After I heard the presentation on “Processed Hair” I was very fascinated by the information that was given to me. I met with the author to learn more. I knew I wanted to make a change, but didn’t know where to begin. For the following few weeks I had a dialogue with myself, to perm or not to perm. That is the question. The dilemma was if I stopped perming my hair what was I going to do with it. I didn’t know anyone at the time that had natural hair. What would my natural hair look like? Would I like it? Would others like it? I was afraid to see myself because I hadn’t seen myself in such a long a time. Would I recognize myself? I was tormented. I was frustrated. Why hadn’t anyone share this information with me prior? It all made sense, the people I was expecting to provide with this type of knowledge was not aware. They were also lost.
On December 12 2003 I decided to save myself from the rat race. I was a struggle at first because I didn’t know how to style it or treat it. After a month I started to notice new hair growth, I was excited to see what my natural hair looked like. With in four month my hair looked like it had a jerry curl, s curl, perm, twist, and kinky all at the same time. The roots of my hair were revealing itself and the ends were straight as an arrow. I had to make a decision again, this time I had to literally cut the perm out of my life. The hair I had been growing all life was about to be removed. As I sat down I could actually hear my grandmother saying “You never gonna find a husband now”, “Ya gonna missed that hair and when you come to your senses it won’t be there”. I could hear close friends and family members saying, “I pay $150 to get this weave and you want to cut your hair” “What are they teaching you at that school”, “Mrs. X.”
The decision I was making was going to benefit me and possible inspire my friends and family to consider what they are doing to themselves and their children. During spring break of 2004 I went into a salon and demanded the stylist to cut as much of the perm as she can. She repeated exactly what I said to her and asked me what I wanted to do with my hair. I figured her English must be limited so I repeated myself, she then said with a surprising tone “You want to cut all that hair?” My response was yes. After going back and forth for a while she convinced me to cut it up to the neck area; instead of cutting 17 inches she cut 12. The stylist blow-dried my hair so straight I couldn’t tell I didn’t have a perm. But after a few weeks I saw the remaining perm strands and had to muster up the courage to cut it off. With in one year I went from having hair down to my butt to looking like Don King. I didn’t know what to do. I begin to notice other women with natural hair and I would ask them what products they used or who does their hair, or what suggestions they night have for me……
To be continue
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Hair part I
Why is hair such a big issue? Particular for African American/African descendents with coarse, semi curly hair, kinky or as others view it “Napps”. In 2003 I started my graduate psychology program at Florida A&M University. There I met several women who had natural hair and spoke about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As far as I knew it, I had a healthy lifestyle, I didn’t smoke, drink, or engage in any drug activities. It wasn’t until towards the middle of the semester when I was enlightened about what exactly a healthy lifestyle was and it starts with the chemicals one puts in his/her hair.
I attended a thesis presentation one of my classmates was presenting on; it was titled “Processed hair”. What exactly is processed hair? Well it starts with chemicals, any type of chemicals used to alter the color, length, or texture of a persons hair is processed. I had not realized I fell in the category of young women who processed their hair. Processing my hair was part of my culture. I remember as early as nine years old what a big deal it was to get a perm or to hot comb my hair. When I had my first communion it was a two day process to complete my hair. My grandmother washed my hair, air dried it for half a day and braid it into small sections. I even missed a school day so I wouldn’t sweat at gym class. The morning of the communion ceremony I had to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to start the straightening procedure. The first step was greasing the scalp so the hair doesn’t fry. It was the most painful procedure I had ever experienced as a child, yet I felt it was the best my hair had ever looked because I got so many compliments. While having my hair straightened my ears were burned, my head ached, I had dry scalp, and the steam from the comb irritated my neck. No one seemed to notice the agonizing look on my face, but even if they did this was part of our culture. They weren’t going to allow me to embarrass the family with my kinky hair; this was tradition. As I got older I under stood the “importance” of perming, hot combing and coloring my hair was.
At any rate the presentation explained the difference between women who processed their hair and those that do not. Women who continuously process their hair are linked to terminal illnesses such as cancer, all sorts, skin dysfunction and damaged hair. The presenter showed pictures of women’s brains that processed their hair, and these women had developed all sorts of green mucus around their heads. Women who continue to perm, color, Jeri curl, S curl, organic perm or what ever fancy names marketers came up with for altering your hair, are at high risk for:
· Cancer (brain, ovarian, breast, skin)
· Damage to hair and follicles
· Hair loss and thinning
· Burned scalp and skin
Also women process their hairs are more prone to other diseases.
