Name: *Mae*
Should hair be a big deal for black women? Is being a Naturalista important?
I definitely would not say that hair SHOULD be a big deal for black women because there are significantly more important issues facing us as black women. However, in the society in which we live, our hair is made to be an issue in regards to the fact that there are some people who do not believe it is "appropriate" or "professional" to wear our hair in a manner that is completely natural to us.
I believe that being knowledgeable about this issue and being confident in who you are as an individual is more important than just solely being a "naturalista". To be a confident and "real" black woman does not automatically mean that you have to be a naturalista as well. I myself made the transition to being a "naturalista" just several months ago and it really opened my eyes to just how uninformed people are about the beauty of having natural, healthy hair. I am proud of my decision to go natural but at the same time, I of course still respect others' decisions to relax their hair. I just hope that we as black women won't decide to not "go natural" because of what society has led us to believe in error about our own, beautiful, natural hair.
Name an obstacle(s) that black women are presented with and how you think they can overcome that obstacle.
An obstacle that stands out to me and hits close to home is our underrepresentation in the professional scientific and technical fields (STEM= science,technology,engineering and mathematics). I have a degree in Materials Engineering and am currently working on my Ph.D. in that area. I have been in this area of study for almost 7 years now and have not once been taught by a black woman. I can also count on my fingers how many fellow black women I've had in my classes. This really saddens me, but I've come to understand that this issue really stems from how kids are trained at a young age. Many of us as black girls had this notion while we were growing up that we were a "double minority" (being black and female) and thus automatically assumed we could only go so far because of that. I believe this is still perpetuated today to an extent and not enough role models are being presented at a young age to help inspire and encourage young black women to pursue their interests no matter what the majority of the population believe their success rate will be. As parents and as educators, I believe a strong focus needs to be placed on empowering our young black women to value themselves as talented, gifted individuals capable of achieving what they set out to accomplish. This really needs to begin in the home and be reinforced in the education system starting at a young age. A few encouraging words can make a world of difference, especially if they are coming from someone who can be looked up to. Change can be effected when we have a community of nurturing individuals and those that really care about the future of our young women. There are definitely more aspects to this issue that I wish I had the time to discuss, but I truly believe this would be a great start.
What keeps you strong and motivated?...What keeps you going each day?
God is the only constant in my life and it would be an understatement to say that He keeps me strong and motivated. When I look at the path my life has taken, I know it’s only by God's grace that I've made it to this point. It also helps that I have a God-fearing family that truly loves me and never hesitates to pray for me. At the same time, knowing that God created me with a unique purpose is motivation enough to keep going. I will admit it gets hard sometimes, but I also know that if God has a mission for me, He will also be quick to give me the tools, support and strength to see it through! : ) (Jeremiah 29:11)
Mae blogs at http://www.naturalchica.com/
