MTA Fare Hikes...They're Baaack!

How MTA feels about fare hikes

How I feel about fare hikes

And yes, I'm referring to the lil guy on the right.

Animated GIFs from Buzz Feed

I remember when an MTA fare cost $1.00. Yes, in exchange for a dollar you received a token which would give you access to the underground network of tunnels we know as the Subway. Times have changed since the late '80s. Tokens are an afterthought, while MetroCards reign supreme. The cost of travel has increased substantially; "A History of MTA Fare Hikes" provides a list of all fare increases from 1904-2009. After reading this exhaustive list do not forget there have been increases since then. On March 1st 2013, we will experience yet another hike, the fourth one in five years. Single ride fares will increase from $2.25 to $2.50, weekly passes will increase $1 to total $30, and my beloved monthly unlimited ride will jump from $104 to $112. That may not seem like a lot, but money is tight all around.

And what about the Pizza Principle?! Oh God don't let the cost of my slice increase in conjunction with this hike!!!!!!! Ok. Back to the issue at hand...


Two summers ago I remember having real trouble getting to work. I was living off my student loans and part-time income. (Still my life story, but anyway...) After paying my bills I barely had enough to get me to my job and my unpaid internship. So I'd put on my pitiful face and beg for a swipe into the Subway. I got many responses; compassion, from some, but more often I got looks of disgust, especially since I was dressed in business and business casual attire. Their looks translated to "why don't you swipe me in, Miss Thing?" I had to wake up earlier and get to the station and pray that someone would swipe me in so I wouldn't get to work late. Sometimes things went according to plan, other times it didn't. Where was The Sunset Park Peoples' Transportation Program (PTP), the most organized "free ride" project in NYC when I needed them? (This great organization is now defunct, btw.) On top of all this add the disapproving stares from MTA workers and the NYPD. It was a truly humiliating experience, one that many New Yorkers face daily. Imagine having your budget planned out to the last cent then a hike comes along. How do you manage? Ask for swipes (AKA subject yourself to humiliation) or hope the turnstile (AKA become a criminal and pay MTA/NYPD more for money via a summons)? 


Costs are increasing everywhere but wages are not keeping up. We are (unfortunately) too far away from the reality of a living wage, but what about putting some type of restriction on how much and how often MTA can increase its fare? I realize it is expensive to run such an extensive operation, but I simultaneously feel robbed knowing how much money is paid into the system by straphangers, yet we don't even have reliable service. Dare I say it...maybe the fat cats are making too much? Since MTA is a monopoly in NYC boycotting will never work. Too many people depend on this one service and there is no legitimate substitute, unless you live, work and shop near Flatbush or Utica Avenue (insert my Caribbean accent here...wa'gwan dollar van drivas! And no, gentrifiers and new comers, the cost to get in isn't $1, although it used to be when they first came to BK. Their price always remains at the whole dollar amount rounded down from the current MTA fare.)

In a perfect world I'd like to see the following list of requests met with MTA funds.

