Subtle Discrimination (People with Curly Hair, Our Time Is Now!)

Note: I really wish I could write on here more than what I do. With school, it has been hard to write at least once a week. I will hopefully write more someday... even if that someday doesn't come until summer.


Another Note: I may possibly be starting a mini-blog series on here, or I may just start a separate blog if I have time to do either one of those options. The reason? I have asked my friend, Nick Wright, to help me build a healthier lifestyle by eating better and exercising more. I am even going to start lifting weights, and I don't just mean curls with little weights, I mean I am going to bench (at least this is what Nick says). Anyway, I was going to call it "Getting Right with Nick Wright" because I thought it sounded clever. Nick wasn't too big of a fan of the name, so I have to think of something different. I also want Nick to start blogging. I think it would be cool. I'm rambling... moving on.


One More Note: I dyed my hair black. Therefore, do not be alarmed when you see that my drawings of me now have black hair. I will probably ask Alycia to take new pictures for my banner once it gets warmer outside. By the way, she took the ones in my banner right now, and she does a good job. Check out her stuff at Bellezzia Photography. In the mean time, I will show you guys the new hair with pictures that have yet to be released anywhere else (and by anywhere else, I mean Facebook).

~*ACTUAL BLOG TIME*~

I've always heard about how girls in days long ago were considered blessed if they had curls. Along with that, paleness was also a positive thing. I'm not sure why. I think maybe it was because it was a sign that you didn't have to do outside labor and your family was wealthy. If all of this was true, I would have been the Paris Hilton and Megan Fox of the time! I also imagine that I would be wearing a vintage dress.

Alas, a drastic change occurred. Girls wear jeans now. Tanning is so desired that the sun isn't enough for some people, so they must now use something that resembles a heated coffin. And those girls that possess natural curls are looked at as if we have been cursed... that is if people even look our way at all.

Since about age eleven, I have grown to think something is wrong with my hair because of the rude comments people have made or suggested about curls. I remember even watching The Simpsons Movie and a character in there said, "I wish you didn't have the Devil's curly hair." My friend with me laughed, and then realized he was sitting next to me. He apologized. The funny thing is that when his hair grows out, it's curly. He never lets it grow out though.

I always had people wanting to do my hair in braids or ponytails, almost like they wanted to hide my luscious, yet disgusting, curls. Over time, people have stopped asking so much, so now, I don't really have a problem with people wanting to play with my hair.

Instead, I now have a problem with one thing: people who insist on straightening my hair. It is probably the most insulting thing ever. In fact, you could be having the best day ever and feel so confident with how you look. Then, this little comment can destroy all of that in seconds.

This has been happening to me for a while now. I don't know why it keeps happening. My hair has always been so thick and curly that straightening it is a horrendous task. It frizzes and expands into an all consuming monster because of the thickness. I bet now with my black hair, if my hair were to be straightened, I would look like Bill Kaulitz, the lead singer of Tokio Hotel.

source for picture of Bill Kaulitz: MTV

My friends growing up always had a difficult time straightening my hair too. Their arms would get tired, my hair would get too hot and burn them, my hair would get too hot and burn me, they would burn my ear, it took like two hours... you get the idea. One of my friends bought me a straightener for my birthday when I was in junior high. It was a Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen flat iron. She did this so I could straighten my hair on my own. Like I could do that with a cheap, plastic flat iron that took ten minutes to fray and frizz one strand of hair. I'm sorry I don't have the patience to wake up four hours earlier or take four hours out of my night just to do my hair in a manner that makes my hair look like I ruined it.

I did, however, want straight hair because it seemed like everyone hated my curls. I had tried everything. I did this curl relaxer thing that was supposed to straighten your hair permanently according to a lot of people, but as soon as water touched my hair, it was as springy as ever. Not to mention, while it was straight, it was so frizzy that I am pretty sure it had its own atmosphere.

When I was visiting a mall in Nashville when I was fifteen, I had an interesting experience. A lady at a kiosk asked me to come over so she could demonstrate how powerful her flat iron was. I was slightly embarrassed at this, but I went over anyway because I knew that society expected me to rid my curls at any given chance. She took her sleek flat iron to a strand of my oh-so-unmanageable hair, and much to my surprise, it was straight and smooth within one attempt. It was beautiful. I was enamored by the straightener. I instantly wanted it because I knew it would ease my pain and suffering. The lady then told me the straightener cost $200. Being a fifteen-year-old with any common sense, I knew even if I had that much money I wouldn't be spending it on a straightener. I announced this to her, and she disposed of me quicker than a napkin containing a killed bug. The only problem was I had to walk around the mall with one strand of straight hair amongst my curls.

I realize that a lot of people wanting to straighten my hair may not even realize what they are doing, so I feel like I have no right to be mad. However, I wish people would give consideration to what they are saying. It is like being told I am not good enough on a personal level. I don't go up to people asking if I could curl their hair (and this could have to do something with the fact that I have NO idea how to curl hair since mine naturally does it). Seriously though, it's like telling me my eye color isn't good enough. This is something I was born with, so why does everyone want to change it?

Today, I don't really care too much about wanting straight hair. Sure, there was a time in my life where I refused to wear my hair down, but now I wear it down proudly. In fact, I HATE wearing my hair any other way. My challenge for you, dear reader, is to look at the messages you may not even be aware that you are sending that could really make someone feel like they aren't good enough. More importantly, I challenge you to be comfortable with who you are and the person God made you to be. Have I made it completely to that point? Not completely, but it is a daily process. It is a choice to not fall into a lie of believing something is wrong with you.

I want to say if you straighten your hair and you like it that way, more power to you, but I hope you are doing it for you and no one else. You are beautiful no matter if your hair is straight, wavy, curly, braided, in dreadlocks, in a mohawk, or gone.

With that, I conclude this blog with pictures of my hair in it's normal state of curliness.