Many people may see the Afro as just a hairstyle, but it represents so much more than that!

For hundreds of years, dating back to slavery, black hair has been seen as inferior and Eurocentric beauty has become the standard. Society has been conditioned to think textured hair should be “tamed”. We have been sold straight hair is how we should present our hair to the world to be seen as “pretty” and “presentable”.

Because of this, women with textured hair have gone to great lengths to assimilate. We have pulled out our edges sowing in weaves, we have beaten our kinks and coils into submission with the flat iron or maybe even permanently damaged our hair with relaxers all while compromising our health, given relaxers have now been linked to cancer. The toll this expectation has taken on our health and mental health, is unmeasurable. It’s been jeopardized, all in an effort to assimilate to this unrealistic beauty standard placed upon us.

Some women may not even realize the lengths they go through to conform, given the conditioning that has taken place. We have been taught for so long to alter and hide this part of themselves. It has become routine and very normal to “hide” and not go to events when our hair isn’t “done”. We even avoid activities that would “expose” our natural hair texture because it’s just taboo.

This is why the Afro hairstyle, starting in the 1960s, was and still is so powerful because it is a direct response to oppose the negative connotations connected to textured hair. It’s a hairstyle that symbolizes that people of color take pride in their African ancestry and they are no longer going to conform to this idea. It’s a hairstyle that fights the status quo without saying a word!

The Afro encourages women of color to stop altering their hair to be seen as beautiful and embrace the hair that naturally grows out of their scalp. This was the hair you were intended to have since birth.

For me, I say God makes no mistakes. This is the hair you were gifted - yes a gift rather than a curse, intended for you to have and care for, so why reject it?

This Black History Month don’t “fit in” but stand out with your kinks, coils, and curls. Celebrate your hair texture for the beauty it holds. Set it free!

I encourage you to wear your Afro or any natural hair style representing your Black History. It will not only empower you, but it will also be a way to pay homage to your ancestors that couldn’t.

To my ancestors - Thank you for enduring all that you did, paving the way for all of us today, and allowing us to stand on your shoulders. Because of you, we have many freedoms including wearing our natural hair and to express ourselves freely through our beautiful textured hairstyles. I hope I am making you proud. Forever grateful to you!

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