To be continue
I attended a thesis presentation one of my classmates was presenting on; it was titled “Processed hair”. What exactly is processed hair? Well it starts with chemicals, any type of chemicals used to alter the color, length, or texture of a persons hair is processed. I had not realized I fell in the category of young women who processed their hair. Processing my hair was part of my culture. I remember as early as nine years old what a big deal it was to get a perm or to hot comb my hair. When I had my first communion it was a two day process to complete my hair. My grandmother washed my hair, air dried it for half a day and braid it into small sections. I even missed a school day so I wouldn’t sweat at gym class. The morning of the communion ceremony I had to wake up at 4 o’clock in the morning to start the straightening procedure. The first step was greasing the scalp so the hair doesn’t fry. It was the most painful procedure I had ever experienced as a child, yet I felt it was the best my hair had ever looked because I got so many compliments. While having my hair straightened my ears were burned, my head ached, I had dry scalp, and the steam from the comb irritated my neck. No one seemed to notice the agonizing look on my face, but even if they did this was part of our culture. They weren’t going to allow me to embarrass the family with my kinky hair; this was tradition. As I got older I under stood the “importance” of perming, hot combing and coloring my hair was.
At any rate the presentation explained the difference between women who processed their hair and those that do not. Women who continuously process their hair are linked to terminal illnesses such as cancer, all sorts, skin dysfunction and damaged hair. The presenter showed pictures of women’s brains that processed their hair, and these women had developed all sorts of green mucus around their heads. Women who continue to perm, color, Jeri curl, S curl, organic perm or what ever fancy names marketers came up with for altering your hair, are at high risk for:
· Cancer (brain, ovarian, breast, skin)
· Damage to hair and follicles
· Hair loss and thinning
· Burned scalp and skin
Also women process their hairs are more prone to other diseases.
To be continue
Friday, February 19, 2010
Family ties
During this terrifying event of the January earthquake in Haiti, I have learned extensive details about my friend. After 17 years of friendship I had no idea that my friend did not know her father until age 18. It's heart breaking to know that a young woman missed out on having a relationship with her father because her mother's family didn't approve of him. According to her mother's family, her father was "only a cop" he was a general or captain in the army service. Several families deny young children of building a relationship with their father because of this nonsense. My friend is currently trying to reconnect with her father and is in the process of trying to get him a visa to live in the US. Her father was severely affected by the earthquake, he is currently ill and is living in front of what used to be his home. This is a valuable lesson that a child should not be purposely kept away from his/her father.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Adoption
Several people have asked me regarding adoption in Haiti. Personally I do not have any connections with any agencies in Haiti or the US, but I can provide some websites where individuals who are considering adopting can search. CNN.com; haiti.adoption.com; rainbowkids.com; achildshopefoundation.org CNN has done an outstanding job in linking foster parents with children, and parents who were already in the process of adopting. Some of the website I mentioned are the top ons that I some people is/have used in the past. I encourage individuals who are seriously thinking about adopting to think thoroguhly before making a decision. Do not make any rushed decisions, a child will not make him/her feel better or make a relationship work.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Relieved
Who are the faces of Haiti? The faces of Haiti are you and I. The person at work, your neighbor, friend, a child, husband, wife and so on. These are the people who are feeling the after math of the earthquake that ravished Haiti on January 12. As the journalists and camera crew pack their equipments to leave the images of crying babies and amputees behind, Haiti will slowly disappear from the media. But those who have direct connections there won’t easily forget or the images won’t slip away from their mind. The people who were fortunate enough to be blessed with their lives are the ones who will be calling you and I. Whether it’s a friend, a family member or someone trying to relay a message to their friend or family member, they will call. When they call this is what some of the conversation may sound like:
“We thank God we’re alive. Today wasn’t so bad they came to pick up some of the dead bodies in front of the house”
“The kids are ok, but they haven’t eaten in three days. We can’t get to the food when it comes. I’m too old to be fighting with these young guys who are stronger and faster”
“They found… today. …She looks peaceful”
“The kids are home now, they’re not able to go to school just yet. ….From up the street have lessons for the children in the neighbor”
“I got the money you sent, thank you. We really appreciate it, but I wasn’t able to get it for three days. Every time I went to CAM the line was too long and there are people standing online waiting for you to pay them so they can let you get to the front”
“Thank you for the $50 you sent, but the people at the transfer place only gave $40”
“We didn’t want to tell you so soon, but …died too. They found the body the same time they found… we thought it was too much to tell you at once”
“We have the money, but we’re not able to buy anything. 98% of the street vendors are not working and the ones that are, their prices are sky high”
“The smell is unbearable…”
"I have nightmares every night, sometime I see people that aren't there"
These are some of the conversations I have had personally and some are from friends and other people. It is crucial for anyone who has endured these thoughts and images to digest them. Make it your business to see a professional therapist/counselor to help process these feelings. If someone can’t afford to see a counselor or doesn’t believe in the power of therapy, I recommend reaching out to friends and family members just to get together. Getting together will provide a sense of normalcy and a feeling of “I’m not alone”. The cheapest way to start letting out all of your anger and frustration is by writing. Get a pen and notebook and begin writing your feelings away.
