I’ve always been told that a beautiful woman knows how to compliment a hairstyle and not have a hairstyle MAKE their beauty. Hair has never been that important to me since I could either wear my fro or get a weave. All I know is that I do as I please to look a certain way that fits my mood at that moment in time. Some people can’t understand my independence while others disrespect it. With out any chemical treatments my hair grows out “nappy!” Thick, extra curly and what I’d like to think- righteous.
My fro EMPOWERS ME! When I wear my fro it’s my way of showing the world who I really am. I don’t mind it being kinky. I love to get my fingers caught in it. Wet it, twist it and shape it differently because I can and a lot of people aren’t able to utilize their hair to create masterpieces but I CAN. So why is it that such hair with intense characteristics is seen as bad, so bad a remarkable documentary was created hosted by Chris Rock. I was stopped by two older ladies, one black and one white and they told me that I am beautiful. Immediately after the white woman said “BUT your hair makes you look so unkempt” and the black woman agreed.  Out of respect for my elders I just kept my comments to myself and continued to smile.
My grandmother is a wonderful woman but she refers to my natural hair as “wolf pu33y” and it was insulting at first but I prefer to laugh at it than be offended by it. I couldn’t help but ask my granny why she hated afros and she said white folks wont give you a job looking like that. That’s why God gave us perms. My grandmother is a loving and educated woman but this shows how Willie Lynch’s practices are still working. It’s so many years later and black people are still self-hating. We have been taught over the years to dislike what makes us unique. Instead, we want to look like the part of the population that appears the most successful. Not many woman that rule the world look like me despite what Beyonce may be singing.

Am I the only one that loves a fro. It’s a new sisterhood and it shouldn’t have disappeared to be honest. Black women are going natural again. The craze of the 60’s and 70’s is back. Were HAPPY 2 Be Nappy again. Over the years we’ve been brainwashed to think that you have to have a certain hairstyle in order to be beautiful. It doesn’t matter how attractive you are, assuming, an afro scares off people. Let’s take a quick walk down memory lane.

Remember a few years back when Beyonce came out with the single “Work It Out?” It was a tribute to Tina Turner. She wore an afro and NO ONE supported her. Beyonce has always been obsessed with big, bold and curly hair, take a look at her background dancers. (Afros are usually present!)
Since Beyonce wasn’t able to properly cross over into more mainstream markets with an afro let alone a size 8 body something had to give. I’m sorry Beyonce, I loved the fro and when you’re on vacation and you whip it out you make me proud. Another example is the wonderful Rihanna who was photographed a little while ago and criticized by photographers for not combing her hair. IN REAL LIFE! Her hair was gorgeous and nappy. To be honest I was rocking the same exact style. The only person to receive praise for their sexy fro is Solange Knowles. Why? Why stop there? It is a start and Solange is my girl (high 5 boo!) but society needs to do better. Janelle Monae is breaking barriers as well.

Overall, I can not help but wonder if other races are torchered like this with their individualized physical attributes. As far as I know Black people are the only ones with extremely distinctive hair. While in grade school I was told that my hair looked like “pubics” by a white classmate and I beat that “trollops” tail. I know fighting is not the answer but let’s just say my parents didn’t put me on punishment afterwards.  Gat damn it I LOVE MY FRO!