Teach--Don't Delete

Huck and Jim sharing stories

You might have heard about the Auburn University-Montgomery Twain Scholar, Alan Gribben, whose forthcoming edition of Twain’s Huckleberry Finn replaces the word nigger with “slave.” (It does the same with Injun.) Gribben’s rationale, after teaching the text for years and finding that many students dismiss the text because of the word, is that this revision will open more students, parents, and school districts up to a text whose richness is being ignored because of one slur. He’s probably right.

He’s drawing criticism, though, from a number of sources. One of the main gripes is that this edit removes an important aspect of the text’s historical context, specifically America’s spotty past, and precludes an important teaching moment about racism and slavery in this country. As University of Virginia professor Stephen Railton puts it, “If we can’t do that in the classroom, we can’t do it anywhere.”

After all, is the classroom a place to avoid the hard lessons or to teach them? That’s not to say that it’s entirely up to teachers to convey the lessons of history to our children. Parents have to step in and educate their children about their heritage and America’s past. However, if teachers aren’t teaching these lessons, what are they doing instead? Huck Finn isn’t just about a boy’s adventure with an escaped slave. It’s a very mature tale about a poor white boy who can see past the prejudices around him to view a black man as a man and a friend.

Of course, it’s not all that sweet and pretty. Huck is definitely a product of his environment and the times, but he’s much more evolved than the adults who try to tell him what to do. And his use of nigger both highlights the idiocy of racism and undermines the social structure that would allow a friend to use the word in the first place.

I didn’t read Huck Finn until I had reached college—in many ways, it’s a very grown-up book—but young people could stand to confront the issues of racism that plagued our country way back when and that still plague our country today. By allowing children to compare and contrast their own world with that of Huck’s, teachers can have them grapple with these tough issues in (hopefully) a safe space centered on learning instead of avoidance.

Natural Hair Resources: A Compendium of Sorts

Hello, friends! In addition to info I provided in an earlier post, I've decided to put together a few lists of various hair products and resources based on my experiences and those of some of my friends, family, and acquaintances. Special thanks to all of you ladies who have sent me info! These lists are by no means exhaustive, but I hope they'll be helpful for those of you who may be transitioning to your natural texture, considering transitioning, or simply looking to try something different. Good luck!

Products:

• CURLS products: I know several ladies who rave about the wonderful smell of these products, and they can be found in many Target store locations. These products are made of natural oils and other natural ingredients. Check out the link and find out if they're available in a store near you.
• Kinky-Curly: I know addicts! Lots of ladies love, love, love KC products, and you may too. The founders of this line also pride themselves on the natural ingredients in KC products. I tried the Knot Today detangler and leave-in conditioner and found that it's an excellent detangler. I wouldn't use it alone though, which I typically like to do with a leave-in. Using it alone seemed to make my curls a little bushier, but I know some ladies who like it by itself. KC suggests using it along with its Curling Custard, which I'd rather not do. Remember, every lady's hair is different, so do what works for your hair.
• Carol’s Daughter: Oprah has endorsed it, HSN shoppers love it, and Mary J. Blige is an official spokeswoman and even has her fragrance, My Life, presented by it. I've never tried it, but I like the fact that Lisa Price, the founder, creates all of her products using natural ingredients in her own kitchen. :-)
• Miss Jessie’s: These products can also be found in Target stores. I have yet to try them, but I've heard lots of good things.
• Pantene Relaxed and Natural: I've used only the PRN conditioner, and I love it. I usually comb it through my hair in the shower with a large-tooth comb and leave it in while I bathe. It leaves my hair so soft and easy to manage. I recently heard from a cousin that some of the ingredients are less than favorable, but I don't know details. I'll do some digging. Meanwhile, I really like it!
• Shea Moisture: Another line of products found at Target, I like their natural bath soaps but have never tried their hair products. My girl Brenna swears by them though. I'm interested in trying them because shea butter really is a great moisturizer for skin and hair.
• Black-n-Bossie: My friend Courtney told me about these products, and the prices look very reasonable.
• Taliah Waajid: This is a well established line that even hosts "the world's largest natural hair show" each year in Atlanta. The next one will be at the Georgia International Convention Center April 30-May 1, 2011.
• Cantu Shea Butter: I've been using the leave-in conditioning and repair cream for a few months now, and it's awesome. It's super moisturizing and very creamy. Plus, it really enhances my curls when I comb it through my hair thoroughly.

