I Confess: I Am My Hair After All

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I Confess: I Am My Hair After All

I Confess: I Am My Hair After All -
By: Leslie -

I Am My Hair I love India Arie’s “I Am Not My Hair”. It’s uplifting, clever, and has a nice beat. I think it expresses a powerful sentiment about our culture’s preoccupation with the physical. We do tend to judge people based on looks and we sometimes make unfounded assumptions about what those looks mean in the process. While I agree that the whole of me cannot be summed up by a hairstyle, much of who I am is reflected in how I have chosen to wear my hair.

We all have the freedom to adorn ourselves as we see fit, right? Maybe, but for some, that freedom comes at a price. As much as people may not want to admit, black hair is still very political. Do you remember the story of a certain police department banning locs? What about the congresswoman who was called a “ghetto slut” because she wore a twist-out? Cases like these make it very clear that afro-textured hair is still a controversial subject. So, in a culture that generally tends to devalue natural black hairstyles, I think choosing to wear them anyway makes a pointed statement.

Some people opine that spending time talking about hair is silly in a world of poverty and war, but when it comes to Afro textured locks, it is not “just hair”. If it were, women would not agonize over the decision to go natural and there would be no serious ramifications from choosing to do so. While many ladies are still rocking relaxers and weaves, choosing to wear Black hair in its natural state communicates a strong message of pride as well as a preference for a distinctly African aesthetic. Nobody else on the planet has hair quite like ours so to flaunt it in all its glory is a beautiful affirmation of our uniqueness.

Will discussing hair solve global warming or cure world hunger? No. But on a day-to-day level, we may spark some social change about it. While it will never completely defines us, natural hair is a significant part of our identity that we should proudly embrace.

November 2, 2009

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written by Goddess Marie, November 24, 2009

I wear my big afro with pride. Back in high school the kids did not like my afro they used to tease me so I went and put a Hair relaxer what some of us call Perm I did not like it but I had to do it so they could stop teasing and beleive me it works black people in general loves my straight hair but caucations loves it they are admire by it they want to touch it and I'm proud to let them. I'm 35 years old and just got my afro back and I'm loving it. It is easy for me to maintain just wash and go the trick is for me I have to wash it every morning I do not comb or blow dry it I just let it be but once every 3 months I wash and blow dry it and trim it.

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written by briana, November 23, 2009

i love my natural hair and wouldnt have it any other way!!!!! black is beautiful baby!

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written by THIERRY BAPTISTE, November 09, 2009

I LOVE IT! KEEP SPEAKING THE TRUTH.

BEING BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL. AND EMBRACING YOUR AFROCENTRIC HAIRITIAGE IS LIBERATING!

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf_5utJb9DA

EMBED

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written by Shay, November 09, 2009

I was just thinking about this a day ago. I was ummhmming all while reading this. This article spoke the TRUTH! I AM my hair just as much as I AM my beautiful brown skin and proud to be so. Your identity is your identity, period, and we need to stop altering it. Your physical feature let the world know your ethnicity and who you are. Black folks need to stop hiding their God given features. Stop hating, start loving, and come out of that mental oppression . WE are our skin, our nose, and our HAIR! smilies/cool.gif

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written by Je'Nae, November 08, 2009

I really like this post. I liked the song also but I did not totally agree with it. My lyrics would say I am not the stigma society puts on my hair. Black women who wear their hair in its natural form are some of the most confident women I know. It takes a certain amount of courage and the ability to handle persecution. I know, who knew hair could cause so much uproar, but it does.

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written by FreeToBeMe04, November 08, 2009

It's been a month since I "BC"(15 month transition) and I am loving it!. I have been rockin it in its natural state, but stiil feel a tinge of insecurity when I go places. "I LOVE BIG HAIR" and want to be truly free to do me without having to endure the ignorant stares. Great article, thanks!

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written by Lydia, November 06, 2009

Having natural hair has givrn me a new type of self confidence.

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written by anitra , November 04, 2009

that was all i need to hear smilies/grin.gif

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written by Marie, November 04, 2009

Great article!! My natural hair is definitely part of what makes me who I am.

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written by Sandy Coils, November 03, 2009

Amen! I love this site. I'm so glad that I decided to make the change to wear my natural hair. Even more, I am glad that I work in a place that is diverse enough to not make a big deal of my transition from the "norm" of relaxed hair to the seemingly unconventional look of my natural tresses.

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written by GG, November 02, 2009

I love this. Very well said and mirrors how many naturals feel about their hair. It's hard to explain sometimes, so it's refreshing to see it put into words so well. Thanks!

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written by Shirah Muhamut, November 02, 2009

I totally agree with your points. My best friend and I argue all the time. She is natural but presses her hair every week, while I wear my hair in its natural state. It is difficult sometimes because of the society we live in, but I believe that its my crown and glory; an affirmation of who I am, my uniqueness. I love it, and I'll continue rocking it out.