Over
the past year I cut my long relaxed hair and embarked on a journey to embrace
my natural hair, from an Afro to locks. It has been a journey of self-discovery and
for the most part, the discovery of stereotypes connected with "looking
very African" as it is referred to nowadays. They ranged from looking
artistic, weed smoking, unprofessional and many more. One classic comment I
have heard over and over again is how I will attract a white man. How my
African look will dramatically turn me into an attractive gem for white men in
particular. Nothing wrong with interracial relationships but still it baffles
me really, I look more African and somehow I’m more attractive to a white man
than a black man? Hmm. Being called beautiful is a big thing for most women. It
feels nice to be called beautiful. Growing up I remember, hearing sentiments
like " so and so has a beautiful sister, so fare in complexion. Mostly
when boys talked about dark skinned girls they would say she is a "black
beauty". If at all they had to qualify it as if beauty only meant
being light in complexion. These are just typical examples of how our
minds are still far from emancipation. For a long time black women have been
fed lies about how a lighter complexion and long straight hair will make you
look more beautiful and professional. We have spent so much money buying skin
bleaching products that burn our skin and expensive hair just to fit in. I know
some women just love that kind of look and that's still okay but don't do it on
the basis of hating your natural self just because someone told you it wasn't
good enough. Our black men also have been conditioned to like our evolved
version than our dark skin and kinky hair. We have somehow been brought up to
believe that everything white is beautiful and everything black is primitive.
We called everything nice and modern "chachizungu". We marveled
at how everything white was better and lost our own identity and heritage as a
people. For so long, we have studied the history of other continents and failed
to embrace our own. Our libraries are filled with books written about us by
outsiders. Our own African artists and writers have failed to make it on the
continent because somehow their work has been dimmed too African to be
attractive to fellow Africans. Doesn't make sense, does it? I know but it’s
true. This week we commemorated the Africa day on May 25th which we don't take
seriously or worst still have no idea it exists. Our early African leaders who
we hold in high regard had envisioned a united Africa but we love and celebrate
the unity of others but fail to foster our own. Our presidents are seldom
held accountable by African treaties. When are we going to champion solutions
for Africa by Africans? We are not saying we hate other races we just want to
love and appreciate ourselves as much as we have worshiped others for far too
long. Through the years the white race has been regarded as the pure race and
the women being treated as second class earth citizens. We cannot arrive
towards our potential as a people if we keep addressing one set of oppression
and leaving another. If you believe in the dignity of the human race it must be
a wholesome view, for all in some form or another create in us a fear to
respect others and afford their rights and dignity. Sadly it also causes us to
hate who we are, something we did not choose at all. Racism, sexism are
the main reason for our lack of progress, just because someone somewhere used
some well thought calculated ideologies to paralyze our progress. We follow in
the footsteps of the oppressed yet we worship the very ideologies that shackled
us for centuries. My goal this year is to fully embrace myself as a black African
women, I have been what I'm not, now let me find myself. I'm starting a campaign
to encourage our younger generation to read our history called Self-love Africa. Please share this
article on social media and #SelfloveAfrica. Remember to read black history and
don't hesitate to share any books or materials you have with fellow Africans
using the hashtag. Join the movement!!!