Information:

• Hair type
• http://www.naturallycurly.com/
• http://www.curls.biz/curly-hair-type-guide.html
• Communities
• http://www.nappturality.com/
• http://www.curlynikki.com/
• http://thesistahcafe.blogspot.com/
• http://knapsgirl.blogspot.com/

You may have noticed that most of these products are composed of natural ingredients, which is because I tend to lean more that way. Most of them avoid sulfates and parabens too. There's a lot of debate about the actual harm these ingredients can cause, so it's best to do your research and come to your own conclusions. Natural oils (like jojoba) and essential oils, which you can find in natural food stores, are also great choices for natural moisturizing. Enjoy exploring, and I hope you'll grow to appreciate what your hair is like in it's natural state. It will do it's own thing for sure, but the ways you nurture it are on you. Have fun!

Racial Discrimination or Common Sense?

Two Alabama towns are home to legal actions that some say involve racial discrimination, and each instance deals particularly, if indirectly, with black males and the ways in which they present themselves. On one hand, I think the promotion of professionalism and awareness of public perception is a worthy objective. On the other hand, promoting conformity for conformity’s sake is a potentially dangerous notion, encouraging young people to "fit in" at the expense of being themselves.

One scene is set in Selma, in which a city ban has just been enacted, mandating that anyone wearing his or her pants three inches below the hips can be fined $25-$100 (the max is $200 for adults) per citation and ordered to do community service hours. Opponents allege that the policy is racially motivated because it’s “geared toward minority kids,” as reported in the Selma Times-Journal. This charge is a bit fishy to me, though. While the ban might be infringing on people’s freedom of expression, it’s common sense that you’re not going to be taken seriously professionally with your booty showing. How much of a sacrifice is it to wear your pants an inch below the hips instead of three? I would argue that young people should learn to start dressing in a way that will help prepare them for life beyond high school.

Blaise Taylor, with clean,
well groomed braids

Really, one could say the same for the second scene, which is set in Auburn. Auburn University Assistant Head Football Coach Trooper Taylor has filed a lawsuit against Auburn City Schools because his son, Blaise, has been prohibited from playing on the Auburn High JV basketball team. The reason? His braids. Blaise’s coach, Frank Tolbert, apparently told the Taylors that Blaise would not be allowed to play unless he cut his hair, to which the Taylors claimed that Tolbert’s rule violates Blaise’s constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom from racial discrimination (because black boys are the main wearers of braids).

This case seems a bit trickier, partly because there’s a lot of “he said, she said” going on. The Taylors say they didn’t find out about the policy until after Blaise had already made the team. Says Blaise, as reported in the Opelika-Auburn News, “I worked hard to make the team and make it through the cuts. I was really disappointed I wasn’t going to get to play with my teammates.” Still, there are sentiments to the contrary. Some of the comments below the story indicate that the policy was made clear well before tryouts, as Tolbert has been using this rule for over 30 years. (Then again, maybe we should take these comments with a grain of salt. They’re not part of the reported story…)

To return to the idea of professionalism, though, it’s probably safe to say that braids are not generally favorable. Yet, I don’t think they connote the same meanings as sagging pants. No, it’s not appropriate to show your underwear or derriere in any kind of business or educational setting. However, hair that is neat, clean, and well groomed shouldn’t be an issue, whether it’s braided or not. In another statement from the Selma Times-Journal piece, “The suit claims Tolbert, a black man, targets black players only, while allowing white players to play ‘even though their hair is long, blown out, unkempt and/or even gets in their own eyes, or the eyes of others.’” Of course, prohibiting braids and allowing hair that actually is unkempt could certainly be considered discriminatory.

Such a position was highlighted in professional cases in the late ‘80s when American Airlines and the Hyatt Regency Hotel were involved in suits by employees who had been fired because of their braids. In 2001, more cases involving FedX and UPS dealt with discrimination against dreads. In the 21st century, though, cornrows and dreads have become much more acceptable in the professional world and have been deemed appropriate in many companies’ grooming policies.* I think it’s safe to say that ideas are starting to change about braids and dreads; they don’t necessarily mean criminal or thug anymore. Now, much of mainstream society is starting to understand that these hairstyles are simply expressive, but they can be so without being extreme or distracting.

With that said, I applaud measures that discourage immature, potentially counter-productive expressions of fashion, but braided hair (sans crazy designs or colors) doesn’t necessarily fit those descriptions. I hope decisions in both Selma and Auburn are based on good sense and not outdated ideas about “acceptability.”

* See Tracey Owens Patton. “Hey Girl, Am I More than My Hair?: African American Women and Their Struggles with Beauty, Body Image, and Hair.” NWSA Journal 18.2 (2006): 24-51, 37-38.

The Power of the Perm: Don't Underestimate It

Before reading this post--really, before watching this video--I would encourage you to read the description of this blog. If you don't find that you're part of the intended audience, you may not want to proceed. You've been advised. :-)

I have to give a shout-out The Sistah Chick, who shared this video on her blog. Thank you so much for spreading the word! As for me, I've been preaching about the need to encourage the beauty of black females' natural hair texture, especially for our little girls. This video illustrates that correlation. Didn't think it mattered that much? Think again...and spread the word.