1. Stabilization of fare hikes. You know, comprehensive legislation that prevents these all too frequent increases in transportation costs for NYC. Increases are understandable, but not so many of them. Four in five years? It sounds like the MTA needs to learn to manage its money better.
2. All stations need to comply with ADA standards. The Subway was first opened for service in 1904 and here we are 109 years later and handicapped individuals don't have access to all Subway stations.  I find it disgusting, offensive and exclusionary that we even have to use the phrase "handicapped accessible" in reference to Subway stations. They all should be accessible to EVERYONE.
3. While our transit system is rivaled by many cites across the globe for the expanse it covers and for being a 24 hour system, we must admit that we've lost our shine and push for bring on the cutting edge. Countries such as X, Y and Z are on the bleeding edge of transportation technology.  For us investment in green technology is imperative. While there are sustainability initiatives such as the installation of solar panels in a Brooklyn train station and   water recycling, we can do more. Even if the environment isn't enough motivation to make the change how about ego? Americans, specifically New Yorkers are big on ego. Other countries are incorporating new technologies to make their systems more efficient and less expensive, which reduces environmental externalities. How about using some of these ideas from "6 Ways to Harness Wasted Energy of Trains (and their Passengers)"?
4.  Countdown clocks are mandatory in all stations, for every train line. They should be installed near the kiosks, visible to customers before they swipe their cards, and also inside the stations in major walk ways and also on platforms.
5. There should be a reusable MetroCard by now. This would reduce litter in the Subway and also save the MTA money on card production. A pilot program with unlimited users would be a great place to start. Instead, MTA is planning to rely on other technologies, such as rely on tap and go payment systems that banks will provide. MTA, suck it up and create a sturdier card.
6. At least one escalator should be integrated into high traffic stations. This will help clear smaller platforms more quickly by channeling strap hangers away from the platform.
7. We need cleaner Subways. Trash and recycling receptacles need to be available for waste disposal. Platforms and seats need to be scrubbed down. While I always see this happening at the Union Square station on the Q line, I wonder how often it is done throughout the system.
8. We also need an underground that is well sealed. It is quite unfortunate when you need to use your umbrella underground on rainy days. No one likes strange fluid falling on them. This goes for inside the trains as well. People console each other when they get dropped on. "Oh. It's just some rain water,” or ” It's anti-freeze.” I don't care what it is. With my luck it will be some radioactive substance that will give me a superpower my personality and body can't handle. I have too much going on in my life to be turning green and busting out of my clothes every time I am upset or frustrated, let alone underground with rude straphangers. Please fix the leaks!
9. Rodent control...no brainer. I can't tell you how big of a tourist attraction this is. Do we want to be known as rat city? I guess we already are known as that, but you get my gist. MTA can begin the initiative at the Bedford Avenue stop on the L train. That station becomes a zoo at night, and the critters aren't afraid of people, either. Maybe they've been swimming thought that radioactive water?
10. Kiosks must accept cash and cards at all times. You can't expect people not to jump turnstiles when your machines (and people) don't accept their form of money. No, I don't want to go back above ground to find a bank to feed into your monopoly. Take it as a loss! 
11. Improve service on all trains, especially the G, since it is the only train that connects BK and Queens, without having to leave the island they are on. The G is the must pitiful line that exists, so undesirable that someone decided to croon "The G Train Blues." Hilare! When people ask me questions about moving to NYC I advise them to not live where this is the sole line. Poor "G"randma needs to be revived with trains that run faster and further.
12. Create a vibrant and welcoming space with Subway art. The historic tiles and mosaics (in some stations) are beautiful and provide an aesthetic of beauty underground. Also, there is the possibility to include art in tunnels, as well. Check out "Masstransiscope" by Bill Brand. This moving art is visible on the B and Q train lines between Dekalb Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge (in the direction of Manhattan.) Isn't it beautiful?  

While I realize these improvements will require capital to make them realities, MTA makes money off an average of 5,284,295 individuals who ride every weekday alone (2011 statistic.) You do the math plus add income from advertising and city and state subsidies. Something has got to give.

This is What rEVOLution Sounds Like

“If you surround yourself with the good and righteous, they can only raise you up. If you surround yourself with the others, they will drag you down into the doldrums of mediocrity, and they will keep you there, but only as long as you permit it.”

Mark Glamack

This is not only true about the company you keep, but is also applicable to the music you listen to. I can't take the lyrically/musically weak, socially reckless, substance-less material that people of today call music. Radio is out of the question, Pandora starts off great, but always manages to mix in something crazy, and downloading music is a thing of the past. Thank God for Spotify. 

I've created several playlists, but I wanted to share one in particular. With so much injustice in the world I think it is important to always keep the struggle (past and present) in mind as well as hope for a better future. And from this simple idea I created This is What rEVOLution Sounds Like, a playlist of 600+ inspirational songs and speeches (in English and Spanish) that tell tales of injustice, fight and victory. Sample selections include

• Angela Davis - Who Pays, Who Plays
• The Cranberries - "Zombie"
• Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - "Matador"
• Green Day - "American Idiot"
• Janet Jackson - "State of the World"
• Lauryn Hill - "Every Ghetto, Every City"
• Lupe Fiasco - "American Terrorist"
• Malcolm X - Ballad of the Landlord
• Martin Luther King, Jr. - On Viet Nam 
• Panteon Rococo - "La Carencia"
• Soul II Soul - "Keep on  Movin'" feat. Caron Wheeler
• Humanwine - "Our Devloution is Televised"

I hope you all enjoy it and use it as a source of reflection and entertainment. If you have any suggestions for songs or speeches that should be in this collection, please share them in the comments field below. In the meantime, enjoy the playlist. I embedded it on the blog.

