Monday, July 20, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
11 months on lock down...
i'm a month shy of my one-year loc-versary....funny how i used to think that a year was such a LONG time to wait.... i remember when i first started researching sisterlocks back in may '08...wondering how long it would take my hair to lock....wondering if i could stick with my locs long enough to see them mature....wondering if i'd get bored and go back to the days of perms and braids....wondering what i would do if i didn't like the end result....i fretted so much before having my locks installed. looking back, i only wish that i had locked my hair sooner.
much to my joy, i've never regretted my decision to get sisterlocked once. i was locked in june '08. my hair took to locs SO well - no slippage! no problems, no issues (except occasional dry scalp). my hair began locking 4-5 months into the process. my consultant used to say that i had "perfect locs" because of the density and texture of my hair (who knew how great nappy hair could be?!). i began diy retightening back in dec '08, using the nappylocs kit and youtube videos as a guide....never did take the SL class... yep, me and my hair have come a long way...
in time, i've realized...
* my hair always looks good, whether i style it or not, whether it's freshly tightened or not. even on a "bad hair day," a quick wash freshens my locs and sets 'em back on track.
* i love walking in the rain when it's warm outside (and watching everyone else take cover. yeah, umbrellas are optional)
* even though i have open ends and my center part is off-center, my SLs are perfectly imperfect and fit me to a "T"
* i can never wear a wig again (at least not while i still have my natural hair). i tried, but it's just not me anymore.
* i love the feel of my bf playing with my hair. (he was hesitant to play with my wigs & weaves for obvious reasons)
* i enjoy styling my hair more now than ever (i used to HATE combing my hair, hence the wigs and braids of past lives)
* diy is not as scary as i first thought it was. with practice and care, i've learned to minimize my use of hair scissors to, um, correct mistakes ;o)
* i think i'm ready to test a conditioner, but still cautious about ruining my hair
do you have any words of wisdom gained since you locked your hair?
much to my joy, i've never regretted my decision to get sisterlocked once. i was locked in june '08. my hair took to locs SO well - no slippage! no problems, no issues (except occasional dry scalp). my hair began locking 4-5 months into the process. my consultant used to say that i had "perfect locs" because of the density and texture of my hair (who knew how great nappy hair could be?!). i began diy retightening back in dec '08, using the nappylocs kit and youtube videos as a guide....never did take the SL class... yep, me and my hair have come a long way...
in time, i've realized...
* my hair always looks good, whether i style it or not, whether it's freshly tightened or not. even on a "bad hair day," a quick wash freshens my locs and sets 'em back on track.
* i love walking in the rain when it's warm outside (and watching everyone else take cover. yeah, umbrellas are optional)
* even though i have open ends and my center part is off-center, my SLs are perfectly imperfect and fit me to a "T"
* i can never wear a wig again (at least not while i still have my natural hair). i tried, but it's just not me anymore.
* i love the feel of my bf playing with my hair. (he was hesitant to play with my wigs & weaves for obvious reasons)
* i enjoy styling my hair more now than ever (i used to HATE combing my hair, hence the wigs and braids of past lives)
* diy is not as scary as i first thought it was. with practice and care, i've learned to minimize my use of hair scissors to, um, correct mistakes ;o)
* i think i'm ready to test a conditioner, but still cautious about ruining my hair
do you have any words of wisdom gained since you locked your hair?
