The Good, The Bad, and The Nappy Hair

Throughout my entire life, in my African-American family, there has been an obsession over good hair. If you had “good” hair you were accepted. Any signs of “naps” resulted in negativity and a sense of no acceptance. It’s all about who is the lightest and who has the most non-kinkiest hair. If you can run your fingers through your hair, no problem. Even if you can just simply wash your hair and go, no perm or relaxer, you were accepted.

It’s sad to say that there is racism within the African-American community. Not even my fathers Caucasian side of the family is racist or non accepting, as oppose to my African-American side. Society has molded and idolized what beauty is through television and advertisement. Whether it’s the fair skin, blue eyes, and healthy hair “non-nappy”.

What is good hair, bad hair, and nappy hair?

-Good hair is healthy hair. Your hair doesn’t have to be straight to be good hair. As long as your hair is healthy, it is good hair! Your can have the most beautiful, well defined curls, kinks and all and your hair would be good and healthy. The healthiness of your hair is what is most important!

-Bad hair is untreated, and unhealthy hair. Whether you don’t shampoo or condition your hair, which causes damage from hair breakage. This can result in hair lost. It is imperative to take care of your hair and care for it.

-Nappy hair is unmanageable hair, but there is no reason why nappy hair is considered bad hair. If it is healthy then it is good hair.

Love what God has blesses you with. Embrace both, your inner and outer beauty. You are one of a kind. Let no one but “yourself” define your beauty and worth.

xo,

Erica

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Race Against Ethnicities … Our Human Race

Theory:  One day there will be no “Race”, except the “Human Race”.

I believe that there will be no race, except the “Human Race” one day. Can you see this happening? Our society is diverse and this is the beauty that we seldom appraise in our cultures.

We as brothers and sisters would feel more connected and united if we felt the connect towards each other. Ethnicity and cultures are what has kept us apart since the beginning of time.

Prejudice and malicious behavior towards individuals of other ethnicities evolved because of our DIFFERENCES.

. . .Skin Complexion, Eye Color, Hair Texture, Accents.

These traits keep us in a box, a small box. What is going to happen when we all are people “of color”? So to speak we ALL are of color. I have yet to meet a “White” person. Complexions vary in all races.

Let’ embrace each other with open arms! We are all family. We are all Humans. We belong to one race, and one race only.

We are the Human Race.

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Canada; Racial Segregation

Racial Segregation in Canada, particularly British Columbia, was widespread during colonial times and continued through the 1950s. Early workplaces were often segregated, with different groups being allowed certain jobs and rates of pay. Fish canneries & coal mines were both highly segregated. In coal mining opes – such as the one at Cumberland in Vancouver Island - had separate China Towns, “Jap” Towns and white towns. Fish canneries were segregated as well – with separate living areas and jobs for Whites, Japanese, Chinese and First Nations (‘Indians’). Non-whites were usually paid less and segregation served to prevent labour solidarity. Following the internment of the Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, the Japanese were removed from these systems and more First Nations were hired. In some locations there were whites-only bathrooms and water fountains. At Namu Cannery this system existed – though the Japanese were considered ‘honourary whites’ and allowed to use white bathrooms. In the case of Namu – it was desegregated when a group of First Nations women removed the ‘whites-only’ signs and took them to the cannery manager in the mid-20th century.

First Nations (Indigenous/Native people) were also prohibited from using the same facilities in transportation – rail cars, accommodations on steamships are two examples. Both First Nations, and Asians were restricted from some professions in the early 20th Century. Indians were also prohibited from entering pool halls or bars, and owning logging licences (required to log). The right to vote was granted to Indians in 1960 for federal elections. Other non-white groups acquired voting rights earlier – shortly after World War Two.

Schools were segregated. The last segregated black school (Merlin, Ontario) was closed in 1965. The last Canadian segregated black school (Guysborough, Nova Scotia) was closed in 1983.^[23] 

(via- Racial Segregation:Canada 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_segregation#Canada
)

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“Interracial Couple Deported- S.O. 5 Apr. 1913 p8″

“Couple were deported – S.O. 5 Apr. 1913, originally uploaded by snap-happy1. A mixed race couple were deported to the United States from Canada, in part of the anti-Miscegenation laws. (1913)”

(via - 
http://www.blackpresence.co.uk/tag/miscegenation/
 )

____________________

This excerpt brought something new to my attention. I did not think nor realize that Canada had issues with Interracial Couples and marriage.

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The Confederate Flag, what it represents to others.

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Our Human Race [Copyright ©2011]

Our Human Race

I want to live where it is diverse,

seeing my features in the crowd.

I want to live where it is beauty,

in every face and smile.

I want to live in the moment,

when nobody will care,

if your skin is a warm brown or chillingly fair.

I want to live in a world,

that understands everyones pain.

In a world where one’s struggle is all the same.

I want to live in a world,

where one’s race doesn’t matter.

In a world,

where serenity is all that we are chasing after.

This world now,

may be cruel and callous.

Yet, change is near

and that is all I am running after.

-Erica J. Garbers

 

Copyright ©2011

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STOP RACISM in America.

“We all too quickly become a victim of racism.“

-Biracial Erica

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Mental Imprisonment

The One Drop Rule is a Mental Imprisonment.

- Biracial Erica

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The Race Against Racism

The race against racism is the chance and opportunity in which a race pulls the race card first.

I bothers me that racism is always reflected towards blacks and whites as a white individual being racist to someone who is black. If you really want to work up society and stir up a controversial issue, all you need is someone like Don Imus, a radio personality to take a bad joke too far.

A white man, Don Imus is known to make humorous jokes on his talk show. Yet I take it as though he took it to far when he crossed the color line;; refer to a majority black female basketball team as “nappy-headed hoe’s”. Would this joke had been more acceptable if it was between one white person to another? Or, is it tabboo because the mind set is still establish that all whites are bonded to ancestry of slave owners and we must have some sincere hatred for blacks deep down inside?

It is not acceptable in our society for a white person to say something towards a black person; without the race card being pulled. But what about when some blacks engage in name calling and degrading all white people because of what some white people did in the south years ago.

When a black person is called a Nigger the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People swoops in to give all whites a bad name. What happens when whites are victimized by racism? Do they have a National Association for the Advancement of White People? No they don’t. Are the feelings and image of a white person invalid in society since slavery time?

Racism comes in all color and form. We should not overlook it, nor should we contribute to it. Make sure you view a situation from not one, but two spectrums.

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Tim Wise on “The Perfect Storm For White Anxiety”

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