Peace!

Image from http://marinasleeps.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/music-revolution-t-shirts_design.png

My Response to Michael Richards' Alleged Self Defense

Check out Cut-n-Edge Cartoons on Facebook.

Yesterday I found something really interesting in my news feed on Facebook. It was an image of a black man accompanied by the following text.

Michael Richards makes his point...
Michael Richards better known as Kramer from TV's Seinfeld, does make a good point. This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act. He makes some very interesting points.
Proud To Be White
Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this?
There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc. And then there are just Americans.
You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK.
But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink ... You call me a racist.
You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?
You have the United Negro College Fund.
Youhave Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET.
If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month , we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives we'd be racists.
We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that?
A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.
If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships you know we'd be racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US. Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT would be a racist college.
In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.
You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.
You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.
I am proud. But you call me a racist.
Why is it that only whites can be racists?

I not only shared the image from the friend who posted it originally, I wrote as thorough a response as possible. My amazingly diverse friends all commented, each comment challenging the one that came before. It was truly beautiful. People who never met each other participated in a conversation about race using a medium that most people would use to abuse their anonymity. Sadly, today (only a day after this active participation) my post was no longer on my timeline, nor was it on the timeline of the friend who originally posted it. Since I shared it, if the original poster deletes it, it also vanishes from those who share it. Hmmmm.  While I cannot recapture their comments my friends and colleagues made, I am able to share my original response with you because I drafted it using Word.
Here ya go.


There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc. And then there are just Americans.

You are not even “just American.” All of you cam from the “Old World.” A “just American” would be what some incorrectly refer to as Indians, AKA native Americans. When your ancestors came to the “New World,” they shed national ties from their past to establish a new life here in what we now know as the USA. This is precisely why you don’t refer to yourselves as German-Americans, Russian-Americans, Poland-Americans, Poland-Americans, etc. Although millions made it to the “new world,” representing various cultures, languages and regions of Europe, they all had one thing in common: their skin color. Yes, the heritage of being white was something that brought them together, most often to oppress others who were not white (natives and Africans, initially then Asians) and their own who were of modest means (read low-income, AKA POOR.) Yes, whites even discriminated against whites. Look at your history books. Whoever was the “new” group to enter the country was considered the lowest of low. Think Irish, Scottish, Italian, and Russian. At one point in American history these groups were thought to be the “N-word” of white culture. But through assimilation into higher white society, they “earned” their way to lily white status, forgetting what it was like to be at the bottom of the totem pole, discriminating those “beneath” them.

You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK. But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink ... You call me a racist.
Racism is racism. Name calling is not a good look for anyone.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

Ghetto violence isn’t a black red, white, ellow or brown thing. It isn’t a USA thing, A Mexican thing, a Rwandan thing, and Afghani thing, or an anywhere else thing! Ghettoes are an inequality thing, and so the violence develops. People resort to violence due to limited options. If you weren’t prepared academically because your school doesn’t get proper funding to buy supplies, your school attracts C average teachers who can’t relate to the kids and the DOE just passes you along for statistics sake, you will never be prepared for the world. You’ll necer get a job worth a damn so you will steal, sell your body, sell other people, do and buy drugs, and the like just to make it. If you are lucky you’ll wind up in jail.

Police walk the beat to “protect and serve,” but they actually do more harassing than anything else. Some cops also perpetuate ghetto culture by getting involved with drugs, racketeering, etc. because they hold the power…but I digress. You claim the ghetto is violent, are you referring to guns? Question: How do the guns get into our communities? How do drugs get into our communities? We don’t own dope plantations nor do we own planes or boats to transport it. We are ghetto (i.e. low income, remember? How is it getting in? Ask yourself that.