Monday, April 27, 2009
reflections from the ICU: a new grad perspective
feb 11, i passed the rn-nclex exam (state boards); feb 13, i began orientation at Mt Sinai Hospital, a "national model for urban healthcare" that serves the west side of Chicago. i started on the unit (CCU/MICU) on mar 2. i now have about 8 weeks of experience under my belt. though time management remains a HUGE issue for me (i know, i know, with time, i'll get better), i feel very comfortable in my specialty choice. i couldn't imagine working the floor, mostly because i enjoy concentrating on the total care of only 2 patients. the unit is always busy; and though my orientation time has been more focused on keeping up with the patient load than teaching, i feel like i'm learning something new everyday. my preceptor and i have a great relationship, but i work well with most anyone on the foor. some people are catty, but that goes with the territory. my biggest challenges now are being able take breaks or eat lunch, keep up with new orders (still using paper charts), AND finish all of my documentation by the end of shift. part of this will come from telling people "NO," meaning, i cannot help clean or turn patients at 5:30pm if i'm not caught up on my pt's meds, documentation, etc. my goal for the next week is to focus on being caught up by 4pm, so that i can ease into change of shift with no problem. the issue with this is that 4:30pm-6pm seems to be what i call "the witching hour". that time period when all hell breaks loose. when patients crash and codes are called. or a critical new admit comes up to the floor from the ER, crashing while we hook him up to the monitors. some days you can almost feel the tension in the air, you know that something's about to jump off. other days start off just fine, then tumble like an old person on a long flight of stars. overall, i welcome the challenge, but there are days when i leave work feeling like i just fought a heavyweight title match. and lost. but i haven't come home crying, nor am i ready to throw in the towel. rather, i look forward to putting on my cute scrubs and jumping into the day head first.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
winter update on weight loss
in july 2008, i decided to re-commit to my weight loss goals...then my fellowship kicked in...and nursing clinicals...and my masters research project....and as i approached november graduation, i realized that i had been back and forth with the same 5-10 lbs that i thought i moved past this summer....so in november, i decided to step up my game and go to a weight loss doctor to see how he could help me....at that time, he told me that my BMI (41.6) qualified me for bariatric surgery. i was a bit depressed by the news, but i was ready to make a REAL change. even though i always knew i was way too heavy for my height, i've always been told that i carry it well. i NEVER considered myself a candidate for weight loss surgery, even though i know the criteria for bariatric surgery....either way, surgery was NOT an option for me. there are no guaranteed results without me taking control of my diet and exercise - the very things i needed to do to lose weight with or without surgery. for example, my uncle was successful with gastric bypass surgery 5-6 years ago...but my father had lap band surgery 2 years ago...and without changing his activity or eating habits much, he has not really seen any change in his weight in quite some time...
anyhoo, since november, i've lost approx. 25lbs! and my BMI has gone down to 37.4! mostly by paying attention to what i eat and by adding in more activity -- my fitness coach game on the wii has really helped me push myself ;o) now, i still have a ways to go, but i've surpassed my first 10% mark, and i feel great!!! and now family members and friends - even some of my most critical loved hater ones who are also obese - are starting to notice...('hate on me hater, now or later, 'cuz i'm gonna do me, you'll be mad, baby!!' sorry, had a jill scott moment) i'm working on getting under 200lbs (-10lbs) by march and am more focused than i have been in almost 10 years...
anyhoo, since november, i've lost approx. 25lbs! and my BMI has gone down to 37.4! mostly by paying attention to what i eat and by adding in more activity -- my fitness coach game on the wii has really helped me push myself ;o) now, i still have a ways to go, but i've surpassed my first 10% mark, and i feel great!!! and now family members and friends - even some of my most critical loved hater ones who are also obese - are starting to notice...('hate on me hater, now or later, 'cuz i'm gonna do me, you'll be mad, baby!!' sorry, had a jill scott moment) i'm working on getting under 200lbs (-10lbs) by march and am more focused than i have been in almost 10 years...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
56th Presidential Inauguration 2009
i was selected to participate in the inauguration back in may 2008, long before some supporters jumped on the obama bandwagon and fed into the frenzy of buying up *whatever* obama souvenirs they could (obama condoms included). i was a part of a group of some ~5,000 undergrad and grad students from the US and other parts of the world who partook in the University Presidential Inauguration Conference (there were some 15,000 students total being hosted at the conference, including the middle and high school students). while the conference left much to be desired (thousands of students are currently signing petitions and seeking compensation for monies spent due to false advertisement), i am so grateful that i had the opportunity to go to dc to witness this historic event.
i arrived in DC on jan 17th. one could feel the city trembling with excitement and anticipation as everyone prepared for unprecedented numbers of Americans flocking to the area. i stayed at the marriott wardman park hotel; students were also posted in 5 other area hotels. (one good thing about the conference is that i had a nice hotel room with my own bed. some students slept on cots, even though their costs were the same.) we had talks from Al Gore and Colin Powell, and a couple workshop lectures, but there really wasn't much else to the conference. the main event was witnessing the 56th inauguration of our 44th president.
we also had a "private" gala (i.e. no one was there except us) that resembled a dressy high school junior prom, but i still looked good ;o)
but even with all of the issues of the UPIC conference, nothing could replace the sheer excitement and pride i felt the morning of the inauguration...
