Returning to natural roots
Representing how more black women have been embracing their natural hair…
Colourism and Good Hair
My partner was a beautiful Muslim woman, and I realized I was jealous of her. Why? Because even though I had never seen her hair under her hijab, I was sure that she must have good hair, not hard hair like I had been cursed with, but the good hair that everyone coveted.
Fire in Her Eyes
She saw the spider crawl on the fading blue painted walls of her home. She timidly headed for the broom with the brush end facing the rather large, hairy, strange looking spider.
Unlearning anti-Blackness
It was only after my hair started to grow into its own, after my hair started to gain length that the attitude they had changed. It went from “yuh good hair yuh cut off” to “you get your hair from me; you know Guyanese hair does grow long and nice”. Recently an aunt said in conversation that Black hair can only grow long if you’re mixed with something... I didn’t feel comfortable hearing that.
Inner Child
You hold dark secrets despite your mild fame.
Filled with shame, you cringe when you hear your name.
You were born of light, however.
You
I stand before you with great adoration for making it this far.
I know you think you have not made a drop in the ocean
but to the greater world you have
They are too upset to say it to you though
Because how can one gyal have so much power?
What Lies Beneath the Skin
My grandfather called my hair was “too niggerish”
When my mother refused lye and hot comb
I told him my brown skin was a blessing
He admonished “Girl!
Watch your tone”
Radical Love
We learn to love the devils that hold the whip against us,
We mistake them as gods, accepting the laws they pass…
I’m That Girl
You may set a standard for her, but let me
inform you: This girl who stands before you
is more capable than what you or anyone
else thinks, and she can achieve things
higher than the stars and your expectations.
Beauty in the Unknown
Waking up today felt like any other day until I realised that I could not leave the house anymore. Wait, no, that is untrue. I could leave, but only for the essentials they say.
Broken Beyond Repair
A quarter section split in two,
Wide, livid eyes deep in life
Peers into the map of my tragedy.
Dark Coffee
“Sadie you make me so mad. You skin too dark. You see this?” Sticking her hand in Sadie’s face for her to see she continued, “This is the color you supposed to get. A nice brown skin. Nice light brown skin. That’s what you supposed to get. Why you so black!?”, another tug of her hair, “Why? Black means poverty and light skin means wealth. You are nothing but a poor little unwanted child and I HATE you.”
Carnival Hangover
It have people who, when they play mas does get tired, does need to pee, does complain they foot burning them. Not her. And though she was the kind of can’t mash ants girl who never let no man pass his place with her – the very cliché of a stoosh bank employee, Carnival was different.
The Rebellion
“This ana jus fa you!”
“Carnival ah fo arwe too!”
He is like Him
Alice
Children live what they learn an’ fi mi muma an’ pupa look like dem frighten fi Alice. Mi sure seh dem nevah suh happy wen me did born but wen Alice come, a one piece a celebration inna di yard.Their naming her Alice-Elizabeth, after some Princess from England and my having been given the archaic name, Dorcas - Esmeralda immediately proved to me that there was demarcation based on the color of our skin.We were of the same race and one blood, so why the difference?