Monday, October 17, 2011

Embrace You.

“That's right ——- Mona Lisa can’t fade her. I mean Marilyn Monroe, she’s quite nice. But why all the pretty icons always all white.” -Jay Z

Ran across this quote on Tumblr yesterday and it made me realize how far the world has come, yet how far the world has to go. Although the well known beauty icons may be white, I don't believe the world is stuck in 1908 anymore. From Miss Angola winning the Miss Universe pageant to the new go natural movement, the world isn't only embracing euro centric features. While this may be true, there are many discrepancies in embracing beauty.

Yes, Miss Angola won Miss Universe, but I didn't see her rocking those tight kinky strands, better known as natural curls. That creamy crack and yaki did her right, in order to stand on a stage of peers that sashayed in with the straight hair they were born with. But, what about the textured strands God gave you? Am I pointing blame at her when beauty pageants are just that, pageants of beauty, not brains? Absolutely not. Do you see any women of short stature? And, lets not forget about our curvy mamas. Are they not beautiful too? Not to mention how the women are put on display like a meat counter.  They might as well be wearing nothing, because the silhouette of her body is more than transparent. Every woman is hidden behind a skin tight dress and a face full of Clinique.

When did natural beauty become so sparse?  In a world where 'bad bitches' are the ones with straight  hair- that came from India- down to the butt cheeks, which may happen to be silicone, paired with the boobs made of the same substance, rocking a face that isn't hers.  Those pictures on the internet capturing the essence of artificial. That facade is only going to last so long. What happens when M.A.C. can't cover those scars of insecurity? Like Jill Scott said: 'Everything comes to the light'.

When everything comes to light will what you look like matter? Since beauty these days comes in packages and boxes, what is beauty? Does society place too much emphasis on beauty? I mean, in reality, everything and everyone is beautiful in some way. Beauty is also relative. What may be beautiful to me, may not be beautiful to you. Can't everyone just be themselves? I don't know if it's possible these days. You are forced to adhere to a standard. Maybe the chipped paint on her toes resembles the chips in her heart. Maybe her bad hair day is the aftermath of a life shattering altercation. Maybe she's been working nonstop and wants to embrace her day off. Everyone has a different story. Everyone has a different life and different priorities. Live your life and let others live theirs. When you are happy, nothing else matters. We could all learn a lesson if we just ask ourselves why we do the things we do. India Arie said:

"Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india ari"

My hair journey until now.

Length Check- October 2011



My hair is about collarbone length now. I started with shoulder length. That took about 3 months. YEY results!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Length!




I am officially 3 months post big chop and 14 months post relaxer. I had a sew in for 2 months and it helped me gain and retain length. I oiled my hair every 2 to 3 days with an applicator bottle, going in between braids and making sure to get to the scalp. I oiled and rolled my natural hair that was left out. I hope to try more protective styles to keep my hair healthy and growing.

The Struggles of A Black Woman

Why does every time I change my hair have to be a big ordeal? I understand getting a few complements, but I can't deal with the sea of flooding questions. Andddddddd, not to mention people reaching their grubby hands toward my mane and touching it. I can't with people. I'm lacking understanding and connection. I do not like being but on display like a circus animal. I am a human being just like everyone else and I would appreciate if I would be treated like one. I don't appreciate being exoticized. I don't interrogate other races because they are different than me. I understand they are different and I can observe from a distance. I just wish I wasn't the oddball sometimes.