...there were SO many people outside on that cold morning. it was FREEZING, but everyone was so thrilled and happy to be there. everyone was so hopeful and loving and peaceful...kinda like woodstock...but without the free love and happy weed, of course ;o)
words cannot express the awe and honor i felt walking in solidarity with a few million of my fellow Americans to witness the swearing in of our 44th President - selected by popular vote and loved by persons throughout the world - Barack Hussein Obama, II...
(no, i didn't know these ladies. but i was so touched by their determination to bring their ancestors with them to the inauguration that i had to take a photo....)
watching that video just brings me back to that very moment...amazing is the only way i could describe it. truly a moment in history i will never forget.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
El Salvador - Dec 2008
i was blessed to be in san salvador this past December. DePaul University has worked with a catholic parish down there for the last 15 years, and each winter they send a student group there for a winter break service trip. for 10 days we talked with salvadoran people and learned about their history, the recent civil war ('80-'92), and current sociopolitical issues. it was amazing and painful and humbling all at once. we didn't really do touristy stuff. we stayed with host families in the city; worked with the parish's senior home, daycare, and orphanage; and visited significant landmarks from the civil war. we went to the countryside to perquin - 5 hrs NW of san salvador, near the border of hondoras - where the guerillas (currently the FMLN political party) were centralized during the war. we also visited the campuses of the national university and the university of central america to talk with students about student involvement and activism since the seventies til now....the trip was very well-rounded. we only saw the richer parts of the city in passing on the bus - and the difference between rich and poor was night and day. in the '70s, the guerillas began to organize and were fighting the government for basic civil rights - food, shelter, education, land (wealth) redistribution, freedom of expression...during that time, our government helped their government kill thousands of poor people in the name of stopping communism, but the people still fought for what they believed was right. even if it cost them their lives. i learned what true commitment really is by listening to their stories... i'm still processing everything, but will blog in more detail about it soon...
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
I AM DONE!!!!
woo hoo!!!! i am so happy its over. this morning i took the last comprehensive exam of my nursing program. yes i did! i am done!!!!
nov 22 i walk across the stage...and with honors at that!
what lies ahead of me hasn't quite sunk in, but what i've accomplished has opened a world of endless possibilities...i hope folks are ready ;o)
nov 22 i walk across the stage...and with honors at that!
what lies ahead of me hasn't quite sunk in, but what i've accomplished has opened a world of endless possibilities...i hope folks are ready ;o)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
so proud! yet speechless
even though the polls were located in the lobby of my building, i was up early at 3am with the excitement of the upcoming election. unable to vote early because of my clinical internship, i've been looking forward to vote day for quite a while. i walked downstairs at about 5:40am; there were already 10 or so ppl in line. by 5:50am, the line reached down the hallway. by the time the i was called to the table to get my ballot, there was already 1-1.5 hr wait for those just joining the line! i finished voting by 6:20am (stacy didn't wake up with me, so he had to wait nearly 2 hrs to vote, lol!)
Barack H. Obama, the 44th President-Elect of the United States of America!
the crowd was electrifying. everyone was everyone's brother and sister, as the diversity of chicago flooded into downtown. chicago is known for its ethnic enclaves, but it didn't matter what side of the city or neighborhood you came from. we embraced each other like old friends. words cannot express the sensation of emotions that swept across me as i stood in unity with THOUSANDS of others in grant park. we hugged each other, laughed together, took pictures of one another. cheered and rejoiced together. the feeling of togetherness was...simply beautiful. and in chicago, nonetheless. a place where place pass each other on the street without eye contact, without speaking or acknowledging the presence of another. a place where senseless violence has claimed the lives of so many of our young people. a place where we came together PEACEFULLY to celebrate the election of our next black president. wow.
