We will not be boxed in!

Young Girl, don't you ever lose your wonder...

 

I remember many times, in this so called new South Africa, when I was treated differently because of the colour of my skin or the language I spoke. I cannot remember how many times I walked into a store in this city and was mistreated because I spoke English. As soon as I spoke Afrikaans, I was greeted slightly louder, the barely there smile grew bigger and the below par service I received was suddenly on par. Because I changed the language I spoke. Now, Afrikaans is my mother tongue, so I have no problem speaking it, but this behaviour shows me that to some, Afrikaans is superior. Better than. Higher than. Dominant.

 

This morning when I woke up, we were faced with more problems. Hair.

The Afro. When you Google 'Afro', the first definition you find is this: 'A hairstyle consisting of a mass of very tight curls that stick out all round the head, like the natural hair of some Black people.' 

Natural hair: 'Hair whose texture hasn't been altered by chemical straighteners, including relaxers and texturizers.'

 

Now you tell me, what can possibly cause one person to tell a young girl that she cannot own her natural hair and carry it with pride? Young girls are being told to relax or comb their Afros because it resembles a bird's nest. In this day and age, should our children still be subjected to pencil tests? That's shit my parents and forefathers went through to determine if they were to be categorized as White or Black. These boxes you try to put us in. Funny? No. The joke is on you who thinks this is acceptable. The joke is on you who thinks that is appropriate.

Who are you to prevent a young girl from speaking her mother tongue? You tell her to stop making funny sounds and to speak English. The nerve. Joke? No. The joke is on you oppressor. You who prevents a child from thriving in their natural state.

 

Apparently Black is associated with darkness and evil.

White is associated with purity.

Me? I am neither Black nor White in this country. I am of mixed race. That is associated with being tainted. Contaminated. Not pure.

I cannot be placed into a box. But the more they cannot make us fit in, the more boxes they create. Where did we learn this? Where did we learn to treat people like this? Where did we learn that some are evil or tainted and some are pure?

 

Growing up my Dad had an Afro. I have to the pictures to prove it. He wore his kinks with pride. My Mom had long straight hair. Then short straight hair. She wore it with pride. In my natural state, I might as well be called curly Sue. I too have been told that my curls do not look professional and that I should wear my hair straight more often. But I wear my curls with pride. No one can take that away from me. In my natural state, I am most beautiful and I will carry this beauty with pride. 

 

I have had the chance to speak to all kinds of people today. I have had the chance to read what others think. And I have been surprised. Pleasantly and not so pleasantly. I have seen people stand up today and wear their kinks with pride. I have seen afros and curls of all kinds. And because of young teenage girls, we too have had the courage to speak up, to blog, to post pictures of our natural hair, to speak up against the injustices of a similar kind in different schools. Because of these young girls, we too have been given courage.

But I have also seen comments of people who say it is not about race or about being authentically you. They say it is about cleanliness. About looking neat. So neat hair is what? Straightened or combed back and tied in a bun? What are your western views about being neat? What are your views about beauty and what is appropriate? And those views which you hold so highly, how have they been working for you? I think those views have blinded you to beauty. All kinds of it. I think those views have made you live in your own little worlds, in your bubbles where everything is neatly placed in boxes. Those views have closed you off from the beauty in this world; beauty that comes in all shades and hair textures. Those views have robbed you of the chance to know other kinds of beauty and to appreciate it. I have seen Black, White and Coloured people say they do not understand what the fuss is about. I cringed when I read their views. They have been boxed in and do not even realize it. They have closed themselves off and now, not even they can see how indoctrinated they are.

 

Today, I write this with pride. As I sit here, with my curls all wild, in their natural state, I am proud to say that I too have been given the courage to speak up. To stand in solidarity with those young girls who refuse to be indoctrinated. I am proud of the young women who stand up and say NO. No to being boxed in. No to being told that they do not fit society's picture of what beauty is. No to being forced not to live authentically.

 

Natural. Existing in or derived from nature, not made or caused by humankind.

Young Girl. You go on and be natural, from your hair follicle to your toe nail. You wear your crown with pride. Speak your mother tongue with all the sounds and clicks it has to offer. Make no apologies for who you are. Accept no excuses for being mistreated by those who claim to be acting out of a false sense of superiority. Young Girl, do not allow them to tell you that you are not beautiful in your natural state. They want you to believe their lies.

 

Young Girl, you raise your fist to the sky and tell them NO! You will not accept their bullshit.

 

Young Girl, you are beautiful.

 

Naturally.

 

Authentically.

 

Embrace who you are Young Girl. And make no apologies for it.

 

 

We will not be boxed in.

 

 

Take Care...

 

 

 

Miss Stone