African Dread And Nubian Locks Essay Research — страница 2

women with straight or straightened hair” (hooks 84). Yet, many women I have spoken to who have locks say that they never saw the beauty that they now see in their own faces, as opposed to when they had processed hair. Most feel that having locks leaves the natural beauty of the face to show. These women are content with themselves. Most black men here in America that I have spoken to who have had or now have locks say that they are an extension of who they are culturally and spiritually. These same men said that this helps them reaffirm their identity. Few have acknowledged having them for strictly a look different from the mainstream. The majority of black men say that their locks are an extension of who they are. In every single instance each individual expressed a spiritual

transformation of some kind. Usually, a longing to find the historical connection with their ancestors and the extraordinary leaders that came before them. In these cases, they refer to their locks as Nubian Locks (“Nubian” referring to the black man’s history in Africa and their greatness as patriarchal kings). These are the locks that I desire to grow and wear proudly. I like to smoke fine hand made cigars, not marijuana. I like to play tennis, as oppose to standing on a street corner. I have a beautiful family, well paying job and I am a full time college student. However, should I have to comprise my spiritual and cultural transformation in order to be accepted by the status quo? I will not. hooks, bell. “Straightening our Hair.” Identities. Ed. Ann Raimes. Boston:

Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996. X, Malcolm. “Hair.” Multitude. Ed. Chitra Divakaruni. New York: Mc Graw-Hill, Inc., 1993.