Braid My Hair - Empowering The Child

A Child's Hair...

The ideas for a writer can come from anything. Social issues are always inspirational for me. While some topics can be sensational and controversial, the need to express an opinion can unearth suppressed emotional baggage.

Growing up I had a thick mane of long hair. It grew and grew and never seemed to stop. Living in the Caribbean meant it was quite hot and uncomfortable many times when my hair was open. The texture of my hair was soft , wavy and wild. The other children would laugh at me when they tried to plait it because there were no 'ends', and thus would not stay fixed without a rubber-band. It unraveled on its own, thus I was in the minority of girls at school with challenges in braided styles.

The News...

As I read an article about a school in the Bahamas suspending a girl from school because her hair was not chemically 'relaxed' to appear straight and tame, the child in me appeared. This can be socially controversial, as conformity into what is acceptable continues to rear its ugly head when we least expect it. It seems we have not passed the stage of  acceptance of differences. This dialogue of poetry is from my inner child, which jumped out in rebellious understanding...

        Social hair

Plait my hair please mom,
She screams
Let them see the beauty coming from the top of me
My hair is not wiry
Its kinky with curls
That's what is needed for all special girls
Plait my hair please, my friend
Keep going till you get to the end
If it won't stay tight, cause my ends are too straight
Here is a rubber band or some woggies
Add some beads, that will be great
Plait my hair please, in corn rows big or small
I look so beautiful
Just see how it all falls
I'm naturally beautiful, with my glorious mane
No need for relaxer, chemicals, or anything
To make it look straight
Plait my hair please... do you know how to do it
Its like weaving and folding,
My curls are like fabric
It's strong like the lady I will grow up to be
Keep it groomed, keep it growing
I want the world to see me
She walked to the salon
swaying from side to side
Her hair, and its beauty, hidden on the inside
Make me look good
The weave was just to tease
I'm taking over this world
Strong woman I am, plait my hair please!

As women we are the same yet different based on ethnicity and cultural evolution. Skin color, hair texture, facial accents and social trends may influence our outward appearance. Societal dogmas and indigenous practices are obscured from our children, until they are faced with discrimination.

We make choices, because we are fundamentally free in theory, but when exercised the backlash can be harsh and painful. Each society has values and beliefs passed subtly in many instances to our children, and as they grow they accept, conform naturally. As children are exposed to more, they seek their individuality and rebellious choices. Are they correct to determine what is their best authentic self?

In this present day with technological advancement constantly changing, are superficial differences really important? They were not important before, so what makes them more important now? Whatever creed, race, gender, who we are should be determined not by the exterior sameness, but by our passionate ability to create our life's contribution to society.

Plait my hair please, open your eyes and see this child's beauty!

Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing. Let's share this positive message and discuss!


Here is a picture of me a few years ago... what is different, what is more acceptable, am I different in your eyes?

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DWordslayer

 
 Artwork: Artistree -andrew.innocent@hotmail.com
© Donna-Luisa Eversley and D-WORDSLAYER, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Donna-Luisa Eversley and D-WORDSLAYER with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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