African Hair | LUCILLE ROIMEN | TEDxYouth@BrookhouseSchool

[Music] judo not saying that three is a crowd well I didn't want to be that number three I craved to simply fit in in my environment and be everything that simply wasn't myself throughout my journey I've constantly asked myself when was society gonna start following me but through my journey I've lost my true elements my purpose and my roots ladies and gentlemen today I'm glad to say that I love myself and the nature that is my hair African hair the most misunderstood hair texture it's amazing how it's the only hair texture that could defy the laws of gravity growing up instead of down the kinky looks that is naturally by themselves and could be starred in many different ways surely the words and phrases that I've just stated about African hair make it seem glamorous and I assure you it is but for centuries African hair has been looked down upon and sadly these stereotypes continue just judging by the lint in the room I cannot be the only one who has never heard the phrases like your hair is nappy you know you look a bit unkept you should straighten it to look more presentable these phrases originate from the early days of colonization prior service in Africa a range of different tribes had many different hairstyles that reflected their culture these old enriched traditions were meant to be passed down for generations to come however when slave trade occurred in Africa many of these old and rich traditions were wiped out from earlier the 1930s in America many black women were stripped of the beauty that is their hair being forced to submerge themselves into the Western American look being taught that straight is better and the covering of their hair looked more presentable in the state of Louisiana in 1786 black women had to cover their hair by law being told that they must cover their hair to look more presentable the lack of tools and resources to maintain their hair made it difficult for African Americans to the extent of using butter to moisturize their hair too once luck madam CJ Walker became the first African American to create hair products that will exfoliate and maintain the growth of black people's hair you see ladies and gentlemen she's bridging the gap between African hair and the Western society an example of someone who follows herself not society but I've noticed that we have fallen under the spell of following post-colonial trends many advertisements showcase the ways in which black women can treat their hair to look more westernized and civilized but let us remember the nuts the civil rights movement in the 1960s in America many black many of many many black women and men took to the streets of their hometowns being in the light and pride in ownership to African hair many might see this as just a movement many might see this as them just showing off their hair however I see power I see acceptance and I see pride ladies and gentlemen I am NOT here to imply that I've always loved my hair and that I've always showed off my afro actually it's far from that I was born in London in United Kingdom and in my primary school majority of the children were white children in addition my mother always used to braid my hair bringing extensions and braids and clips and to me I felt beautiful I was pretty I mean a Nazi and when I was at home I felt absolutely beautiful but when I went to school this feeling quickly dissolved many students would ask to touch my hair and ask questions like is that real are you allowed to have so many colors and patterns does it hurt when you sleep this used to irritate me and without a doubt this broke my self-esteem I remember going into secondary school and begging my mom to allow me to relax my hair I wanted it so badly that she simply had to give in and from that moment I felt beautiful I blended in with society I was one of them but this fantasy that I was living didn't last forever as the damage was already done my hair cut and my edges weren't even you see what the advertisements don't show is the bad side effects of using these products could have on your hair such as possible hair loss or on even edges I remember as a child I always used to play with white Barbie dolls you know those Barbie dolls I have the long straight blonde hair but I distinctly remember going to a shop with my dad and I noticed a black dog you know this doe had an afro and instead of running to my dad and begging him to buy me this door I was terrified I mean can you blame me this is the first time in my entire life I had ever seen a black door and to be most full to be sure she looked just like me I mean I was absolutely terrified this experience was almost embedded in my mind which I'd rater began to realize that I need to embrace my hair but of course my mother refused she asked me how you handle it Lucille what if it rains what will you do then questions I had no answer to but knowing myself I tend to ask a lot of questions how come my parents don't know how to maintain African hair I mean black people have been on this earth for so long surely someone must know history and knowledge I think that our knowledge has been robbed from us we have been brainwashed to think that when I hear transforms into a massive puff but that is it that we are messy when I say no to this let's embrace the fact that I had does this and love it let's love every twist knot and curl that is our hair a prime example of someone who lives by the statement is my sister Lupita Nyong'o she went to the New York Met Gala in 2014 but many of the media outlets called her hairstyle vault including Vogue but why is it rolled is it because it's a black woman showing off her natural hair is that your idea of bored well I think it's simply beautiful a representation of culture my Angela once said if you're always trying to be normal you'll never know how amazing you can be through my experience I've had to learn the beauty and the richness of my hair for many nights of regret and tears to eventually loving it I'm so happy that with the help of social media many black girls can look up to other black girls who embrace their natural hair our generation is moving upwards and we must keep it that way so the next time Society tells you to relax your hair tell society I don't need to relax my hair because I'm not stressed out thank you [Applause] [Music]

Channel: TEDx Talks

Views: 15,024

Rating: 4.9373775 out of 5

Keywords: TEDxTalks, English, Life, Self improvement

Id: vhkzfuXl5Sk

Length: 8min 44sec (524 seconds)

Published: Tue Jan 14 2020