The word "nappy" has really been on my mind this week as I put the finishing touches on my workshop
Going Natural Naturally for
Nappiology's Fro Fest Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday at the Desoto Civic Center in Desoto, TX. I found myself feeling a little uncomfortable inside every time I said the word, like something would knot up slightly in the pit of my stomach. So I decided to look up the definition. I've heard this word my entire life (usually in a negative making-fun-of sort of way) and had never actually looked it up or faced it head on as it related to me. As I searched this term, all I could find was that it meant "having a nap; fuzzy:
a nappy carpet," "kinky or tightly curled or coiled hair," "a round, shallow cooking or serving dish with a flat bottom and sloping sides," "liquor;
specifically : ale" (chiefly Scottish), and "a diaper" (chiefly British).
So if that's all it means then why is it used in such an offensive and demeaning way? I realized that it's not the word "nappy" itself but it's how people have said and used the word for generations, with hateful, humiliating, belittling, and degrading intent, that has made the word be perceived as bad, less than, and not good enough. I'm not going to provide a history lesson in this post but it traces back to slavery and the purpose to divide by any means necessary including self-hatred. We have embraced others' words as a culture and have hated our own God-given hair and ourselves. We have more disdain for our hair and do more to change its natural state than any other culture as a whole. Do you ever wonder why you don't really want your nappy hair and desire long flowing hair instead? Do you ever stop and think why you battle your hair with chemicals, buy weaves, and do everything you can to alter your hair from its natural state?
For years I was told, both directly and indirectly, that long straight hair was better and did everything I could (an all day affair at the salon or home) to achieve it. I can't believe that I never knew how beautiful my 3c curls were until well into my twenties. When I look around at natural 3c-4c hair, I just love it. It's beautiful in every possible way. I love it's thickness and coarseness and ability to stand on it's own. It's strong and enduring just like we are as a culture and people. So what if your hair doesn't look as silky as other hair types and has shrinkage, it's your hair and it's amazing. Yes, it's your wonderful, gorgeous, tightly curled, coiled, kinky hair. Embrace it with confidence and as a gift.
I challenge you today to love your nappy hair and learn to care for and nurture it naturally. Stop fighting it. Stop fighting yourself. In turn, you will find greater self-love and a new found freedom in unconditionally loving and appreciating all that you are, including your nappy hair.
Things you can do from here:
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