Where are all the Black Locked People at?

Over the years while I have maintained the Locked Hair Blog Exchange, I've often checked out my stat counter map of visitors. For the longest I couldn't understand why the visitors weren't more evenly distributed across the nation. Finally today I figured it all out. The first picture below shows the visitors from America, Europe and Africa.  You can see clearly that the East Coast and Europe are heavy with visitors.

 

When you get a closeup of the US, you'll have a better glimpse of the breakdown.  I kept saying, "Do no people of color have locks in other regions of the US?"  

Then, I googled African American population in the United States and this is what I came up with.



Well, I guess it all makes sense now. I am sure in the states where the population of African Americans is sparse, they may be some locked brothers and sisters, but the East Coast and South/South East Coastal states dominate.  When I visited the DC-Maryland area in 2007 it was a love fest seeing all the locked brothers and sisters.  The more we blog about it, vlog and document it pictorially, the more ubiquitous it will become. 

It felt like a year, but was only about a minute

I think anyone who has never experienced an earthquake can truly imagine or understand what goes on in your mind while it is happening.  Most of us within the past week and a half have had more shocking footage fed to us with the help of technology through news and internet social media sites than ever before.  In some cases, it is inconsolable.

When I lived in Southern California from 2002-2005, I experienced a light 4.8 M earthquake September 3, 2002, but nonetheless, an earthquake.  I was living in Irvine with a family who rented me a room for $500 a month.  My bedroom was upstairs facing the street.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was sitting at my computer hutch and it was about midnight.  Not sure what I was doing up that night.  But I was up, on line surfing the net.

I actually heard it before I felt it. The walls grumbled.  Almost like someone was drag racing outside.  Before I knew it, my bedroom began to waggle.  I sat there thinking, "OK, the house is rocking from side to side.  I'm in an earthquake".  I became immobilized, eyes fixed on my monitor, in a complete daze.  I couldn't move.  It felt like eternity, thoughts flashing through my mind that if the earth split its belly open, I might get swallowed up.  Before I knew it, the house ceased moving, however, my computer monitor was still rocking back and forth.  It creaked.  I stared into the screen, but looked into nothingness.  I was jolted back into reality, grabbing the monitor so it would stop.  I doubt I was even breathing during the entire episode.  How could one think to breath with the thought of potential imminent death ensuing?  

My earthquake experience was nothing compared to that which happened about 5pm Tuesday January 12, 2010.  Not many people in this generation will ever forget that day.  I know I wont.  Trying to pull away from the "train wreck" and see something positive, I stumbled upon a CNN IReporter's behind the scence footage at JKF capturing the return of Americans on a flight from Miami to New York.  Her name is TonyaTko. 
The video is a bit long, but shares a variety of testimonies from the folks as they arrived back to New York.  I think I've seen a video or two of hers on youtube.  Be encouraged, be inspired, be filled with hope, but please know there is plenty work to be done.  Plenty. I gave $50 to the Red Cross last week.  I don't think this will be my last time giving.  Just gotta space it out.  If you can give, if only $5+, a week, a pay check, a month, please do. You can give to the Bush/Clinton Help For Haiti Fund or the Red Cross.

And she pleaded, Don't Cut Your Hair

My Sisterlocks are well known at my school, more amongst the students than the teachers.  In class, I get to educate the students about my hair, natural hair, types of locks, and especially the care and maintenance.  Boys and girls alike of all races ask lots of questions.

We had picture re-takes this past Thursday and on Monday night, I called myself shampooing, oiling (this Texas weather is crazy) and bantuing my locks to have a nice snazzy style for my pics and to have a good 6yr photo.  Well, I got tired/lazy and only bantu'd the front.  I didn't take a picture of what it looked like, because my camera is dead, but the kids immediately noticed the curls up front.  As usual, my AA boys and girls, mostly, "Ms. E., your I like your hair!"  They love, love, love, when I curl my locks or do something different other than free style.  I don't blame em.  I guess looking at me could get a little boring day after day with little or no changes other than wardrobe.

