As a young black male who has decided to
grow his hair, I am often stereotyped; as having a lack of ambition, being a
godless heathen and depending on the location in which I find myself, harassed
as a criminal by security. I had never before been called mad or has it ever been
implied of me that I suffer from a psychological disorder, up until yesterday
when I was actually accosted and vilified by an older woman who tried to
convince me and her companion that I was mad. She went as far as getting the
security involved.
I
let my natural hair out and they thought I was mad
All this happened because I chose to let my
hair out. It did not occur to them that I am an Afro Conscious individual, in
tune with my African Cultural Heritage and growing my hair is a salute to this
fact. The characteristics of an African isn’t only the dark colour of the skin
or the roundness of the nose, it is clearly identifiable by the swirling growth
of the hair. We have however, been lead to believe that our natural hair is unattractive, and the hostility that
we have faced because of it, even now, causes many to destroy their hair using
potentially harmful chemicals in an effort to look “more appealing.”
We must celebrate and be educated about our
natural hair
How can any other race accept or respect us
as Africans, if we fail to accept our true self. It is important therefore that
we develop a greater appreciation of ourselves, before the rest of the world
comes to appreciate us as Africans. The question now is, “How can we get our
own people to love themselves?”
The African Cultural Renaissance Movement
(ACRM), had sought a solution to this matter and through doing so, have created
our annual Afro Hair Show, held in Hero’s week in October. The event is aimed
at celebrating our natural beauty as well as educating students about the
culture of hair in the black community.
A shift in our mindset is required. We must
accept each and every African individual in their natural form. We must make it
known that we love ourselves, so that same emotion will resonate across the
world, demanding that we be loved and accepted as we are.
Kevaughn Fraser
President
African Cultural Renaissance
Movement
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