Today is my husband’s 57th birthday! As much as I talk, I actually had only few words of Celebration! Quote: ” So you are 57 years as of today.” His gift is “less words” & perhaps better timing on my part for those words.
Ok, this is the beginning of my blog. What do I write? I am very talkative but I do not care to be inconsiderate of any possible readers that I may have. Here goes.
Last Sunday, October 24th, I had a conversation with the female guard while at church (since we have no brick and morter building, yet, we simply gather in the public health building) about her new hair style. I learned that it was a weave, but I did not ask. I simply admired her hair do. She then shared with me three local INDY sources where I could get my own hair done.
Praise the Lord! I have been looking for a local salon since last year.(2008) Also my own hair stylist (my neice) who had left town three weeks ago (early Oct. 2009) and relocated to another state, decided to return to Indy with her family! Good news for my hair. She is young (29 yrs.) but most excellent with my hair. I found it quite strange that other African-Americans stylist that I recently approached did not know how to groom natural hair, only reconstructed or permed hair 🙁 How could that be? Please conmment.
I am taking a census and so far the common consenus with those whom I associate with (3 & counting…) both old and young African-Americans, do so feel that Mr. Rock was most meddlesome when he chose to focus his attention on the personal/private issue of Black Hair. Some things should be left undisclosed. I personally feel that Mr. Rock did African-American women a disservice and no, I do not plan to see the movie. (even when it goes to DVD)
Also when I viewed Mr. Chris Rock on Oprah he implied, thereby minimized, by the man that he briefly interviewed (about his wife cutting her own hair) that issue of coarse, short hair was non or uncontroversial. NOT! In my 55 yrs. I have noted that the overall preference of the many African-American men that I have obeserved over the years (church goers and otherwise ) is long, dare I say “straignter flowing” hair. I have yet to hear this preference or bias ever openly spoken aloud or even privately discussed. Go figure!
Hair is a very controversal subject. There is a social price to pay for wearing your hair in a controversal (non comformist) natural or in (dread locks) or even various colors. (blue, green, shades of red) I once had locks (1995) and the negative response that I got from mostly my own (Midwestern) family and other unknown professional & middle income African-Americans was quite remarkable & outrageous. (hilariously rejecting) Also, I was presumed to be dirty/unkept (poor hygiene) and undeducated by mainstream society, even though I worked in the field of education: Career Center.
However some individuals envied me and said so; yet they regretted that they were not able to keep their jobs and wear such a hair style. (Las Vegas, Nevada) The young people (high school aged and marginalized people of society were most accepting of me where ever I traveled.) Amazingly, I found that the whole world responded to me much differently. I was despised by many (priviledged) and revered by others.(underpriviledged) I just loved the way that the “true colors” of people were instantly revealed. I so much hate “game playing”. Just be who you authentically are. My temperament and spiritual maturity affords me the personal and divine strength to wholly accept (without any offense or agony of my soul) not being approved of by others, family or otherwise socially.
When I was only two years old I saw “The Little Rascals” on television. I sensed intuitively a measure of not shame but offense. The portray of Buck Wheat was quite derogatory. I decided , as a rejection of that negative sterotype, that I was going to be “purple” from that point forward. Years later (at about 7-9 years of age), when my dad asked me what color I was, I responded “Purple”. Too bad that he did not inquire further to pursue my thoughts behind the matter. Have you noticed today in the “New Little Rascals” that Buck Wheat is portrayed with “locks” today. Why is that we even need a contemporary version of the “Little Rascals”? Also at 55 yrs. of age my favorite color is Lavender or Shades of Purple:-)! Later 🙂