Discovering Our Roots: Do I Hate My Hair?

I know the title of this article is a question that we as African Americans have thought about whether through frustration with a “bad hair” day or looking at someone’s hair and wanting your own to look like or
perform 
like theirs. I am sure many other cultures have had the same thoughts, but is there an underlining issue with African Americans?
I thought it would be a good time to raise the awareness of the “hair issues” African Americans have had over the years due to our past. These issues have affected, whether we like it or not, more than just our hair esteem, but in the words of writer Karsten Ivey in an article he wrote called Combing the history of black hair, “It’s about self-esteem, identity, politics, economics, history and race.”
Take the time to read through this abbreviated version of the black hair timeline from the book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America by Ayana Byrd and Lori Tharps, and you will see the facts are an eye opener. This is not to divide anyone or to drive hate, but to educate ourselves and be enlighten to see that we have to take back our love for our Thirsty Roots and love our hair as a whole and love it individually. Let’s define our beauty through our own creativity and natural talents.
Let’s join together and begin changing society’s view of Black Beauty. Let’s join together to take back our definition of beauty in our hair, skin color, and culture. Let’s do this for our kids and generations to come.
Throw away the hate and learn to Love Our Thirsty Roots! In essence, loving on our hair, simple means to educate ourselves about how to properly take care of and maintain healthy hair.
Abbreviated Timeline

 

Africans – Photo Source: http://www.dipity.com/westcivg/personal/

 


1444: Europeans trade on the West Coast of Africa with people wearing elaborate hairstyles, including locks, plaits and twists.

Slaves Arrival at Jamestown – Photo Source: http://www.henryrobertburke.com/id4.html

1619: First slaves brought to Jamestown; African language, culture and grooming tradition begin to disappear. To read more login to http://www.thirstyroots.com/black-hair-history/discovering-our-roots-do-i-hate-my-hair