I'm Not Knocking Straight - Just Questioning it....

Thought of the Day:  I embrace diversity - but I wonder if before diversity "works" groups need to see their own value, so they can truly share  and even respect what they are NOT...

I don't know about you, but I think I feel things more than most people.  I hurt when others hurt (even random strangers), I am happy when others are happy and so forth...it's not just a quick feeling that vanishes as quick as it starts, it lingers with me.  If affects (is that the right affect?) me...For some reason I genuinely care about others and their mental and physical being.  Sometimes I wonder if it's a gift or curse?? Okay, I guess typing this - it doesn't sound that weird, but what I have discovered is that I am consumed with the "other." The "other" as in those who struggle..

So what does this have to do with hair?  For 3 years I was educator in Chicago.  I had the opportunity to facilitate growth and learning.  It was never about changing people to the "better," forcing dominant social assimilation - or pitying.  My passion was facilitating growth - now bear with me...let me explain.

In education, there is always a standard...my kids NEVER met that standard...they NEVER were what they were supposed to be.  I felt this...TOO hard...I felt this all the way to my core.   I was angry - this almost broke me...I was fighting against an ingrained self-hatred that was reinforced daily.  I tried to help my students understand their own power - but society was louder.  It was always screaming, "YOU aren't good enough!"

HA...instead of the GOLD Standard...what about the White Standard.  My students never scored  high enough on the ACT/SAT, my students never met the attendance requirement, my students never met the "attitude" requirement...they didn't dress right, or talk right...or anything right...THEY just NEVER DID.  The standard...that society makes can go kick rocks.  It really bothers me...it bothers me so much!  Well, what does hair have to do with this...LET ME tell ya! :)

Here we go...when I met my first group of students in Chicago in 2008 - I immediately saw that they saw ME as other.  I am Brown, came up from humble beginnings...(shoot still coming up..trying!) yet I was "other".  They saw me as privileged...they were the ones that truly opened my eyes to my own privilege. I talked "right," I dressed differently...but most importantly - and most ODDLY enough...MY HAIR was natural.  My students - especially the girls were in awee and ANNOYED with my hair.."Ms. Young - why don't you straighten your hair. " Or "It's nappy Ms. Young," and "You would look prettier with straight hair..." So its easy to look at this and think...oh kids will be kids...but nope, not me.  Ms. Feel to Much Young instantly felt a hurt for my community - especially my girls ( I guess I am bias).  "MY KIDS" who I can see myself in, couldn't see themselves in me...WHAT THE HELL???  I don't care who you are...this speaks volumes...I wasn't an old, disinterested, non-minority teacher...I was young, I was THEM...or so I desperately wanted to be, I wanted them to feel me!!!

The economic and social division between my community members  is so deep - so pervasive....It makes me wonder if it is not only education that Blacks trying to reach the WHITE Standard (test scores), but in what other areas, are we setting ourselves up for failure by continuing to go with "their" flow? 

If we keep trying to reach an impossible standard - one that is "given" to us based on European norms - won't we continue to fail...especially in the eyes of our dominant friends here...When will we see the power we posses...when will we really be able to "rise?"  For anyone who says racism is gone (Cain and his cronies) come to Chicago...check out the streets and schools -see what dominant power has created...and continues to recycle..

I don't believe in racial division, but I do believe in real - I am me, but in all my "mixed" glory!  I embrace diversity - but I wonder if before diversity "works" groups need to see their own value, so they can truly share  and even respect what they are NOT...What do we have to do to get KIDS...like mine in Chicago - to ingrain in themselves worth and value so they can continue a movement started since the "Great Trip" from Africa..?? A movement away from contentment and impossible "given standards?"

Okay, let me try to tighten this up a little bit.. my natural hair - the hair that grows out of my scalp, the hair that the God gave me...is not enough.  A generation, or a LARGE part of their generation see their "naturalness" as not good enough, not meeting "the standard."  I REJECT the fact that it's just a  preference and choice, it's more than that...I see it as a yearning to meet an impossible standard given and made by...well you know who..

Why not start a movement with hair...our natural hair - the hair that blesses our scalp, that represents our roots, ones we should be proud of!!  Doesn't this more than anything say  I love me...even if YOU don't?  Hmmmm, I told you I was crazy, but what do you think?  I'd love comments...feedback...I wonder if people would buy shirts...:) Interesting how Black women (so low on the social totem pole - lets just be real) have this power...let's tap in to it...change usually starts small.