Understanding Hair As A Symbol of White-Black Relationship.

ODERA CHIDUME Author Of OFFSPRING OF THE SUN UNDERSTANDING HAIR AS A SYMBOL OF WHITE-BLACK RELATIONSHIP .................................................................................. ODERA CHIDUME Understanding Hair As A Symbol Of White-Black Relationship. Also by Odera Chidume Offspring Of The Sun Understanding Hair As A Symbol Of White-Black Relationship An Essay Written By Odera Chidume Copyright 2023 by ODERA CHIDUME All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieved system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the author, who is the copyright owner. From the writer; Follow; Twitter; Odera Chidume Instagram; Odera Chidume Facebook; Odera Chidume E-Mail ; oderachidume20@gmail.com Contents Acknowledgement Introduction *Black Hair; Nature, Symbolism, Elevation, Something more than just a style. *Hair and the Precepts of Work and Professionalism. Acknowledgement An unending recognition to my family for the patience of wanting to read every line I wrote, and wanting to see it through their eyes; for their beautiful hearts guided by truth and love : Angus and Ebere Chidume. Ada Chidume, sister who looks satisfied after she gets to read a line I wrote, for pushing me up to try and write, to finish up this beautiful work, for her question of "a ga-edekwa nke taa?". Those other than my family who wanted to read the manuscripts, who wanted to confirm the life in it, Chineke gozierem unu. Okoli Onyedikachi, for boldly saying that all my books merited best sellers, Mrs Chika Ezirim for telling me how impressed she was, so much that someone around would see it an exaggeration. Prince Mbamara, for forwarding to me, spaces where writers could fit in and for constantly calling me "Odeluora". Ezinwa Izuchukwu Ogbonna, the first to react to the newest of my works. Chinaza Ezeokoli, for propping me up, for telling me how much my books meant to her. Friends who called me Chinua Achebe, a beautiful metaphor of what I did for a living; Ikechukwu Chinedu, Chidozie Ijioma , Arinze Ohakwe, James Edward, Okoro Fidelis (Nwa Ogaranya) and others. Friend and neighbour, Chisom Okwudiri, for the conscience guided by faith and patience. Benita Chima, Anthony Nmesoma, M. Jay, Hilda Nwachukwu, Ofoedu Chiagozie, Susan (Osilora), Chigozie Nkwocha, Vincent Francis and others who preferred calling me a writer. And everybody, onye obula, who helped in one way or the other, daalu nu. Introduction Black hair has a history for being a symbol of survival, freedom, resistance and cultural celebration. Ancient African Communities fashioned their hair for something more than just a style. It tells a lot about where people came from and who they were. It is also an avenue for African Americans to exhibit a link to their African ancestors and fellow blacks throughout the globe. But the challenges facing black hair are some sort of alarming. The white subjugation of black hair which infiltrates different parts of the African lives. It is against this backdrop, that we should solely debunk hair discrimination. Black hair- Nature, Symbolism, Elevation, Something more than just a style. Black hair is one of the most common kinds of hair in Africa and Asia. The general hair type seen in black African hair is thick, curly and dense with more hair growing from the head. The curly quality is as a result of the shape of the hair fossicle. Hair is naturally reflective, so black hair is not completely dark in bright light. A large number of blacks are identified by their kinky or afro-textured hair. Hair, especially that of black, as it is, is not just a style. It is symbolic, it is deep, it is cultural. It means something different to people of different races; but to blacks, it has a uniquely meaningful history as a symbol of survival, resistance and cultural celebration. Hence, it is being wielded as a tool of empowerment and our society's understanding of this still influences how people are treated today. Black hair is arguably the best kind of hair, considering its easy maintenance, higher concentration of melanin, production of plenty of protective oils, called Sebum which keeps the hair healthy. It is also less prone to sun damage. Also, it is worthy to note that this hair matches its callibre of culture, black culture and gives its best when it is nurtured along with this cultural lifestyle. It can be fully represented only when it blends with its system of life, its way of life. Hence, black hair should match with black nurturing and black culture. .................................... Ekwusigo wondered how best to present herself at her college African Fashion Week. She had to get to her hair, clothes, shoes, and all of that. Some of her friends, especially those who dressed her hair, had advised her to relax it, pointing out the way they struggled to comb her natural hair, as though it was a floor too hard to be swept with a broom. One of her friends, Nonye, had pushed her to great extent, to relax the hair, "My advice for you, Ekwusigo, please relax this hair, let it completely fall back, let your face stand out. Forget that traditional dress of a thing. Be a modern African, be the civilized African, be the magic black. By the time you're done with it, it'll be smooth and straight, beautiful”. It had never occurred to her to relax the hair, although she was willing to sweep aside, any factor that would hinder her from being first place. But she liked the black colour and thick texture of her hair, the way it blended with the colour