(yep, that's me with the sls and the blk power fist ;o) i just luv this pic!)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
why do some people have 3, 4, and 5 sets of dreadlocks?
i'm really at a loss as to why some repeatedly start and stop and start locking their hair. the process of locking is to....involved (for lack of a better word) to continue to start the process over and over and over again. does this speak to one's commitment to the process? does this reflect on one's meaning/lifestyle behind being locked? are locks just another hairstyle? or is there *something* to be gained/learned/realized as we go through the process of locking 5, 10, or 20 years down the road?
i can understand if one tries to lock once, or even twice depending on the success of the first go-round, and then later decides it's not for him/her. and i can also understand if, after years of wearing locks, life takes you in a different direction and you decide that you need/want a fresh start....
...but my initial thoughts are more geared towards those who literally have had several sets of locks within a short amount of time (say, less than 3-4 years). i've entertained conversations with a few folks on this topic. some take the stance that ppl have the freedom to do whatever with their hair (the "do you" mentality); others feel that locking is simply becoming more of a fad or "just a hairstyle" as opposed to having any deeper significance or symbolism....i'm curious to know what you all think.....
for example....
i recently met a coworker who proudly cuts her locks every 1-2 years "just to change things up". she's on her 6th or 7th set of locks now. i asked her, why go thru the process if she knows she won't keep it up. she responded saying she likes locks, but "just gets tired of them" after a while. IMO thats way too much energy and confusion going into each set of locks....at the same time, i know her process is a direct reflection of who she is. i'm not saying that to be negative, but she's very much still trying to find herself. she changes with the wind, and so does her hair. just when she's getting settled with one thing, she flips the script and changes up her life, whether its her schooling/career/job area, residency, relationships, etc. her randomness is reflected in her hair (i havent shared this revelation with her, but this is the conclusion i came to after chit-chatting with her for a spell)
whether you rock your locks as a political statement or a hairstyle, one's locks reflect something about you...
i can understand if one tries to lock once, or even twice depending on the success of the first go-round, and then later decides it's not for him/her. and i can also understand if, after years of wearing locks, life takes you in a different direction and you decide that you need/want a fresh start....
...but my initial thoughts are more geared towards those who literally have had several sets of locks within a short amount of time (say, less than 3-4 years). i've entertained conversations with a few folks on this topic. some take the stance that ppl have the freedom to do whatever with their hair (the "do you" mentality); others feel that locking is simply becoming more of a fad or "just a hairstyle" as opposed to having any deeper significance or symbolism....i'm curious to know what you all think.....
for example....
i recently met a coworker who proudly cuts her locks every 1-2 years "just to change things up". she's on her 6th or 7th set of locks now. i asked her, why go thru the process if she knows she won't keep it up. she responded saying she likes locks, but "just gets tired of them" after a while. IMO thats way too much energy and confusion going into each set of locks....at the same time, i know her process is a direct reflection of who she is. i'm not saying that to be negative, but she's very much still trying to find herself. she changes with the wind, and so does her hair. just when she's getting settled with one thing, she flips the script and changes up her life, whether its her schooling/career/job area, residency, relationships, etc. her randomness is reflected in her hair (i havent shared this revelation with her, but this is the conclusion i came to after chit-chatting with her for a spell)
whether you rock your locks as a political statement or a hairstyle, one's locks reflect something about you...
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Register to Vote by Oct 7th! (in Illinois)
Check out video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY
people say Obama’s words are just words...
but...
when was the last time "words" weren’t important...???...
when was the last time a great leader didn’t use words to lead...??...
when was the last time a person didn’t use words to describe how they felt...?...
when was the last time "words" weren’t empowering...?...
and we can all recall the last time "words" were used to divide us and install fear...
Bush used words to fear us into voting for him the second time around...
terror this...
terror that...
nuclear here...
weapons of mass destruction there...
and those words effected a lot of people’s choices...
"enough is enough"...
let’s rebuild...
let’s change ourselves...
let’s allow positivity to guide us...
let's take action....
let’s activate our passion...
we are Americans....
and this is the first time in forever that someone running for president represents "US"...
some say this is all excitement...
