Black History Month Post

Yeaaaaa. It is February, my birth month, but more importantly BLACK HISTORY MONTH. That month of the year we get to recognize all the great contributions which our forefathers have made to develop this world in which we live, to highlight all the brave and exemplary characters gone before us, and also, just to give praises to all who, mightily,  deserves it for their success in making this world a better place to live for the black race. Surely, we have come a far way and despite the fact that there is much left to be done as it regards to eliminating racial discrimination, this is a month to raise our hands in celebration for our wonderful race.

So, I definitely cannot make a post without talking about our curly, amazing, hard to manage, natural hair. I found this inspiring video on Facebook on Topknot page. I tried to share it directly from there but I was unable to, so I just uploaded it. It has easy 11 hairstyles for you. Sometimes we are deep in stress and don't know what to do with our hair, well here are some simple hairstyles to remind us how to look fabulous on our down days.       

My Thank You

So to everyone who has supported me on this blog especially Tahlitha who gave me the idea of what to blog about, everyone who has visited even if it was one time, to everyone who has shared it and promoted my blog, to everyone who has comment whether on the blog or to me in person, to everyone who big me up on whats app, those who sent me pics to be added, Thank You soooooo much!! Your effort has not been in vain. I really appreciate the support and I have found that I really like blogging especially on this topic. Remember I told you this was a school project? Well it has been graded already I got a fantastic 98% (the teacher does not give 100% and this was the highest grade possible). Popularity/interest was on of the criteria and because at the time I had gotten over 300 views, I was able to get full marks for that area. Thank you guys so much and I shall continue this hobby but currently life has me a way. Anyways, thank you all for pushing it to over 400 now and I've gotten views from Asia and Europe. woop woop! As promised, the slide show will be added soon. Minor complications have prevented me from getting it up and rolling already. Thanks again :D 

Videos for you

Thank you 4c hair chick

Discrimination- Professionalism

Why were we lead to straighten our hair? Why is it really necessary that we press/ process our hair to be accepted (apart of an institute/organisation or even social group)? And, the main question on my mind is why is one regard unprofessional or it is inappropriate for her to wear her curls to work/school?

As far back as the ending of slavery and the development of the black race in the western hemisphere, female were told not to show their kinks. You had two options to fit in (not get killed or be acceptable)- tie away and hide that African hair of yours or straighten it.

 You could not wear your beautiful curls, no matter how defined they were, regardless of the fact if they if they were loose (in type 3) or tight (type 4)

Today, as times are changing, and the progress natural black hair has made is significant, there are still some great holes in society's concepts/ ways of viewing natural hair.

The major problem is discrimination. Natural hair is not regarded as work appropriate. Who gets to choose what is work appropriate? Who has the choice of saying which ethnicity is good or which ethnicity is bad? There are rules set in place to oppress our natural form, why? Is it because 'they' think it is ugly, 'they' think we are ugly? So then, we think we are ugly, therefore we conform to 'their' rules then set rules in our society to oppress ourselves? We use 'their' misconception of beauty to judge ourselves.

There are circumstances where persons are being denied positions in the work place and other organisation because of how the choose to wear their hair. Where people are discriminated against because of their hair type they tend to change it to a more straighten style. 

In everything we do, we should ensure that we do it in moderation and to ensure that it does not impede on others progress. As it regards to wearing natural styles to work and school the only rule there should be is this, as state before. Do not wear it too extravagant where it will block another person from learning such as an Afro. Afros can be worn elsewhere.

Today, I end with this small quote : 
It is not a matter of what is on your head,
It is a matter of what is in your head.
It should be not an issue of the colour your skin,
It should be an issue of the character within.
It is not how thick your lips curled,
It is what comes out of it to positively impact this world.

Naturalista within me speaks

Probably you are wondering what is a naturalista......... 
As defined by urban dictionary, a naturalista is a Black female who takes pride in her Black hair (hair that is not permed or been chemically changed in anyway).

A naturalista is someone who wears their hair the way that it naturally grows out of their scalp. 
This could mean they have curly, wavy or "kinky" hair. 

Whichever "hair type" they may identify with, they love and accept themselves because they know and understand that they are beautiful in their anatomy. 

Yes, yes, yes, I am a naturalista. My hair has never been processed but I have pressed it before. It was heat damaged a few weeks back but i have vowed not to use heat in my hair again. As the title  of my blog, Kinky Tough African Natural Hair, so is my hair. Most of the time I don't treat my hair as I ought to and it reacts to this. It becomes a literal monster. Rar! I become scared of it in these times when it appears impossible to  detangle but I always seem to get out of the situation. 

I really like to see healthy, well taken care of natural hair. I am usually not biased by genes. Some of us really did not get any of 'the good genes' in hair. When it has no curly pattern or is not straight, when it doesn't grow fast, when what I call optimal length is not where we want, when everyone around us isn't crazy over your hair. Sometimes we have to like our own hair. We have to look pass the European notation that we are not good enough, that we are not pretty. This is what was placed on my head and this is what I will have to work with, love and appreciate. I love my curls. I stand for them and nobody can make me say otherwise .