Reflections of a Liberated Dread

As a black woman I’ve been through some serious stuff with my hair…I got my 1st perm when I was 7 years old, and wore them until I began to get ugly head sores from the chemicals when I was about 15. I then went to wearing braids exclusively for 2-3 years and took them out after all the perm had gone only to perm them again for my junior prom…back to braids until…senior prom. Going to college I went right back into the safe haven that was braids, and then in my sophomore year I got bold enough to rock an afro and thus began my napptural life. Since then I’ve loc’d my hair and 19 months in I’m still loving it.

As a member of http://www.nappturality.com/ I’ve learned a lot about maintaining my locs (which I now freeform, and do next to nothing to – I highly recommend it), and I’ve participated in some discussions on the dread aesthetic as well. Yet today while reading a particular post about a newbie’s issue with puffy roots I realized just how little we as black women know about our hair.

Sure, I was one of those women who just didn’t know how to do my hair when I was a permie – all I wore were wraps and ponytails, with the occasional flip thrown in from time to time. I simply didn’t know how to take care of or style my own hair. Once I went napptural, I got to become more involved with my hair as I’d wash it and style it on my own, and now as a dread I’ve learned so much more about my hair from doing absolutely nothing. It’s an enlightening and liberating experience to not feel bound by what’s on top of our head. Sometimes I think black women love our hair so much that we fear it, thinking that anything that we might do to it would ruin it, and so we leave it up to the ‘professionals.’

But my goodness, my sistahs if only we took the time to get to know ourselves and our own hair…just imagine how much money we could save, how much peace we could find, and how much more confidence we’d have! Why is it that we still, even as nappturals, cling to this mentality that uniform and manicured manes are the way to go? Our hair is naturally wild and free, why can’t we accept it? I used to go to a loctitian to get my locs maintained because I wasn’t sure I could do it on my own. I also liked how the uniform locs look, so I understand that as well.

But it is just so LIBERATING to have your hair and be proud of it and feel sexy in it even when you think it’s not looking its best. Whether my hair is short, or long, super curly and thick, or locs doing their own thing…napptural hair is and can be only as beautiful as the person rocking the style is. If you’re not comfortable within yourself, there ain’t no way a new ‘do is going to help. I think we need to free ourselves of the standards that society has placed upon us and the standards we place upon ourselves. God has already done a wonderful job when He made each and every one of us, so we need to say thanks to Him for it and go forth and be fly! lol

Seriously, I suppose the reason why I’m even bothering to say all of this is because it just hit how unaware I and a good deal of my sistren are of our own hair and how we can be scare ourselves into a box when it comes to hair care and styling. Embrace that untamable mane of yours and don’t be afraid to flaunt it wherever you might be. Yes, people will always have something negative to say or some just may not understand, but that should never deter you from being proud of who you are, how you look, or what it is you represent. If you’re napptural or if you’re a permie, take the time to acquaint yourself with your hair, and if you’re a permie I hope that one day you’ll get to experience the freedom that can come from wearing the hair that God originally placed on your head (chemical free!) and I hope that all of us can look upon each other and see our own beauty reflected in the eyes of our sisters.

Peace & Many Blessings
CBrava

Fitness Fiend

Well, since my last post I've been a lil jogging fool, lol. I ended up going to boot camp every night this week (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs), and I'll be going again on Sat. While at boot camp for the past couple of nights I've managed to jog almost the entire distance we have to cover at the beginning of class (approx. .66 mi). I'd only walk/stop when it was time for me to cross the streets, but I'm doing it! I realize that I'm not SO terrible at it, lol. It's just a matter of pace, as my on friend said. If I try to crank it out and run, well then no I won't make it that far...but slow down that pace, and I can go a lot farther. I'm going to keep at it, and I know I'll continue to improve - the fact that I can jog at all is a miracle *smile*

The only downside right now is that since the weather seems to be changing, my right ankle (which I've sprained about 5 times) is becomming a little sensitive. I've had it wrapped up for the past couple of days now, and I still jog/workout (obviously), but last night during a workout it was really sensitive and started to hurt. :( It's better today though...so I'm contemplating getting on the treadmill to jog a bit after work today. Then again I don't want to push it too much....so we shall see.

Wow...could it be that yours truly is actually getting in shape?!?! WHAT?!?! lol, It's a great feeling though, it brings a ton of confidence and self assurace because you know that you are taking care of your body - lovely. It's like I feel I can do anything - nothing is impossible...that's a great feeling. What a difference a little effort make in our lives, huh?

Also, I've noticed I've been eating a lot more often. Yesterday I was hungry like every couple of hours - it was crazy. Granted, a friend of mine pointed out that it's just my metabolism pciking up speed, but sheesh. Eating so often...that's crazy, lol. At least now that I know what the deal is I'm able to make sure I'm eating the right things. I can't be hungry every 3 hours but eating junk...oh no...So yesterday I had a ceasar side salad with some honey mustard dressing from AU Bon Pain...maaaaaaaaaaaan when I tell you that was the BEST thing I ever had in my life!!! lol, It's crazy cause I'm not a salad girl, lol but when you're hungry and on a mission to do right you'd be surprised. I know I was :)

Overall...I'm felling good. Tired? Yes. Sore? Sometimes. But definitely feeling good and loving it even when it get hard.