I call it “proud to be an American”...
some say this whole Obama movement is "cult like"...
well...
if it comes across cult like...
then...
the cult is called America...
the Obama movement is connecting America.
and it has made "US" realize our importance...
the youth is excited and activated...
adults are passionate and motivated...
the elderly are proud to know the country they built is in safe hands...
we are one...
for too long politics has been corrupt...
separate from the American people...
with agendas that go against what the American people "need"...
education...
health...
safety...
jobs...
etc...
politicians have spoken a different language...
making it so the youth and poor people feel as if voting was only for the wealthy and old people...
making "US" feel as if "we" had no voice...
making "US" feel powerless...making it feel like if "we" did vote it wouldn’t change anything...
but wait...
that did happen...
some of us voted, and it didn’t change anything...
we were in the dark...
we had no voice...
we were powerless...
because America was not a united America...
and "they" spoke a different language...
and they had an agenda different from our well being...
correct me if I’m wrong...or speak up if I’m missing something...
we want education, health, safety, and good jobs...right???...
oh yeah...
and "a healthy planet to live on"...
but here we are...
in a war... poor education... poor health programs... the dollar is down... the planet, polluted...
the rich, richer... and the poor, struggling...
with sky high gas prices to top it all off...
and now even the rich aren't really rich internationally because our dollar is has fallen so far down...
in our slumber... a very small few got really rich...
because when you’re sleeping...
"it’s hard to change agendas"...
we know what happened in 2000 and 2004...
but in 2008...
it’s different...
we are awake...
and there is a movement...
and "it’s hard to change a movement"...
last time "we" didn’t have a movement...
America wasn’t united...
and now "United and "Standing"...for something...
we know the power of "US"...
and we have a person who represents the "U.S."...
"US"…
"we are the ones we’ve been waiting for"...
I’m proud to be an American...
will.i.am
though i really can't understand how anyone could vote for mccain in this day and age (no offense to any die-hard republicans), it amazes me even more that some people still walk around saying that they are proud to NOT vote and do not participate in our democracy. yes, our electoral process has many flaws. yes, there are lots of factors outside of the president himself that dictate our country's economy and social structure...but if you sit idly by while watching our country continue into ruin, you're just as at fault as the folks running the country into the ground. Get out and vote! [Obama ;o)] Help others to register by Tue Oct 7th! and get them to vote! [Obama!] Take your family members and neighbors with you to the polls! Have a poll party afterwards! [to hopefully celebrate Obama's win ;o)]
seriously though, Americans need to get involved in our political process if we want to change the direction the country's going in. stop letting excuses concerning "those with real power doing what they want anyway" keep you from letting your voice be heard. when the dec 2007 election in kenya went against public opinion, people rioted. millions were displaced and thousands lost their lives. they fought because they believed they were treated unjustly. they fought because they felt they had no other choice. later, the country was able to come to some compromise....when bush stole the vote, we complained to each other, shrugged our shoulders, and life went on. now, i'm not saying we should loot and kill and burn things down if the election doesn't go our way. Lord knows violence only begets more violence. but being active participants in the political process is the only way to bring about change. every social movement that has brought about change (women's movement, civil rights movement,gay rights movement, labor movements, disability rights movement, etc.) started because people were courageous enough to take a stand against hate/discrimination and protest! take a stand this election and vote!
seriously though, Americans need to get involved in our political process if we want to change the direction the country's going in. stop letting excuses concerning "those with real power doing what they want anyway" keep you from letting your voice be heard. when the dec 2007 election in kenya went against public opinion, people rioted. millions were displaced and thousands lost their lives. they fought because they believed they were treated unjustly. they fought because they felt they had no other choice. later, the country was able to come to some compromise....when bush stole the vote, we complained to each other, shrugged our shoulders, and life went on. now, i'm not saying we should loot and kill and burn things down if the election doesn't go our way. Lord knows violence only begets more violence. but being active participants in the political process is the only way to bring about change. every social movement that has brought about change (women's movement, civil rights movement,gay rights movement, labor movements, disability rights movement, etc.) started because people were courageous enough to take a stand against hate/discrimination and protest! take a stand this election and vote!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
New FREE Michael Moore Film...2008 Election!
