What's All This Talk About HAIR?

 

 

A week ago, Iyanla Vanzant wrote an article called “Self Hatred – A Condition or Choice” (http://t.co/nliMOVWc) for Monday Matters blog.  After reading the article, I passed it along to others whom I thought would be interested in reading it and could appreciate the content. 

Well here recently, I had a notion to read it once again and during that time, the comment Iyanla made at the end of the article “No one really cared about the condition of their hair;” made me say Hummmm...

I began to ask myself WHY? What was the reasoning behind not caring about the condition of their hair? Was their head covering, not important to them, or just not ranked high on their priority list?  And also, why are so many women uptight about their hair now and what does that say about the “inner” woman?

Better yet, why are others so concerned (OVERLY CONCERNED IT SEEMS) about the condition of our hair as well?  There’s clearly been a big shift!!  And with the media and other social outlets, the negativity travels MUCH faster than the POSITIVES associated with “BLACK HAIR.”

Now, we have Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas, America’s 2x Olympic Gold Medalist being criticized about her hair!!  Come on… For Real??  Anybody that plays sports (or played), KNOWS the DEAL.   Check out the Sporty Afros ™ Article (http://sportyafros.com/random-2/monishas-minute-the-gabby-douglas-hair-controversy-unwrapped)

 

(Photo/Google Images: SFGate)

Any whoo… It seems as though, SOME of US have gone from speaking things of “SUBSTANCE to NONSENSE!”  This subject of hair and fellow “BLACK WOMEN” making these non-uplifting comments about a “TEEN” made me think about “ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE” who are NATURAL and what they go through which brings me to youth Gabby’s age who are natural…

She receives “static about her hair” and she wears a relaxer, then what do you think our young people go through who choose to wear their natural hair?  I can only imagine the things that are being said about them and to them by their peers, other adults and people of their own household and culture.

It’s enough “TEENS” have to deal with that old PEER PRESSURE, as if it’s not already challenging. Then to add “the hair talk” on top of that, it becomes an additional weight to contend with.  People are so focused on what’s on top of the head so, ‘til they over look “that which is between the ears and in the heart” less known an individual’s abilities and talents (In Gabby’s case).

In my humble opinion, I truly believe that the REAL ISSUE here is a lack of “SELF-LOVE” and knowing who YOU ARE in GOD…  We must LEARN to LOVE OURSELVES UNCONDITIONALLY and CHOOSE TO DO SO “No Matter What” and teach “Our Young People” how to do the same as well!  “Go Gabby” and thanks for leading the way and setting the example of LOVING YOURSELF…  YOU GO GIRL!!!