Ghettos are infrastructurally dangerous. Buildings are dilapidated due to absentee landlords and city public works aren’t quick to resolve community issues. If you were paying good money for rent wouldn’t you want to be able to come home to a place where the ceiling wasn’t caving in? Where you could use a working toilet? Have hot water? Heat? I’ve seen these instances not only because I’m in the field of  housing development , but also because I grew up in ghetto, undesirable places. Ghetto folk are made to feel less than human and ashamed because we have lived and some still live this way, yet are without the power to remedy the issue. Public assistance is available, but the government makes you jump through so many hoops to get it that you either just give up or follow through only to find out you don’t qualify because you make $100 more than the SNAP income limit. (A true story, btw.) This is all nothing but a mere glimpse of ghetto life. You must also understand that people who reside in the ghetto are mad as hell without an outlet for their anger. I’m not saying violent acts are justified, but I understand its roots are something way greater than skin color.

You have the United Negro College Fund.

We have the UNCF because we were (and still are) ignored by the US government, specifically the DOE. The fund was created to help more black students on the path to college and provide the financing so students could afford to finish school.

Youhave Martin Luther King Day.

And why MLK day? MLK fought for the rights of everyone! You get the day off the same as I do. On to the next one…

You have Black History Month.

We have these days of celebration because we have been ignored by the majority. (This phrase soon to be outdated because the minority is the majority now.) We have been invaded, colonized, enslaved, freed, then discriminated against and in the process whites have aided in the erasure and underplaying of our culture. You can apply this to the native Americans, enslaved Africans and their descendents, latinos, etc. We have black history month and latino history month because you constantly omit our contributions to American society from your history books. We had to go digging into our own culture to find awareness, and in the process we found our pride and a sense of fulfillment. We aren’t inferior beings. Red, yellow, black and brown folks, too, are scientists, activists, politicians, doctors, inventors, etc. We are more than entertainers. Portray us as such. We have contributed to the world we live in despite constant discrimination, being stereotyped, and thought of as subhuman.

You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
I’d like to point out (Hollocaust Rememberance day, for Jew, a marginalized group in white America, as long as they aren’t rich.)
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.

You have BET.If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.

You do have WET; It’s every station that exists. Because your culture is thought of as dominant, white faces, ideas and culture is everywhere. You may see a token person of color here and there or a huge mass of colored folk on TV acting a damn fool (hello reality TV,) like that’s how we really are. Bottom line, it’s all to foster stereotypes. It also blows my mind that in 2013 I can pick up a magazine and still not see a person of color. If I’m lucky to find one, its’s always someone who it racially ambiguous. I get it; you want to cover all bases.

If we had White History Month , we'd be racists.

Your accomplishments and contributions are celebrated on the daily. We live in a white-normative culture. What else do you expect?

If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives we'd be racists.

There are white member of groups such as the NAACP. Why? Because some people have the sens to understand the hegemonic hold that white normative culture has on the world and the detrimental effects it created. Yes, even white people realize this.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that?
I can't and won't.

A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.

The Miss Black America pageant was started because we were not allowed to participate in any other pageants because of our skin. Yes, we can participate now, but the wheels are rolling and there is no turning back now. Your standards of beauty are not the same as ours. Blame the media and white normative culture for that. As one of my professor said, “this is why you can look at a Miss Universe pageant and not be able to tell where the contestants are from.” Embrace your own beauty be it nappy hair, almond shaped eyes, or  brown skin. 

If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships you know we'd be racists. There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US. Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT would be a racist college.

You already do. It’s just not worded so specifically. Affirmative action is a way to atone for racially based sins and the countless institutions that have since benefitted from slaver, segregation, and continued oppression.

No one said that whites could not attend these colleges. They are open to anyone. In fact, I recall a few years back that a white student went to an HBCU in GA and got an affirmative action scholarship. Most whites wouldn’t do this because others wouldn’t value the educational experience earned at an HBCU. For the record, you do have white colleges; most of the Ivy League schools could be categorized as such. They are not only categorized by academic superiority, but also by social elitism (read classism and racism.)

In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.

You don’t have to march for your rights because you not only have them already, but have the”power” to determine who else gets them.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.

You can be proud of your family. No one will knock you for that. It is important that you understand, however, what your heritage means in the larger scheme of things. How has it affected others?

