" If every other race can wear their hair natural, why can't I?" MY RESPONSE TO IT

December 2004-January 2005

That was the day when I decided not to put a relaxer on my head anymore and instead growing it out CHEMICAL FREE. I thought I would have the support of my fellow "peoples" but I was gladly mistaken. As I was making the transition into my natural roots, I would get ridiculed and was made fun of by my fellow African-Americans. I would hear comments such as and I quote " Look at that Nappy headed B***h, eww look at that brillo pad s*** on her head, you need to go ahead and pass a perm into it" At times, I felt as if I need to go ahead and pass a perm so I can please them and stop being made fun of. Until one day I read a section on an online magazine. This lady was making a transition from relaxed to natural state. She had made a comment " If every other race can wear their hair natural, why can't I?" So from that day forward, I been more confident.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING NATURAL AND HOW COME THE MAJORITY OF MY PEOPLE'S WON'T ACCEPT IT.
Now that my hair is growing, Alot more people have came to accept the fact that I refuse to put a relaxer. Another thing that shocked me the most is that people from other races ACTUALLY LIKE WHEN I WENT NATURAL. Some comments that I heard was that " OMG FREDDIE, your hair looks so pretty in an afro. it shows your natural beauty" One of the main comments that was told to me made me think. A former co-worker told me " Girl, your hair looks so pretty natural. I don't see why girls put that nasty s*** (weave) in their hair. If people would stop worrying about putting crap in their hair and instead take care of it, more people would acknowledge their beauty."

One thing that I realized about life especially in the African-American Culture is that Accepting our natural roots is Wrong and we should do anything in our power to change what makes us unique. Don't get me wrong, I'm not downing anybody that decides to put a perm in their hair but don't down people that decides to take an alternative route. INSTEAD OF SCREAMING FOR NEW GROWTH, BE HAPPY THAT YOUR HAIR IS ACTUALLY GROWING!!!

It's real hard finding someone that deals with natural hair. One time, I went to a salon to get my hair done. I asked this lady " Do you know how to do natural hair?" (Mind you we are the same race). The comment that this lady said made me look at beauticians a different way. She said " I don't know how to do your kind of hair." EXCUSE ME, YOU USED TO HAVE THIS KIND OF HAIR A LONG TIME AGO WHEN YOU WAS 6MONTHS. Its not that hard .Didn't you go to school to deal with different kind of hair?
The history of African- American hair texture
In the past, there has been many things to seperate us from our naturalness. One of the main things that change the face of our hair is RELAXER!!!!!!!! With the relaxer, it was made to change our identity and make us resemble more with other races. We was told that if we were to change our texture, we would be more accepted by other races. But in the 1970's, that sterotype changed the decade. This was the first time in the 20th century, African-Americans was embracing their natural roots!!!! I believe that without that decade passing, I don't know if alot of people would accept different natural styles now such as dreadlocks, twisties, poofy ponytails.

THE BENEFITS OF GOING NATURAL
1. LESS EXPENSIVE!!!!
2. NO HARSH CHEMCIALS IN YOUR HAIR AND SCALP
3. HAIR GROWS MORE HEALHTIER AND STRONGER
4. YOU CAN SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE CROWD
5. NO NO NO LONG WAITS AT THE BEAUTY SALON
6. YOU DONT HAVE TO GO 2 THE SALON OFTEN
7. A DIFFERENT WAY TO LOOK AT YOURSELF.

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