Why I chose this topic. As a woman of african descent being natural, embracing your true self is part of a lifetime journey. That journey is not an easy one, because of our history. Our destiny is determined on the past – a past that taught us self-hatred. A past we sometimes don’t even know anything about. But this is changing, there are movements that help embracing our ‘blackness’. Our culture, our roots, our true self. I have always been interested in black history, afrocentrism, everything concerning african or afro-american, people of color. Growing into my natural being has been much easier to me, I have always been connected to my african roots through family. African, afro-european and afroamericans, do not share the exact same past and are not necessarily confronted with the same issues. Black women are confronted with a patriarchal, sexist and racist reality. Sometimes a reality not accepting us as women and human being, Dealing with misconceptions and disappointment if you cannot and you don’t want to live up to certain stereotypes. My natural journey started with my first big chop in 2006, the last time I had a relaxer, perm and the first time I felt liberated from the pressure of having straight hair. Hair that looks manageable but reached its worst condition. Growing back my natural curls, quite a challenge because I had not seen my real hair for a while. I keep searching for the right products. My hair grew but not healthy. If your hair surpassed a certain length cutting becomes tough. But covering up my hair wasn’t an option. 2012 , I had another big chop, I did some research on natural hair growth. Et voila. I’m in love with my curls, curls. I don’t care about my frizz hair! Not only did this journey bring me closer to my natural hair, natural being, I learned a lot about the beauty of women, the things I find most appealing about african/black women. The true essence of beauty, external beauty expressed by internal beauty. ‘I was always attracted not by some quantifiable , external beauty, but by something deep down, something absolute. Just as some people have a secret love for rainstorms, earth quakes or blackouts, I liked that certain undefinable, something directed my way by members of opposite sex.
For want of a better word, call it magnetism like it or not, it’s a kind of power that snares people and reels them in’ Haruki Murakami
As Murakami mentioned something ‘deep down’ , to me that something is ‘the true essence of beauty’. My admiration for black women is profounded on my love for the african continent. Pure richesa. Diversity in all aspects, a ethnic, genetic , spiritual, lingual and local conglomerate. The black woman comes in aesthetic diversity. Skin-colors that differ in nuances within their ethnic groups. Nuances impossible to describe and summarize, classify in a skin color chart (Luschan’s chromatic scale /used for race studies, anthropology). Hair structural variety, that so called nappy, kinky, frizzy, coiled, tightly curled, afro textured, helix shaped hair is good hair, big hair is a blessing , it’s versatile , unique and beautiful. It’s our souls extension. A soul of great strength, spirit, generosity, passion, wisdom, honesty and modesty. The black woman- fearless, intelligent, brave and visceral! The black woman is something else, somebody of great beauty. Most people wonder how we stay young. we stay young because we live a healthy lifestyle. Beauty can only exist in a peaceful place. To be in peace you have to love and truly accept yourself. Accepting yourself demands self-reflection. Accepting your make up free mirror reflexion. For me it’s about finding equilibrium. Accepting my existence a westernized african uniting the best of both countries, Angola and Germany. Embracing my nature and learning about my ancestors history make me feel connected to my motherland and womankind.