Two of my female students walked by looking in amazement commented how different my locks looked.  I swear, only the front 4 inches back were curly.  The back was pulled up into a pony tail, that oddly looked awfully long down my back that day.  One said, "Would you cut off your locks?"   I said, "I've thought about it and I might."  The other jumped in, "Don't cut off your hair!  They're so long!"  This one rarely talks, but had something to say about my pondering of cutting my locks.  Mind you both girls have perms, which they actually keep up and pulled back in ponys nicely.

But, there's something about long hair.  And I think as well, there's something about knowing that the long hair a black girl/woman sees as real, meaning that person's hair, is amazing.  I'm not going to lie, when I look at pictures of my locks or see the back in the mirror, I am truly amazed.  You have to  understand, I've had hair care drama my ENTIRE life.  Even before I knew what hair meant to me as a little black girl, I found out the hard way.

If you see how my hair looked straight, or with a bald fade, or with my Q-Braid extensions, you'd know it's been a journey.  From Day # 1 with my Sisterlocks to today, has been quite a journey.  So those of you who have daughters, neices, cousins, friends, don't preach, just model before them the love you have for your locks and having natural hair.  Show them you can be sexy, confident, educated, accomplished, and beautiful with your hair in its natural state.  And even if I decide to cut my locks one day, I do have the confidence to know it will indeed grow back as long as I want it to.

Those of you who teach or are around young children, especially girls, what has been your experience with them and your locks?  Please share.

Celebrating 6 yrs Sisterlocked!

I just wanted to make my last post of 2009!  I celebrated 6 yrs Sisterlocked 11-28-09, Thanksgiving weekend.  It's been such a blessing learning so much about myself, my hair and my fellow locked friends around the world.  You've made this journey a special one.  Here's a picture of Jen and I with our extended Houston brother and sister Tim and Jackie. We brought in 2010 with them and had a blast! The other pics are of my god daughter, Kalee and her grandmother, Mrs. Butler on Christmas. She's 88 years young and is "yet holdin' on". We love them so much! True gifts from God.  Happy New Year!

Negro - The N Word - Jonathan Emil McCoy

Take heed and be blessed.

HTT - Hair to There and that girl is 39

To think that I've been so busy as to not mention my 39th birthday, which was on the 9th of this month is just plain sad! I went to work that day and my students sang happy birthday to me in every class. Some made me hand made cards and brought me gifts. They are just too sweet!!! We'll I'm well on my way and all is chugging right along this school year. Sixth graders are a unique age group. They are coming into finding their identity and enjoying freedoms middle school provides. They also remind me of how I'm getting older. I consider them my kids because I'm old enough to be their mothers. I think in some ways they think of me as such. Some even tell me that some of the stuff I say is what their mom would say. The mantra is, love your students and they will love you back. I concur. Thank you Dr. Michael Wesch and especially your wife Sarah.

OAN, Jen's got her own updates, she's hopefully posting on her blog soon, but I wanted to post a few pics and discuss this Hair To There or aka, HTT. I must admit, I was used to having other peoples HTT for years, but to have my own has got me really thinking what is this all about. Next month will make 6 yrs of me having Sisterlocks and it has been an amazing 6yrs.




But as my locks grow longer and longer, I can't imagine how ladies who have longer Sisterlocks even manage. I'm curious about those who think having HTT is what this journey is all about. I must admit, I NEVER in a million years would have thought my hair could grow this long, EVER! But, in the same breath, I truly miss having a length that could be shampooed, rolled and styled a lot faster and would last a lot longer. I don't know. I'm curious to hear from those who are on the quest to having their locks grown down their backs. I'll post more later.

