This week’s challenge involved the styling and modeling of a headwrap. My choice of wearing the headwrap resulted in the style that is pictured in each of my photos. The style displayed was accomplished by the covering of the head and twisting the excess material into a layered side bun. Although I have worn head wraps before, it is not something that I do often. This challenge actually causes me to want to change that.

I am really looking forward to exploring the avenue of hair and head accessories. In years past, I would wear them frequently. I remember a time, when I had a wrap in just about every color you could think of. I would limit myself to only wearing them when I felt that I was having one of those days, where my hair and I could not seem to get along. I am not really been the one to cover my head much. Part of that reasoning being that I’ve always though my head was small and that it would seem to overtake the size of my head. As we were told that we would be celebrating cultural through this challenge, I must say that there’s a unique feeling of beauty that I perceived from this week’s mission. I felt so strong and regal. I am now ready to further explore the avenue of hair and head accessories on a more consistent basis.

As I heard the challenge, the first thing that came to mind with the head wrap was African beauty that birthed African women. It was as if my mind went to pictures that I had previously seen of the big head wraps, with women carrying children and balancing baskets displaying the strength that we come from. I thought of the jewelry pieces that have that ethnic appeal to them. I though of the land in which I have not have the privilege of visiting yet, but would love to make before I leave this earth. I thought of animal and cultural prints. I envisioned the vegetation of the land. I thought of wood fires and how we come from strength that could survive with what was at hand. I let my imagination have its way, wondering how I could capture this in the photos. My pictures are a combination of celebrating all of these things that my mind wandered to upon hearing the challenge, with a contemporary twist. I completely enjoyed capturing these ideas on film.

This was perfect timing for this challenge in light of Dr. King’s holiday this coming weekend. Locally, there are always celebrations and services going on to celebrate his life on the recognized Monday. With that in mind, I do try to live a life that not only recognizes these sacrifices on the calendar holiday, but recognizes them by how I strive to live everyday. I can hear his voice saying “I have a dream”. This resonates with me due to the fact that I am indeed a dreamer. I pray that these dreams manifest and that they bring liberation to individuals for generations to come. My friends and family will tell you that I am always dreaming of something. Ultimately, Dr. King sacrificed his life to fight for something that was bigger than himself. I desire to live a life that is bigger than myself. When its said and done I truly want a legacy of love behind my name that is rooted in faith. I have not yet decided this year, how I will celebrate but look forward to spending time with family.

With the Kansas African American Museum housing the Freedom Riders exhibit, I recently decided to take three little ones in my family. There we viewed that pictures of individuals, diverse races that had sacrificed their well-being and lives on the account of civil rights for African-Americans. As I asked them how they would have responded being in those positions. Little eyes widened when I mentioned the possibility of death. As with the Freedom Riders, there were so many names that we do not know. I challenged them to make an impact in every community that they belong to. This is what I’m striving for. Each and every one of us have individuals that we are attached to both directly and indirectly. If the public never knows our names, we should still live a legacy of love, strength, sacrifice and grace with those that we come into contact with. With that stated, I will keep dreaming and pursuing, while encouraging others to do the same. I believe with all of my heart that even if we live a life of true love through grace, as it was designed, we will never see all of the fruits of our labor. I believe that just as in Dr. King’s life, the fruit of our labor will outlive us for generations.

So as in those photographs taken, I want my life to capture the strength, grace and beauty that we come from. I desire to create from a pure heart and impact diverse cultures for years to come. I too have dreams. I record them and pray that someday others will read them and run with them. There’s a song that I love that says, “I’m just an ordinary servant, with extraordinary purpose. Lord use me, however you please”. This is my heart’s cry.