Come watch the trailer for the new Michael Moore movie entitled "Slacker Uprising". You will be able to download the entire movie for free on September 23rd if you sign up!
http://slackeruprising.com/
http://slackeruprising.com/
Friday, September 12, 2008
If being natural is so 'popular'....
then why aren't more black folks doing it?
i've read comments in some online cirles that being 'natural' and/or locking the hair is a recent fashion 'trend,' but in everyday life i'm not seeing the masses of natural heads that folks are talking about...
now don't get me wrong. there are lots of black women who've walked away from the creamy crack/ fire cream. but there are lots of black women who continue to straighten their hair on a regular basis, or chemically color treat it, but claim to remain natural. let's think about this scientifically. obviously, coloring the hair is a chemical process, but heat also facilitates chemical changes (think about baking bread or burning wood - the finished product is not the same as the staring materials)...overtime, heat can permanently change the texture of hair, even if you haven't saturated it with relaxer. are you really sporting natural hair if you never wear your own texture and are constantly flat ironing? what about the constant layering of hair color?
then others have presented the argument that "everyone is getting locks now" but "folks are doing it for the wrong reasons"....in some ways, this may be true since locked styles are more widely accepted now than ever. and locks do seem to be a fad of sorts....still, i have only personally known a couple people, men or women, who were locked before i made the commitment...of course, now that i'm locked, it seems like everyone's doing it...probably because i'm more aware of HOW people are wearing their hair and WHY...
then there are others who start locking with lock extensions/weaves.... and those who 'commit' to locking their hair three, four, and five times over....that's a whole 'nother story....
in the midst of this "natural hair/locking revolution" that i hear so many natural/dread heads talking about, i'm still surrounded daily by women (and some men) who continue to lye, fry, and dye their hair to get straight, wavy, "good" hair....
if being natural is so popular, why aren't more black folks embracing their own natural curls?
i think about tonia, a white mother who adopted African American children. she wanted to keep the girls natural, but found it hard to find role models of Af. Amer. women loving their natural hair where she lived. why was this such a difficult feat? (this enlightened mama later decided to lock her daughter's hair so that she can grow up feeling proud about her natural self. good job, mama! see their blog)
i've read too many blogs about whether folks are 'keeping it real' or being true to their natural selves throughout this whole process. whether folks truly have a spiritual connection to their hair beyond cosmetic arrogance. one blogger even spent months and months and months repeating the same ill feelings about newbies vs old skool lockers who locked for deeper significance than today's fly-by-night lockers. i was amazed by the shear energy this individual used to blog about the same things for the better part of the last year.....don't black folks have enough issues that keep us divided without picking through the nuances of our natural hair? regardless of how ridiculous some sound - 'why do my locks look fuzzy/lumpy?' duh! they're dreadlocks! - we gotta move past some of this superficial bullshit.
the real issue is not why or how one is "going natural" or locking their hair (although people should realize that their locks are more than a just "style," even if they're locking because they like the look.) the real issue is why are black folks across the world still hooked on texturizers, relaxers, flat irons, and blow dryers that promise to straighten away our sense of identity in the first place.... i'm not even gonna touch on the issue of wearing fake hair....better yet, why don't we dialogue about *real* issues like why there are more black men in prison than in college, or whether kids in Chicago Public Schools need to be paid to get good grades, or how the US government can spends trillions of dollars in an overseas war while our economy runs into the ground....but i digress...
yeah, i know....we're all at different stages of "enlightenment." i recognize that i made some serious shifts in my paradigms of thought to get to where i am today, and i'm certain that my consciousness will continue to expand and transform as my locks grow and mature with me....in the meantime, lets just agree to embrace the fact that at least some folks have started (and continued) the process of locking and loving themselves in whatever natural state they're in. let's get concerned about what really matters - education, poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, racism/discrimination, nationalism, criminal/child welfare system, politics/government corruption - throughout the African diaspora. now thats whats up.