Explosives in the Curls? An Airport Security Story

In our post-9/11 world, I think most of us can agree that a few airport inconveniences (e.g., long security lines, taking off shoes, under-3 oz. carry-on liquids, and occasional pat-downs) are worth it to ensure our protection. I did not expect the following, however, during a recent security scan at ATL's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

After sending my carry-on items through the scanner and preparing to walk through the metal detector, I was told that I needed to be patted down because I had on a baggy sweatshirt. Cool, that makes sense, I thought. The TSA officer then told me that she needed to check my hair. Er? Is this chick really about to put her hands in my hair? OK. Here we go...She then proceeded to briefly fish around in my hair--for a razor? A bomb?
 

This was a first for me. I've never heard of hair being checked before (except for my homie's recently patted-down headwrap. She was none too thrilled about that). Granted, my hair is "big"; I get that. But are we really suspecting that folks are hiding WMD in their hair now? Well, after some recently foiled terrorist plots, the amped-up security is widespread.

Sandra Oh, of ABC's Grey's Anatomy

This Reuters story reports that travelers and pilots alike are very unhappy with the increasingly "personal" pat-downs. One father had a hard time trying to explain to his 8-year-old son that it was appropriate for a TSA officer to "check his genital area," after having taught the child that only his parents and a doctor could touch that area. (I wasn't too comfortable with the boob-area treatment I got, either.) As for pilots, some feel downright uneasy about the extra-touchy pat-downs.

Is hair one of those "personal" areas? I don't know. It was definitely surprising, and I'm certainly not used to having total strangers put their hands in my hair. I also had to wonder what the criteria are for search-worthy hair. Does it have to stand more up and out than down? Who decides hair that's not "big enough" to be checked and hair that is? What if I had hair like Sandra Oh's, full and thick--but long? Whose hair is getting searched, and whose is clearly not a threat? I'm all for increased security to keep us safe, but I have to wonder if some lines aren't being crossed in the process. The jury's still out on this one, at least for me.

"Sesame Street" Teaches Kids AND Adults to Love Their Nappy Hair!

I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I've been walking around singing, "I love my hair! I love my hair..." ever since I first saw the now-viral video of a 

Singing, "I want to make the world aware: I love my hair!"

cute, happy little Sesame Street
muppet singing about how much she loves her hair--her kinky hair. :-) (Shout-out to Brenna, Paul and Dubose for sharing!) During the video (clicking the image to the right will take you to the YouTube video too), she's ecstatic about all the things she can do with her hair: wear it in twists, let it fly freely or rock a 'fro, among other things.

This video has inspired so many women (and some men too) with pride in a muppet who doesn't "need a trip to the beauty shop 'cause [she likes what she's] got on top." It made me wonder who the real audience is for this song. Sesame Street historically has been geared toward pre-schoolers, but I can't count how many comments I've read in which grown women reflect on their girlhood days, wishing they had seen a such appreciation and embracing of natural hair on TV.

If you were coming up in the '90s and earlier, you just didn't see or hear ideas like this in the mainstream. Nappy hair was destined to be pressed, Jheri-curled, or relaxed past a certain age. I think I just hit it: braids and twists and afro puffs are markers of girlhood--at least they have been. If I'm right, though, this precious video (the brain-child of a head writer for Sesame Street) is a symptom of changing times. Increasingly, it's becoming acceptable for females of all ages to "love all the things their hair can do." I hope it keeps up in high school, in relationships, in the business world, on job interviews, in academia, and in the mirror.

Kitty in my Hair

It always starts the same: Aztec gives me the cutest, wide-mouthed meows; climbs up my chest and onto one of my shoulders; and walks around the back of my neck…to get to my hair. Sometimes, he’ll just place his head against my hair, purring and nuzzling my head. Other times, the times that make me nervous, he proceeds to paw at my hair. Aztec (a boy) is one of my two recently adopted kittens, by the way. He’s gray-tabby, spunky and precious. (See the spunk in the video below.)

My other kitty, Skye (a girl), never does this. It makes me wonder what Aztec sees when he looks at my hair. He’s obviously intrigued by it, maybe even comforted by it. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

1. My hair is soft. If it’s all out, which is often, my hair is a big, curly cloud of softness.
2. It’s highly textured. I imagine he sees a big mass of twists and turns…like a giant, fuzzy ball of yarn, perhaps?

Aztec, asleep in my lap

That’s all I’ve got so far. Whatever the case, he’s always trying to get to my hair. I’ve never heard of anything like this before…have you? Maybe I should just be flattered and call it a day. :-)