Tomorrow is a very important day for me. This time last month, after my big chop on 10/24, I didn't think I would ever be able to do this, but tommorow is the day... That I go to work with my natural hair. See, y'all know me. I care A LOT what people think and say about me. And I know this is a HUGE deal, especially for the people who don't really know me. My closer co-workers, they will love and praise it and be proud of me. But those who are in those other meetings, the people walking around the agency, they won't recognize me, they will make unnecessary comments. They will ask questions and those... Those are the people I fear most.
Feared. I guess.
I'm going to do it. But I definitely went through a lot in my mind to deal with it.
Recent events in Ferguson have rocked my world a little bit. And I don't like talking about it. Hell, I don't like thinking about it. But I do... A lot. And I read... A lot about it. And I form my own opinions. Most of all, I hate politics... A lot. But I live in this country and I can't technically avoid it, since voting and learning about them are the only way to change the world. And I do believe that. Kind of.
Feared. I guess.
I'm going to do it. But I definitely went through a lot in my mind to deal with it.
Recent events in Ferguson have rocked my world a little bit. And I don't like talking about it. Hell, I don't like thinking about it. But I do... A lot. And I read... A lot about it. And I form my own opinions. Most of all, I hate politics... A lot. But I live in this country and I can't technically avoid it, since voting and learning about them are the only way to change the world. And I do believe that. Kind of.
I digress.
The biggest thing I've been wrestling with since the August tragedy, is this theme of 'under-education' and it runs deep in the white community. And it's clearly not by choice, it's by experience. No matter how much they think they know, they have no idea. I read something today about the progression of our country -- 'don't raise racists' is the basic idea. It was also accompanied by the fact that only about 10% of white people associate with people outside of their own race as opposed to 40% of blacks. It's not because someone is a racist, it's because they just live in their own world -- again, not really by choice, but because that's just what they know, and they don't really NEED to expand outside of that, at least not in the way Asian-Americans, Spanish Americans, or Black Americans have to.
Majority rules. For years and years and years, we have been conforming as much as possible to their way of living in order to literally, live. For example, we have to 'update' the way we dress if our pants are too low, to turn down our music if the volume is too high, and the way we wear our hair...
No black person has naturally straight hair. In order to style it that way, we chemically process it to be straight, permanently. We do it to be considered more 'beautiful,' to make it 'easier' to manage. That's what I have always known, and the way I've always chosen to wear my hair.
But you know what the craziest part about it is? The education.
Most of white America doesn't. Even. Know that. But then again, why should they even care?
How are the unfamiliar supposed to be okay with someone or something they don't know about? People fear what they don't know. And that's the number one reason why I'm in advertising. And the reason I MUST go to work tomorrow with my natural hair worn out, proudly.
I will educate, slowly. And maybe someone will learn something new tomorrow. About me. Maybe if one person learns something about me, then maybe they will learn something about us; and maybe they will become more educated, and so their children will become more educated, and maybe one less black child will die.
But you know what the craziest part about it is? The education.
Most of white America doesn't. Even. Know that. But then again, why should they even care?
How are the unfamiliar supposed to be okay with someone or something they don't know about? People fear what they don't know. And that's the number one reason why I'm in advertising. And the reason I MUST go to work tomorrow with my natural hair worn out, proudly.
I will educate, slowly. And maybe someone will learn something new tomorrow. About me. Maybe if one person learns something about me, then maybe they will learn something about us; and maybe they will become more educated, and so their children will become more educated, and maybe one less black child will die.
It's dramatic and far fetched but if I can make even one attempt... at an ounce of change, then I'm going in head first.
