I admit it is not so unrealistic to say that "going natural" could be more of a fad for some people over others. However, since I am a natural sista(been one for 5 years)if it can help my fellow queens(and kings too, but there is not much of a stigma placed on black men who ditch the texturizers and the hair clippers)see one can be BLACK and BEAUTIFUL and NATURAL too then by all means let them experience this through a fad. Maybe one day this "fad" will turn into a LIBERATING FEELING that one does not have to conform to WESTERNIZED STANDARDS of beauty which have OPPRESSED us for way too long. For me, going natural was at first a very scary experience. At that stage of my life I was still bound by the generational effects of PSYCHOLOGICAL BRAINWASHING that the oppressor has placed on virtually ALL people of the AFRIKAN DIASPORA. So eventually I went back to CHEMICALIZING my hair. After a while I TRULY WOKE UP and saw that I just wanted to please the people around me who had not yet become(and still haven't)comfortable with their own natural BeYOUty. Now I'm happily nappy and LOVING IT.

Jah Bless,


msmalele




"MANCIPATE yourself from MENTAL SLAVERY none but ourselves can free our minds.""Redemption Song" Bob Marley



"Don't remove
the kinks
from your hair.
Remove them
from your brain." Marcus Mosiah Garvey

* * * * * * * * * * *



NATURALLY

Naturally
is what I prefer to be
not PERMED or PROCESSED
to satisfy she or HE
but me
only. . .
'cause you see
the kinks, coils, nap or whatever you
may call them
are a JAH-given gift
not a curse
not something negative
But something to uplift. . . my culture via the Motherland
Obviously it's my choice
if I decide not to take a hand
and stick it in a box
pulling out some straightener
to tame my natty locs
For love of myself can't be gained chemically
It comes from within
quite naturally.


Copyright ©2000 By "me"
* * * * * * * * * * *
NATURALLY


By Audre Lorde


Since Naturally Black is Naturally Beautiful
I must be proud
And naturally,
Black and
Beautiful
Who always was a trifle
Yellow
And plain though proud
Before.

I've given up pomades
Having spent the summer sunning
And feeling naturally free
(If I die from skin cancer
oh well-one less
black and beautiful me)
Yet no Agency spends millions
To prevent my summer tanning
And who trembles nightly
With the fear of their lily cities being swallowed
By a summer ocean of naturally woolly hair?

But I've bought my can of
Natural Hair Spray
Made and marketed in Watts
Still thinking more
Proud beautiful black women
Could better make and use
Black bread.