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Nina Simone sang one of my favorite songs ever: "Feelin' Good". It's an anthem for women, I believe, to look at what they've got and being happy with it. As much as I'm not happy with parts of my life I know that feeling good about myself starts on the inside. The more I feel good about myself on the inside the more I glow on the outside.
One of the debates I've had with myself about feeling good is about hair. I realize that the debate amongst Black women and hair issues will never go away. It's an ever present conversation whether we're at the beauty shop, sitting around having cocktails, or meeting up at the grocery store in the produce aisle. And no matter how many times the conversation happens each woman participating will come away with basically the same theory: do whatever you want to do with your hair but beware of the cultural identity crises it produces.
The most recent bout came right after Tyra Banks put it out there on her talk show on the "Good Hair vs. Bad Hair" episode. As usual, I'm on the side of "Who listens to celebrities anyway?" but I know better than that. I know that people listen and I have to wonder how much of it will harm girls and women who are easily swayed. When I think of "beauty", however, I'm often thinking of specific things that women like about themselves. As a young girl I desperately wanted my sister's brown eyes for some reason. Surely, it had to do with wanting what you don't have, but I still think that a part of me also longed for something that helped me identify even more with the black culture since I was raised in a mixed race family. As an adult, I've come to appreciate what I do have and try very hard not to think too much about the fact that I'm still teased as being "high yella" as the lightest skinned one in my family.
But back to the hair.
Tyra's episode can't be taken seriously when we all know her to be one of the worst perpetrators of The Weave.
Her "discussion" of this supposed "good" hair only validated her as the poseur she joyfully embraces. This brings me to my question of beauty for women out there who are often wondering just WHAT it is that makes them beautiful. What things about the way you look do you love? What's your favorite part of your own beauty?
In case you're wondering, I only "like" my hair. But, I truly do love my large calf muscles. Yeah, they look like they could knock someone's head off and I win nearly every leg-wrestling contest against both men and women (hey, you'd be surprised how many times I still engage in them as an adult!) but I've come to appreciate that they're muscly and strong.
How about you? What do you LOVE about your looks be it something natural or something you play up with makeup?