Francelene
“We thank God we’re alive. Today wasn’t so bad they came to pick up some of the dead bodies in front of the house”
“The kids are ok, but they haven’t eaten in three days. We can’t get to the food when it comes. I’m too old to be fighting with these young guys who are stronger and faster”
“They found… today. …She looks peaceful”
“The kids are home now, they’re not able to go to school just yet. ….From up the street have lessons for the children in the neighbor”
“I got the money you sent, thank you. We really appreciate it, but I wasn’t able to get it for three days. Every time I went to CAM the line was too long and there are people standing online waiting for you to pay them so they can let you get to the front”
“Thank you for the $50 you sent, but the people at the transfer place only gave $40”
“We didn’t want to tell you so soon, but …died too. They found the body the same time they found… we thought it was too much to tell you at once”
“We have the money, but we’re not able to buy anything. 98% of the street vendors are not working and the ones that are, their prices are sky high”
“The smell is unbearable…”
"I have nightmares every night, sometime I see people that aren't there"
These are some of the conversations I have had personally and some are from friends and other people. It is crucial for anyone who has endured these thoughts and images to digest them. Make it your business to see a professional therapist/counselor to help process these feelings. If someone can’t afford to see a counselor or doesn’t believe in the power of therapy, I recommend reaching out to friends and family members just to get together. Getting together will provide a sense of normalcy and a feeling of “I’m not alone”. The cheapest way to start letting out all of your anger and frustration is by writing. Get a pen and notebook and begin writing your feelings away.
Francelene
Thursday, February 4, 2010
NGO
How many non governmental organization (NGO)are in the US? How many are in Africa? How many are in Haiti? Must people wouldn't know the answer to this question. There are approximately over 200 NGO's in the United State. Some of these NGO are in collaboration with universities such as Penn State and other christian universities. Africa is the largest continent in the world yet it has less NGO's than Haiti. There are approximately 10,000 NGO's in Haiti. What are these NGO's? Who are they? And what are they doing? For the amount of NGO's that are in Haiti one would assume that poverty situation would be improving. Yet the people of Haiti are far more worst off then they were prior to the NGO's. One has to wonder what are these organizations doing. I stumbled on this fascinating article about a lawyer who claims to have information pertaining to the true reason why there are so many organizations in Haiti.
http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/10/13/oil_in_haiti_-_economic_reasons_for_the_unus_occupation
I would like for the followers to read this article and make up there own mind.
http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/10/13/oil_in_haiti_-_economic_reasons_for_the_unus_occupation
I would like for the followers to read this article and make up there own mind.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Opportunities
What is an opportunity? Does someone give one an opportunity? Or does one create one for itself? well in the midst of the Haiti earthquake several individuals, countries, corporations and organizations have used this as an opportunity to assist our brothers and sisters in Haiti. This has created tremendous opportunities for those who are involved to reach out and lend a hand. For example, there are 100s of families who have opened their homes to accept children of all ages to provide a safe environment for them and a better future. I know personally four individuals who have asked for my assistance in inquiring information pertaining to adoption. A wise person once said "One man's garbage is another man's treasure". Late last night while doing research online I found an article stating that children of Haiti are being trafficking as sex slaves. So far 10 Americans and four local Haitians have been reprimanded for trying to kidnap 35 children ages two months to 12 years old(for more info www.france24.com). Are Haiti's children garbage? It is heart breaking and devastating that a group of people would try to take advantage of a situation of such matter. While some families in Haiti are looking at adoption as a way to help their children get a better a future, others are preying on their vulnerabilities to snatch these helpless children. This makes it extremely difficult for the families who absolutely care and love the children he/she is trying to adopt, but now that may not be possible. It only takes one apple to spoil a bunch. I ask this question, what is your opportunity? Are you going to take this vital chance to add more heinous crimes in the world? Destroy a child's future by making them become sex slaves or gang members? Destroy a generation? Or are you going to use this opportunity to make a difference in some one's life by donating your time, money, food, clothing etc. What opportunities are you going to create? Are you going to help a family get back on their feet, help a child continue his/her education, or say hello to a co-worker or a friend who is suffering from this devastation? What sliver lining can you find in this situation? We all can do something small to help. "Be the change you want to see in others".
Francelene
Francelene
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
