Team Building

Another Glamazon turned Curly Girl!!!

I love it!! Yes, by now, you know I'm somewhat biased, but not how you think. I've seen 1 or 2 busted fros in my life. I've seen some folks where I just couldn't figure out if they were rockin braids or locs with a half-fro or some kind of shag & bangs melange. Just the other day I saw a gentleman (damn, I wish my BBerry snap-by wasn't so blurry) who had a tiny pat-fro up top & had a little more than a shag-worthy portion of his hair in 4 cornrows WITH hang time. That meant that my man DID mean to grow that part longer than the rest. Or maybe he DID mean to cut the top low and rock his mane long[er] in the back. I'on'tknow. While his style choice did make me raise my eyebrow and give him the WAIT!!-did-I-just-see-that side-eye, I left feeling comfortable that it ultimately was his decision and had nothing to do with me. I wonder if the other people at Target staring at his head left feeling the same way? I digress. I've been a [coily, unruly,no rhyme or reason] Curly Girl for 34 & a 1/4 months of my 35 years. I've only encouraged 2 women in my life to go natural, without it being their original idea, due to seeing a hugely noticeable difference in the health of their hair post-relaxer. Whatever your choice, I just ask that it be done well. If you choose to go natural, I will be your biggest supporter and help you get over the hump as best I can.

So, by now you're probably like WHAT GLAMAZON, ALREADY??!! My girl Chrisette Michele had an "Epiphany" and got fed up with the industry standards of beauty, the damage done to her tresses by chemicals, alcohol-based products, and glue when weaves were chosen for her, and cut that stuff off. Just moments ago, I listened to a radio interview she did, conducted by a male & female duo. The female half of the duo couldn't focus on the why of Chrisette's decision, but kept repeating, "how much did you cut off?" This question annoyed me, followed by the statement that pissed me off even more. The male host said, "your hair was already short, we really liked that." By that, I assume he meant that he was willing to accept her short hairstyle then because it was funky and STRAIGHT. Notice I admitted this was an assumption, but 1 I feel confirmed in this because at no point did either host make mention of liking the actual natural new style choice, but said, "you're still beautiful to us." This would imply that it was possible for Chrisette to somehow look other than herself with a different hairstyle, and be less beautiful because of it. Lawd...

My excitement is 2-fold. 1. I like Chrisette's hair. It reminds me of mine circa 1995. 2. The more sistas in the spotlight offer another view for young black girls to see, the more they understand that they have more OPTIONS. They can see more, which encourages them to think about why they make certain choices and then choose accordingly. I super loved this conversation had on Facebook, where a friend in South Africa broke down how many of the women there make there style choices based on the seasons, not a standard. That requires thought, and all I EVER want people to do is think. I'm not concerned with who agrees or disagrees with me. Even in disagreement there is growth through the exposure of differing perspectives. I just want people to exercise their noodle a little more before making a decision. For example: circa 1995, when I made the decision to color my hair sun-kissed brown, it was because I was going through something and thought it might be good to carry my very own personal sunshine around with me. It actually did bring me joy, so the thought process was successful. On another occasion, don't remember when, I made the decision to start wearing black toenail polish because it made a statement that was important to me in the environment I was in. Think before you leap. That's all I'm saying.

I feel like throwing a party. I want to fill a room with images of different familiar faces of black women and invite all of the young girls I know. I'm not even sure it's necessary to tell them why, just to have them surrounded by them should help to affirm their beauty and maybe calm some of the numbers of little girls who come to my classroom wishing they could be Hannah Montana. I'm over it. Do me a favor, tell a little black girl she's beautiful today. She may look at you funny because she hasn't heard it often (if it's the little girls I know), but repeat it. It doesn't take much, just plant the seed. Maybe we can grow a garden of little girls with higher self esteem than these girls I see all day everyday ackin' all common. Thank you in advance.

Watch me move [them with your help!]