i've read comments in some online cirles that being 'natural' and/or locking the hair is a recent fashion 'trend,' but in everyday life i'm not seeing the masses of natural heads that folks are talking about...
now don't get me wrong. there are lots of black women who've walked away from the creamy crack/ fire cream. but there are lots of black women who continue to straighten their hair on a regular basis, or chemically color treat it, but claim to remain natural. let's think about this scientifically. obviously, coloring the hair is a chemical process, but heat also facilitates chemical changes (think about baking bread or burning wood - the finished product is not the same as the staring materials)...overtime, heat can permanently change the texture of hair, even if you haven't saturated it with relaxer. are you really sporting natural hair if you never wear your own texture and are constantly flat ironing? what about the constant layering of hair color?
then others have presented the argument that "everyone is getting locks now" but "folks are doing it for the wrong reasons"....in some ways, this may be true since locked styles are more widely accepted now than ever. and locks do seem to be a fad of sorts....still, i have only personally known a couple people, men or women, who were locked before i made the commitment...of course, now that i'm locked, it seems like everyone's doing it...probably because i'm more aware of HOW people are wearing their hair and WHY...
then there are others who start locking with lock extensions/weaves.... and those who 'commit' to locking their hair three, four, and five times over....that's a whole 'nother story....
in the midst of this "natural hair/locking revolution" that i hear so many natural/dread heads talking about, i'm still surrounded daily by women (and some men) who continue to lye, fry, and dye their hair to get straight, wavy, "good" hair....
if being natural is so popular, why aren't more black folks embracing their own natural curls?
i think about tonia, a white mother who adopted African American children. she wanted to keep the girls natural, but found it hard to find role models of Af. Amer. women loving their natural hair where she lived. why was this such a difficult feat? (this enlightened mama later decided to lock her daughter's hair so that she can grow up feeling proud about her natural self. good job, mama! see their blog)
i've read too many blogs about whether folks are 'keeping it real' or being true to their natural selves throughout this whole process. whether folks truly have a spiritual connection to their hair beyond cosmetic arrogance. one blogger even spent months and months and months repeating the same ill feelings about newbies vs old skool lockers who locked for deeper significance than today's fly-by-night lockers. i was amazed by the shear energy this individual used to blog about the same things for the better part of the last year.....don't black folks have enough issues that keep us divided without picking through the nuances of our natural hair? regardless of how ridiculous some sound - 'why do my locks look fuzzy/lumpy?' duh! they're dreadlocks! - we gotta move past some of this superficial bullshit.
the real issue is not why or how one is "going natural" or locking their hair (although people should realize that their locks are more than a just "style," even if they're locking because they like the look.) the real issue is why are black folks across the world still hooked on texturizers, relaxers, flat irons, and blow dryers that promise to straighten away our sense of identity in the first place.... i'm not even gonna touch on the issue of wearing fake hair....better yet, why don't we dialogue about *real* issues like why there are more black men in prison than in college, or whether kids in Chicago Public Schools need to be paid to get good grades, or how the US government can spends trillions of dollars in an overseas war while our economy runs into the ground....but i digress...
yeah, i know....we're all at different stages of "enlightenment." i recognize that i made some serious shifts in my paradigms of thought to get to where i am today, and i'm certain that my consciousness will continue to expand and transform as my locks grow and mature with me....in the meantime, lets just agree to embrace the fact that at least some folks have started (and continued) the process of locking and loving themselves in whatever natural state they're in. let's get concerned about what really matters - education, poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS, racism/discrimination, nationalism, criminal/child welfare system, politics/government corruption - throughout the African diaspora. now thats whats up.
I've Been Tagged...
Here are the rules...
- Link to the person that tagged you..... I was tagged by Anthia-Ofo and Saabira
- Post the rules on your blog
- Share 6 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself that have not been shared already
- Tag 6 random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
- Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
1) i LOVE to travel! i've been to the regular touristy spots (Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, etc.) and took a cruise through the bahamas, but i also had the opportunity to travel for service. my first international service trip was to San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala in 2001. last december, i went to Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. my next service trip is scheduled for dec 2008 to San Salvador, capital city of El Salvador. one day, i'll go to Brazil and New Zealand and maybe tour the Mediterranean Sea...but that'll be for pleasure ;o)
2) i love watching documentaries, especially concerning the Black/African/African American experience, but about social movements in general. ya gotta know about where the world has been to understand the direction our world is going (and in some ways, we seem to be moving backwards...)