Checking in- Back to school teaching Middle School Math

I'm teaching at the same school, Carver Academy. This time I'm teaching only 6th grade math. My children are adorable and most work hard and are eager to please and learn. I decided about two weeks ago to shampoo, condition and bantu my locks. The kids noticed quickly, my new "do". It was so cute, when most of the compliments came from my little AA boys. "Miss E, you look pretty today
...I like your hair...you look really nice today." The girls gave compliments as well, all colors, but to think that adding a little curl made all that whoopla was interesting. The curls came out tight and are still squiggling around now. Jen's promising to help me finish retightening my hair this weekend, so I'm looking forward to another shampoo and set. Maybe this time, I'll try soft spike curls or a braidout. I used setting lotion and stayed under the dryer. I know when I do that after bantuing that the style will last well into two weeks like it has. If I use no setting lotion, I'm lucky if I make it a week. My locks are getting soooo long. It's hard to believe that in 8 weeks, I'll be celebrating 6 years with my Sisterlocks. Amazing! I'll update more after my birthday.

Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout - The Truth, London Style

Tell it Chi!


510

Parody or Reality? Too Many Weave Video

I received in my inbox my I-magazine subscription from Mia Press's Going Natural.
What caught my attention was the interview with Jason Lewis, a comedian out of the UK who created a parody from another UK artist's song, Too Many Man.
When you watch the video, you'll see he says he was really playing at the end about the whole "Too Many Weave" complaint. My question is, is this a true parody or are men starting to feel the overpowering effect of "too many weaves"?

When you take a look at Chris Rock's documentary called Good Hair, you'll see women profess to the "Creamy Crack" as well as view discourse about how men "can't" touch a woman's weave.From movie stars, to high power executives to simply women who get their "check" once a month, weave is in. And I must question, are men starting to feel the constraints or boundaries for the price they pay for beauty they will accept? I do remember my "weave" days, although short lived and remember how my biggest concern was, "Can anyone see my tracks" or the noticeable difference in my and the weave's hair texture. But nowadays, women of all colors are increasingly drawn to many things that are not natural, but in their eyes "beautiful". Begin to observe children, tweens, and teens of all colors longing to have "Hanah Montana hair".

It's more than a notion, the HM phenomena. Do you actually think the industry is going to stop and say, "Hey, let's not promote wigs, weaves and extensions. It might damage these children's self esteem, self concept and self acceptance." They are saying, "Wow, what an easy way to have customers for life starting as young as 4 yrs old!" At the end of the day, HM, her dad, Disney and every endorser will be stacking their dollars after they've pimped out millions of folks who can't rub two nickels together for their own daughter's education. Just something to think about. Thank God for those who are writing/blogging about the truth. It is the only thing that will indeed set you free. But hey, we all gotta defend something. Let's just hope it's the right thing. I've blogged about this topic before.

You can view the rest of Tyra's show on Good vs Bad Hair on this youtube channel.

Zumba in Waco and beyond anyone???

I've had ladies of all colors in the past 5 months raving about Zumba. The Dewey Rec Center is starting classes on Wednesday and Fridays and if I reinstate my membership at the Y, they already have classes. I wanted to join a volleyball league but that's not going on in town any more at the Dewey. Soooo, if I decide to Zumba, I'll post a video on my blog. If anyone in the community is attending classes, let me know how it's going for you.

Michael Jackson Video Blog

I created a blog of all my favorite Michael Jackson Videos and will keep adding cool links, more videos and encouraging articles as they roll in. It's the best way I can grieve through this great loss. As I told Jen Thursday night, "We were raised on Michael Jackson." My feelings are mixed and I'm pretty upset about his sudden passing. Gone too, too soon.

MJacksonvideos.blogspot.com

 

Class of 1989 Reunion Saturday Night album | MJSProductions Event Photography | Fotki.com

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We celebrated 20 yrs and I must say my classmates looked fabulous!!!!

Felicia's 3 yr Lockversary

If you remember my girl, Felicia's lockversary, it was 3 years ago today. Check out what 3 years did for her!!! She came down from San Antonio in February and Jen and I captured some snapshots. In the fotki collage, you will also see her locks from June of 2008 at her 2yr mark. She retightens her own hair since there are no consultants in San Antonio. You go girl! Enjoy!