PracticallyMe
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My 11 y.o. DD has been getting teased about wearing natural styles or more likely that her hair is not straight at school. When school first started I put her hair in kinky twists, and several girls started calling her 'Medusa'. She said she didn't care but I know it had to be wearing on her everyday since these kids had been making the snide remarks since mid-September. She said she told the teacher, but it was still going on. I gave her some things to say because quite frankly I was just offended anybody had the nerve to say something about her hair.
Finally last weekend, I decided to flat iron her natural hair because she had asked me to do it a few times. Her hair is very thick and a little more than shoulder length, but it goes out more than down. So, I let her wear it in a banana clip, so it wouldn't be all over her head.
Well, yesterday, her clip came off at school and she couldn't put it back on. So, her hair was a bit unruly. So, when she comes to the class where the girls tease her the most, they are laughing, but one in particular is making rude comments about her hair. Well, her and the ring leader get into a shouting match in the classroom (not good) and it was just a kinda major blow up. My DD was pretty upset, and I had to pick her up from school. And come to find out, the ring leader of the group is a Hispanic girl. It bothered me no matter who was talking about her hair, but to be honest I really rubbed me the wrong way that a girl of another race whose hair grows out pretty much straight, is talking negatively about my daughter because her hair is kinky.
Now, I'm mad at myself because I wish I would have went directly to the administration when this first started before it turned into a big blowout. After this big incident, I did talk to the administration about it and let them know that the teasing was unacceptable. I informed them that Black's people hair is not naturally straight and although we have the option to straighten it, we are not required to straighten and that I would appreciate it if they would address this issue. I also told them the next time I would be contacting them directly about any further incidents.What I was thinking though, was you all better handle it before I do and somebody's feelings get hurt.
What's funny is I decided over 10 years ago, when my DD was 1 y.o. to go natural because I wanted her to be comfortable with her hair, so I wanted to be an example. Back in 2000, the only people I knew that were natural were on the internet, and I often got comments like 'what are you going to do with your hair?' from people I knew. Nowadays, I know several people that have gone the natural route and I see natural styles everywhere.
So, I can't believe in 2010 I'm going to have to pick out my fro, stick one of those picks with a fist on it in my hair and pump the black power fist over hair freedom. Just got me running hot over this mess.
Finally last weekend, I decided to flat iron her natural hair because she had asked me to do it a few times. Her hair is very thick and a little more than shoulder length, but it goes out more than down. So, I let her wear it in a banana clip, so it wouldn't be all over her head.
Well, yesterday, her clip came off at school and she couldn't put it back on. So, her hair was a bit unruly. So, when she comes to the class where the girls tease her the most, they are laughing, but one in particular is making rude comments about her hair. Well, her and the ring leader get into a shouting match in the classroom (not good) and it was just a kinda major blow up. My DD was pretty upset, and I had to pick her up from school. And come to find out, the ring leader of the group is a Hispanic girl. It bothered me no matter who was talking about her hair, but to be honest I really rubbed me the wrong way that a girl of another race whose hair grows out pretty much straight, is talking negatively about my daughter because her hair is kinky.
Now, I'm mad at myself because I wish I would have went directly to the administration when this first started before it turned into a big blowout. After this big incident, I did talk to the administration about it and let them know that the teasing was unacceptable. I informed them that Black's people hair is not naturally straight and although we have the option to straighten it, we are not required to straighten and that I would appreciate it if they would address this issue. I also told them the next time I would be contacting them directly about any further incidents.What I was thinking though, was you all better handle it before I do and somebody's feelings get hurt.
What's funny is I decided over 10 years ago, when my DD was 1 y.o. to go natural because I wanted her to be comfortable with her hair, so I wanted to be an example. Back in 2000, the only people I knew that were natural were on the internet, and I often got comments like 'what are you going to do with your hair?' from people I knew. Nowadays, I know several people that have gone the natural route and I see natural styles everywhere.
So, I can't believe in 2010 I'm going to have to pick out my fro, stick one of those picks with a fist on it in my hair and pump the black power fist over hair freedom. Just got me running hot over this mess.
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