3) i like watching (American) football. i usually post up with my loved ones on sundays to watch the game. i'm rooting for the Bears this season, but it doesn't look like they're gonna make it today...i'm not as bad as my mother though. she actually bets on the game regularly ;o) i like watching boxing too, especially the light- and featherweights. they seem to fight the hardest.
4) i like to ice skate. in fact, Chicago is a great city for outdoor ice skating in the winter...i'm by no means an olympian skater, but i can do a turn or two on the ice.
5) i listen to all forms of music, except traditional country, acid rock, and techno. (yes, there is a difference between Chicago deep house and techno - and i consider myself to be a young, old skool househead)
6) i've always wanted to try hang gliding, but i could never in life imagine bungee jumping. go figure.
Here are the 6 folks I'm tagging:
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
when did you KNOW that you were ready?
check out my first attempt at doing a strawset with pipe cleaners...i managed to find some black ones over the weekend and tried them out overnight...whaddya think? (btw, my hair isn't colored, but the last pic makes me wanna to try it out)
...i was sold on sisterlocks from the moment i began researching them in may '08. i spent a few weeks stalking lockitup, fotki albums, and blogs, then decided to take the plunge...somehow, the decision to lock seemed so much more difficult than my decision to stop perming my hair. braids, twists, cornrows, etc. made the transition from perms to natural hair quite easy...but locks are so much more permanent. i was scared to lock out of fear that i wouldn't like my hair and would have to later cut it off (my head is way too big for a buzz cut! lol!) but sisterlocks offers all the styling versatility i've been looking for without the fuss of having to comb hair everyday (or for hours a week - that's precious sleep time in the morning!)...my only regret is that i didn't know about sisterlocks sooner...
since i've been locked down, others around me have been contemplating the same decision. everyone's at different points in their hair journeys...some not willing to let go of their perms quite yet ("girl, i like your hair, but i couldn't do that...") some already natural, but not ready to lock ("i don't know if that would look good on me...you have the face for it") some who've been locked, but wish they knew of sisterlocks before they started ("i want parts like yours")...people lock their hair for all kinds of reasons and circumstances...
...when did you KNOW that you were ready for locks? do you think you would have been ready sooner? where are you in your hair journey?
Monday, August 18, 2008
moving woes and my future husband?
okay. we've talked about this for months and months. and now it's coming to be....my bf's moving in with me by the end of this month. i've been making space, throwing things away, letting go of stuff...and past situations....but i've been having second thoughts.
we've talked a bit about getting married and creating a life together, and we've been through so much - good and bad...moving in seems like the next natural step for us (please dont fight with me about getting married first; in today's economy, two wallets are better than one and i would much rather live with him than some random roommate), but i'm suddenly getting cold feet.
now, i've always had reservations about getting married. unlike most women who couldn't wait to jump the broom, i've always felt that i could stand to wait a while longer. the idea of "forever, ever" with someone has always been scary to me....but being with him these last few years have made me think that it may not be so bad....
at the same time, we are sooo different. we have a great friendship where we'll always have each other's back, but we argue over random miscommunications and serious past transgressions between us. some of it i attribute to growing pains as we learn to deal with each other, but sometimes i wonder if we can make it past dating and into marriage. and moving in is showing me just how much anxiety i have over all of this.
when i talk to him about it, he says that he has no doubts about moving in. still, in our last argument, he said he wasn't sure if this was the right thing. after we made up, he assured me that he is fully committed to making this relationship and living situation work.
maybe i'm being paranoid. maybe my inner self is trying to send some smoke signals my way....i'm not quite sure. in the meantime, i'm trying to relax and not make the transition more difficult than it needs to be. still, i can't lie and say i'm not nervous about this. i know that this move will either make or break us....
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