African American Intellectual-Activists by Dia N. Sekayi

Author:Dia N. Sekayi [Sekayi, Dia N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780815329213
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 1997-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

As is evident from the 25 year transformation, it was not an easy decision for Fatima to ‘lock’ her hair. Locking is a natural style worn by many men and women of African descent. The decision is difficult because when the hair locks it is nearly impossible to comb it out. Therefore the decision to lock is relatively permanent. If an individual changes his or her mind, the most common method is to cut the locks off and start over. In the African-American community it is often said that a woman's hair is her crowning glory. Madame C.J. Walker, the first self made female millionaire in this country, made her millions by marketing methods for African-American women to straighten their hair. Dread locks are not accepted to the extent that straightened hair is. An African-American woman who wears her hair in its natural state, especially when that state is kinky, is still questioned in the 1990's. Presumably the root of this non-acceptance of natural Blackness by African-Americans is some level of self hatred. Conversely, flaunting Blackness can be viewed as a certain level of self acceptance. Wyne speaks to this phenomenon.

The shift away from attempts to mask Blackness with skin bleaches and hair straighteners towards attempts to express, even flaunt, Blackness represents much more than a superficial and cosmetic appearance. It represents a major change in the fiber from which the new Black self is woven. (Wyne, 1974, pg. 87)

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