@ mezmerized

i'm not saying that what is good for her is good for me. i mentioned her because when people want to talk about blackness they like dropping names like malcolm x in it and i'm thinking well his wife straightened her hair, while he was preaching about us not liking our hair. why didnt he choose someone with an afro...because your hair is not a reflection of who you are.

@ melissa

i dont strive to be anyone but myself. we need to stop trying to define 'blackness' by our own standards. there are many 'natural' sisters out there married to YT men. does that make them any more black than me?

my grandmother's hair was and is still very long, more than half way down her back, my cousin's hair is also half way down her back it is not relaxed or pressed, she wears it in twists and has been from we were young (she is now 30). but she is considering relaxing it. My best friend also has long hair and my hair nearly reaches the middle of my back so no i dont equate long hair with indian or white people because i grew up around family members with long hair. if any of them straighten their hair and it happens to be long are they trying to be white?

no i do not wear an afro because i don't want to wear an afro. why should i? everyone black should have an afro? everyone chooses a style that suits them, whether it fits their personality or lifestyle. it does not make anyone more conscious.

that's like walking around with a badge on saying i am black. i do not need to 'advertise' that i am conscious by wearing my hair in a certain way. also i do love my hair, at the moment i am trying to make it healthy as i have done a lot to it. so i am protecting it by doing various styles. when i go on holiday i may do cornrows or single plaits. because i do a more 'natural' style i am not putting my 'black' hat on, i will still be the same person. i know who i am and that's all that matters. there may be other ways that i show that i am conscious.