Be Blessed!
CongoBrava

The Trek to Marathondom

I've decided that I will run a marathon next year. It's an intimidating goal for someone who isn't a runner by nature, but it is something that I would like to do. A friend of mine is running in the National Breast Cancer Marathon (http://breastcancermarathon.com/) in Jacksonville next February and I've decided that I will run in the race as well.

I'm a novice when it comes to running, but I think that it's a goal that I would like to accomplish. I've begun looking into 'training' programs (see the Health links of the side) that would help me to meet my goals.

My first goal is to run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer (http://www.nationalraceforthecure.org) that takes place in DC this June. It's a 5K run/walk, so I've begun to prepare myself for it. Yesterday I got my tail on the treadmill (ooo dreaded - not really, lol) and decided to test myself out a little. I've been jogging/walking outside during the past couple of months and I've been doing well. So yeseterday I ended up jogging/walking a little over 2 miles and 1 mile of that was jogging (which is HUGE for me). I broke the distance up by jogging some and then walking some, and it wasn't easy, but it was doable. I just kept pushing myself and thinking...ok, I just jogged .38 miles...why not go for .48, and just did it like that. Now...sadlly, my bum ankle is hurting a little, but I think that's a responce to the change in weather more than my jogging, because I don't think I overexerted myself at all.

Today the ankle is wrapped, and I'll be heading into boot camp (www.gijanefit.net - its AWESOME!) to continue working out, and I'm gonna try to jog the whole distance (about .6mi) without walking when I head out today. Wish me luck!

Congobrava

Blackness Under Review...

So it seems as though a lot of prominent Black politicians and Businessmen/women are throwing their support towards Hillary Clinton's bid for president. The rationale behind this move seems to be, of all things, racially motivated - it seems as though the Black community is calling Barak's 'Black Card' into question. Is Barak Black enough? Is he really 'down' for the people and for the cause? Questions that are on the minds of many African Americans today...well apparently the answer is a resounding NO.

As I watched Good Morning America's coverage of this story, I could do was shake my head in disbelief. It seems as though we (African Americans) don't even believe that the country is ready for a Black president...not only that, but it seems that we're only willing to elect a president that is deemed 'Black' enough. What does that day about us? In my opinion, it seems as though we have fed into this self hate and refuse to support one of our own simply because he isn't signing Black Power from the mountaintops. I may have my own questions about Barak, but they are based upon his potential to be a competent president (and I believe that he would, and would fare rather well). Where do we get off questioning the man's loyalty to the race, when we as Black folks are not loyal to ourselves either? Tell me, and tell me true...when was the last time you helped a brother/sister out who was homeless on the streets? When was the last time you supported a Black owned business? Are you still shucking and jiving on that 9-5 just to make that 'almighty' dollar? Have you fed into society's European standard of beauty? Do you REALLY believe Black is beautiful? I'm just throwing all of this out there because, to me it seems as though we want one thing while living the life of another.

There is more to being the President of the United States of America than one's race. I would rather give Barak a chance and see what he can do for this country AND for the Black community, but I think it highly unrealistic and very unfair to put the expectation of saving the Black race upon him as a presidential candidate. We have some very deep-seeded issues within our community that no one man can fix (save Jesus, but we won't go there right now). I think it speaks volumes about how we fail to support our own when we would rather support a white woman (no offense to Hillary and her supporters) than one of our own.

Of course my arguments may sound very racial in tone, but although I do support Barak, it isn't just because he is African American, it's because to me he symbolizes new, fresh ideas. After suffering under the Bush Dictatorship, I think it's time this country look towards changing things up. It's time for someone who has some youth, vivality, and fresh ideas to take the reigns and lead this country in a new direction. I think that Barak's 'youth' and relative 'newness' to the realm that is politics may bode well for him, in that he has no reputation to lose...he has no real alliances to uphold, and as such isn't as tainted as some politicians who have been in the game for awhile.

But I digress...my true disgust lays with my own people who, at this point in the game, would rather neglect our own because we don't think he's for us enough. So we would much rather elect a candidate that has very little ties to the community? And don't even mention Mr. Clinton...I thought the man was a great president and managed to do some very great thigns for this country while he was in office, but Bill Clinton is NOT, I repeat is NOT Black - so people can we stop likening to us? Where is our sense of pride? Have we become content to look upon ourselves as the modern-day Sambos? What are we doing?

All I'm trying to say is...before you shun the man and question his Blackness...look beyond that and look at the man, look at what he might be able to do for the country and for our people. The house n!gger mentality has got to go...it's time for a new direction in this country and we as a people need to learn to support one another.


Check this link to a Washington Post story: Black Like Me?