Thank God I'm Natural

I’m working on an article about natural hair for a new national black women’s magazine, called Jones Magazine. If you have had photos taken of yourself with natural hair by a professional photographer or are a stylist with professional natural hair photos, please email them to me at thankgodimnatural@gmail.com for consideration.

The internet is buzzing about holiday blockbuster, Avatar, the hit movie which costs over $300M to make.

I recently took in the film on a friend’s recommendation, without even knowing what it was about. I personally liked the movie and thought that James Cameron did an excellent job of providing his own social commentary on issues related to race and human greed. The story even touches on the power balance in male and female relationships, which I found quite interesting for those of you who have ever found yourself in a situation where you had “more” to offer than your partner. Still the movie has its critics, who believe that it is nothing more than another white man saves the natives story  a la Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves or the timeless classic Pocahontas.

In any event, I would love to hear your feedback of this flick. Did you think we can do without another “white man” saves the brown folks film especially given that Blind Side is already at the Box Office? Did you look at the Navi and think to yourself, they must be black?  Were you feeling the special effects or annoyed with all the racist blue monkey comments? What were your thoughts on the General, Jake Sulley and the other characters? Speak Up!

Milwaukee first grader Lamya Cammon was told by her teacher to stop playing with her hair. When she kept doing it, the teacher cut off the 7-year-old’s braid.

The little girl told Milwaukee’s News12 that the teacher, whose name was not revealed in the report, said that the teacher called her over to her desk to  give her candy, then cut the braid and threw it in the trash while the entire class watched and laughed.  Lamya went back to her desk in tears. She says that the teacher asked her, “‘Now what you gonna go home and say to your momma?,’” to which she sensibly replied, “‘That you cut off my hair,’” according to News12. Many cite overcrowded classrooms and teacher stress as the cause for the incident.

Lamya’s mother, Helen Cunningham, told News12 that the teacher apologized when confronted, and explained her actions by saying that she was “frustrated.”  Although the local school district would not comment on the specifics of the case, an apology was given. The News12 report says that the District Attorney has decided not to press charges, but police did issue a $175 fine for Disorderly Conduct.

So Ladies (and the Gentlemen Lurkers), what would you do if this happened to your child? Do you think the teacher’s actions justify her being terminated? What impact do you think this incident will have on little 7-year-old Lamaya?

I would love to hear from you.

You  should already know this by now, but Thank God I’m Natural makes the perfect Xmas gift for that special woman in your life—regardless of whether she’s natural, lock’d, in transition, or has no intention of ever giving up her relaxer.

Surprise your mom, daughter, or best friend with an autographed copy of the book with a personalized inscription that reads “Dear XXX, Always stay natural. You’re beautiful just the way you are.” As black women, it is not often that we’re told we’re beautiful just as we are; which is why this book makes such a unique and thoughtful gift.  Thank God I’m Natural is available online by clicking here or you can always pick up a copy at Barnes & Noble, Borders, or your local black bookstore.  You can also purchase fitted ladies t-shirts in sizes S-XXXL at our online store. We’ll be offering free shipping on all purchases from now until Christmas, excluding international orders.

We had a magnificent turnout at Truth Bookstore yesterday. I just want to thank everyone who stopped by and purchased a copy of the book, a t-shirt or a tote bag. I want to send out a very special thank you to Nefertiti and Jelani for hosting this event and for making sure that everything ran smoothly. If you live in Detroit and still want a signed copy of the book, you can still pick one up at Truth Bookstore in Northland Mall. We also have a list of black bookstores around the country posted online, so to the extent you have time please support black businesses this holiday season and help us to continue to keep money in the community. If you know of a black bookstore or coffee shop in your city that would be willing to host a TGIN book signing, please email us at thankgodimnatural@gmail.com.

I  just saw this posted by one of my favorite bloggers  on Natural Hair Rules. The shirt looks great and the material is so soft and super high quality.  The shirt is made by American Apparel, so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth. We carry sizes S-XXXL. I’m running off to a book signing, but you can order the shirts online by clicking on Store. Remember, we’re offering free shipping on all merchandise from now until New Years.

I know many of you have asked me to post pictures of my kinky twists, so here they are with the hair all down and half up half down. Sorry for the delay, but I just got back from Florida and Detroit, and now I’m in Chicago so I can plug into my computer.

