worked so hard to make this possible- your effort was greatly appreciated This exchange has provided me with fond memories and for that I'm eternally grateful. We are the aftermath of a national scar
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AuthorMy name is Akua B and I'm a lover of all things Africa, natural hair and poetry... Archives
March 2017
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