of her skin and the idea that she felt hair texture wasn't a major determinant in the African Fashion Week. She decided to leave it that way, for now, till she made up her mind to relax it, even if it was after the show. It doesn't matter. What matters, to her, is when she decides to take the decision. And she left it like that, oiled it, combed it forcefully, with the pain like there were tiny ropes tied around each strand of hair by nature. It was funny, how she wanted to keep it, though it stressed her. For her kinky hair, her mother had advised her to make braids, which she did anyway, bought a styled, coloured dress made with Ankara materials, preferrably Hollantex then a pair of shoes and handbag from Dior; a combination that made it look like her being was what really glittered. This was what she thought, Nonye should have called a modern African. She made the first place after all, wearing the medal, and the judge's comment that "she was a true definition of herself". At the door of the concert hall, by which time the event had ended, she had met a surprised Nonye, "Honestly, Ekwusigo, I thought your natural hair would make you look local, and the braids too". She now sounded as though she felt guilty, like she wanted to deceive her friend. Ekwusigo broke into a mild, hearty laughter. She too wasn't sure that the fashion would put her through. She had decided to slather the hair with relaxer if she didn't make it at the fashion week. The first runner up, a guy, fair and handsomely structured, styled equivalent to her own level, but had a minor setback. Ekwusigo suspected something. His hair. It could be his hair. His hair, high, it was relaxed, pretty carved, into the hairstyle of the quiff, or something close to the Korean mullet. It made him look a lot like those guys that were showed on the western telenovela or the Korean movies. Ekwusigo had imagined one of the judges saying no to the hair, pointing at something that should have been. She imagined one of them making a comment that would seriously bring down his marks, "He can't be on this hairstyle with an African dress. He's mixing Africa with something else!. The fashion isn't complete!". She came out of imagination. But he was fair and handsome anyway. And she thought he wanted to use his handsome features to gather numerous hails from people, who he might have thought, should aspire to westernization. Those things, she thought, never worked in culture; it might work in religion anyway. You know people believed in religious ideas and worship that didn't originate from their race. But for the cultural presentation, it didn't and it wouldn't. The two sat at a round table, before Nonye went to get some fruit drinks. She was there, alone. Then she saw him. He came by, smiled, brought out his hand in a handshake "Hi" ”Good evening!". She greeted, while she shook his hand, softly, assuringly, smilingly. "You were first place. Congrats". "You too. You even stood a better chance than I did. Quite expensive". She smiled coyly, quickly looking at him from head to toe. He was quite in African galore. He kept quiet, smiling. She felt he was thinking why he came second. They gradually released hands. In a giffy, he spoke, "Not at all", he began" but for my position on the list, I think it’s the way I presented it, maybe the walking steps or something". The movement of his mouth and shoulders showed it was the way things came out. Then she became sure that he was thinking of his achievements, and the things that pulled him down to second place. She thought about his hair again, looked at it, wondered if he thought about it at all. She didn't tell him anything about it. But she was struck by the attractiveness of it, the hair, his gait, like he wanted to lure her into a trance of romance. She immediately regained self consciousness. "My name is Nichole. What's yours?" "Ekwusigo. You're from this college, isn't it?" "Yeah. Department of Sciences". "I'm from the Communications Department". "Nice meeting you". He smiled. They shook hands again. She smiled and nodded. He left, probably to greet friends. Nonye arrived, almost immediately. She looked at him, and turned to Ekwusigo. "Hey, you know him?. He's good looking. Hope he won't snatch you from Chude? "No oh; ah. It's not possible". She had a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Chude, her boyfriend, didn't seem to her like someone who can be replaced by Nichole. Chude's features were well defined to her, complete on its own. Shout out to Ladies and Guys on the beautiful nature of Black Hair Nne, your natural hair is beautiful, just wash it, comb it, oil it and nurture it. Though it is a little difficult to comb, it is inarguably better than those defeated by chemicals, in form of relaxing; and they peel off anyway, the strands falling from the front of your hair; it leaves you somewhat ugly and forces you to barb and grow them afresh. This is because it leaves the hair weak, brittle and prone to breakage. It can even burn your skin, cause permanent damage to the scalp and lead to hair loss. They could also pose a threat of cancer. The white guys style their hair, carve it, relax it, coil it and cut it just a bit or almost don't cut it. And so it fits them. But you fall for it, and you like it, and you tell your boyfriend to cut a very high hairstyle and coil it. Then it doesn't fit him. And it means you don't directly like his features; it becomes an image of something you like, something you think should have been. Nne, biko leave him alone, he is black .