I love these twists. The hair looks extremely natural (look at the curl pattern on the ends). In fact, most people think I have locks when I wear them pulled back or pinned up. The down side is I have no excuse for not looking good when it only takes me two minutes to do my hair every morning. I know I post the cute pics on my blog, but there are man of days when you can catch me in the grocery store or post office with a scarf on and some perm rods in my hair. I know, I’m not setting a good example, so I’ll be working on that in 2010.

I’ve had these twists for about three weeks, so next week I plan on getting the front touched up and maybe a little more blonde/light brown added in. Also, I don’t know if you can tell from the pics, but the front is cornrowed. This is the first time I tried having my hair plaited with cornrows in the front, but I love it because I can wear the hair pulled back or down without feeling like I’m wearing a helmet.

Once I get settled back in to my routine after the holidays, I’m going to experiment with different pin ups. I like some of the pinups BronzeGoddess01 does. She also has some great lock tutorials. I’ll also probably swing by the beauty school and let them take a stab at giving me something a little bit interesting.

Kinky Twist Maintenance Tips

In terms of maintenance, here are my stylist, Malaika’s tips:

- For weekly maintenance, spray hair with water and add a little leave-in conditioner (no more than 2 or 3 times per week). This will soften the twists and redefine the curly ends. You can also add a little oil to give a nice sheen. (i.e. jojoba, almond, or apricot)

- Wait at least two to three weeks before 1st wash.

– Use an astringent, like witch hazel, on a cotton round to keep scalp clean and follow up with a light hair oil…as listed above.

– When washing be very gentle and make sure to massage scalp.

– Do not follow wash with a thick creamy conditioner; use a leave-in conditioner instead.

- Oil your scalp as need. Just remember to use a light oil and not too much to avoid build-up.

- Wear a silk or satin scarf (avoid cotton) at night to preserve style. Tie the  scarf so that the twists hang freely out the back. Also, sleeping on a silk or satin pillow case helps.

If you live in Chicago, feel free to contact my stylist Malaika. Her email address is likaflower@yahoo.com or at (773) 314-6238.

So, my team and I are in the process of contacting all the black bookstores in the nation in an attempt to find out who carries Thank God I’m Natural: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for and Maintaining Natural Hair, so we could post an actual list of black bookstores online for you to support. We’re nearly half way through a list of 300 stores and it’s quite sad (and somewhat depressing) to see the number of stores that have closed, have disconnected numbers, or just plain no longer exists.

Last year, Karibu books, one of the nation’s largest chain of black bookstores, shut its doors after nearly 15 years in business. The same fate awaits many other black book shops who, like other independent book sellers, are finding it harder and harder every single day to compete with Goliaths like Barnes & Noble or Borders.  I am hoping to do my part by posting a listing online and, to the extent possible, holding my signings at black-owned establishments to contribute to the economic empowerment of our community. I hope you will join me in this cause.

According to black book store owners (like James Fugate, who founded Eso Won Bookstore in Los Angeles, CA) the problem has compounded with the increase in black literature offerings at major book sellers like Barnes and Noble. Online sellers like Amazon, which often sell the same books for even less, don’t help, either.

There’s another issue facing black bookstores in America: image. Too many consumers associate “black literature” solely with books about hardship, poverty, racism, or slavery… which is great if you’re looking for a deep, history-style read, but not so much for light summer reading.

The fact is; you can find a great novel outside of Borders. But, while large chains do carry a selection of African-American lit, their selection leaves something to be desired. A recent New York Times Editorial, Their Eyes Were Reading Smut, touches on the fact that the majority of these books fall under the category of erotica.

Now, I’ve got nothing against a sexy story, but the truth is that there are so many more styles of black literature… why would you limit yourself to only the booty-call variety?

What does the closing of so many black bookstores mean to black Americans? Sadly, it means that a lot of great authors will get overlooked in the rush to stock shelves with mainstream, profit creating novels.

And these mainstream shops are robbing people of more than just a wider range of available titles. Like barber shops and beauty salons, they’re a meeting place for the members of the communities which they serve. That vibe is what makes these stores such an integral part of our societies.

It’s scary, because in these tough economic times, black folks and black businesses often suffer the most. Many reports show that the national unemployment rate continues to hover around 10%, but for black males that number is closer to 30%. These statistics underscore the importance of why we must continue to support our own institutions and establishments, because if we don’t, who will?

For a link to black bookstores in your community, please click here

So let’s hear from you… what’s the last time you physically went into a neighborhood bookstore, instead of clicking the mouse? What was the last really good book you read… and what are your own experiences with black literature?