27 June 2011

Shades of Blackness
By: Unnamed


I used to think that women who wore their hair naturally were militant, Afro-centric or somehow "Blacker" than me. In fact, growing up I was always told that I wasn't "Black" enough.  Today I'm reminded of wisdom from a friend:

You can never be more black than you already are. You can't take away or add to your blackness.

These were validating words to my seven-year-old self who was always called an "oreo." Since hearing this, I have been confident in who I am and how I represent African American women. Having gone natural, though, I don't feel Afro-centric (although I may appear that way to others). I have simply discovered my more ernest self. Not a "Blacker" me; rather, a truer me.

Just a thought.

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