ROCK THE MIC

Take Back The Hair

Take Back The Hair

As I drive around the streets of Crichton, Maysville, Prichard and Down the Bay but this applies to ANYHOOD, USA I look around and see three or four beauty supply stores on each block. Each one of them prospering and busy with the bustling with feet of Black women daily. We all know the truth Black females are the primary and very frequent patrons to the fine establishment we like to  call the “Beauty Supply Store “The beauty supply store the place where women tend to overindulge because there are so many things up and down each aisle that cater to our sister girl style. And we love that! But we would also love to purchase it from a face that’s within our color spectrum. We would love for the government to give the college graduate a business grant so she can start a beauty supply store. Again grant not loan because she owes enough in student loans. She’s educated. Or what about the “round the way girl” who was always the best at creating any style imaginable. She was the trendsetter when it came to all the latest styles in the hood. She deserves a grant to launch Keisha’s beauty supply store. The “Keishas” knows more about the best type of hair anyway. But instead it’s given to those from foreign lands who don’t represent me or you. But they can imitate our art and transform it into currency. All the while making more than enough money to pay the way for generations to come all off an industry that we created. In that circle everyone eats. They work together as common unit to get better so they can all generate a profit. And that’s what they do on our streets and corners every single day. Those truths are oh so evident to us and we ignore them. But now there’s a way for us to take back our community brick by brick. Interpret that how you want it. Whether it’s using books or like Jeezy would flip with them bricks. We should embrace being hood and stop being quote ghetto end quote. It’s nothing wrong with being self sufficient and supporting our own. Where are the people who were not afraid to stand up and change things for the better? Small things to the next generation but great sacrifice for those who fought that struggle. Before we were allowed to integrate and use the facilities that belonged to them. We have all seen the movie “The Color Purple”. Black barber butcher tailor school church black store. Everything we needed to function as our own society. We were a strong people that learned to survive and overcome with the least means. Somewhere along the line we have lost sight of the ultimate goal and vision. However we must start somewhere. So why not start with something that we love so dearly. Our hair our weaves our culture our strength. In a perfect world we would all go natural and put them out of business. We would work to together to take the hair industry brick by brick. But that’s just wishful thinking because we all know that we love our perms wigs weaves natural products in all varieties. I know I do! It’s the DNA to our soul. Let’s not forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ask yourself how much beauty can really be sold within those walls anyway. Natural beauty comes from within. Open your eyes. These stores are in the heart of every city. And if home is where the heart is then we have let someone else come break all barriers and setup shop right in the middle of our aorta.