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.

I’ve never robbed, carjacked, or shot a gun in my life, with no intentions to. You act like people of color are the only ones who commit these crimes. Major flaw. Racism is inherent in police and prison culture. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you may want to do research on the prison industrial complex. My fingers hurt. I’m done for the night.

So, what's your take on this issue?


P.S.
I found this great video on YouTube called Black History Month for White People. Dig in!

Why I'm Not Surprised American Expatriates Are Giving Up Their Citizenship

More American Expatriates Give Up Citizenship

The world is a fascinating place I'm dying to see. I'm easing into world travel, having visited only 2% of the world's countries (according to my Travel Buddy profile) in my 26-something years. Yes, Mexico, Ecuador and the good ol' USA have been graced with my presence. Unlike many Americans who travel abroad, however, I have actually lived in foreign countries, 5 months in Xalapa, Mexico and 27 months in Ecuador. During my 32 months abroad I learned more than local vernacular and customs; I walked away with a different philosophy about life: the American way isn't always/usually the best way. Before you decide to exile me, understand that I love where I live. Yeah, I get emotional when I hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" (especially Whitney Houston's version) but I'm not naive. My experience abroad solidified my realization that America isn't the best country in the world; there is no such thing. Who created the rubric to make the determination that the USA is best, anyway? What I can say is that although we have a lot going for us, us Americans have a lot of cleaning house to do as well.Here are some reasons why we aren't the best.

Citizens of other nations are more politically involved. 
Political stability isn't always a good thing. Let's take the example of Dubya for instance. As a nation we sat back and let that man wreak havoc on our nation, increasing our national debts and sending strong and bright individuals abroad to fight and die or suffer upon return home. We all sat back and cracked out jokes about Dubya, complained about his ulterior agendas and talked about his incompetency, but we never stood up as a nation to say enough is enough. There was never a united movement to have him removed from office for not thinking about the best interests of America. Please don't be fooled into believing this occurs only at the highest levels of government. Most all officials reach out to the public on the campaign trail, promising X, Y and Z. Once sworn in do they uphold their promises? Usually not. What do we do about it? Complain. We are apathetic! Take a look at the list of heads of state in Ecuadorian history. Focus primarily on the 49th president on down to the 55th. Like the USA, Ecuador has a 4 year presidential term. So why did only 6 of the 7 presidents elected in that time frame not complete their terms? Ecuadorians rose up and demanded that officials keep their promises and some didn't make the cut. The Ecuadorian people kept tabs on their officials' conduct and if they were corrupt or ineffective in managing the country they had to not only leave office, but also the country. Talk about getting things done! I know you may be thinking frequent uprisings reinforce the instability of a nation, but things always get worse before they get better. Ecuador is not a perfect nation (there is no such thing), but it is improving drastically. President Rafael Correa was elected for a second term and Ecuadorians are still on his case, assuring he keeps his promises and the best interests of his nation at heart. How could you not respect this from a nation?

Other nations look out for their people
You can tell a lot about people by what they prioritize. Education and health should be right up there with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Period. How can one expect to build a nation dedicated to greatness with a sick and uneducated populace? It was incomprehensible for the world to watch the health care debates that went on in 2009. Economic powerhouse nations in Europe were STDHs (shaking their damn heads) at us. During this time I was in Ecuador on assignment as a Peace Corps Volunteer trying my best to explain to my community what the hoopla was about. No one believed my stories about using the ER as a doctor's office. No one believed how much  medication was marked up. No one believed anything I said. It was simply incomprehensible to them and they pay for health care as well, but they are heading in the direction of adopting a more socialized system.

Along with the recent amendment of the Ecuadorian constitution (yes, they revise it every ten years and the citizens vote on the changes...why don't we try that? Maybe not as frequently, but still) came the decision to make attending a public university a right to citizens. That means it's free, ya'll. Do your best, graduate for high school, pass your entrance exams and your tuition is paid for. All you worry about are books, travel and incidentals. The USA knows that education is important and whatever is important should make money. Come on, folks. It's the American way! As a result, tuition inflation is a hot topic on every campus in America and doesn't look like it will soon erase from the agenda. In fact it has worsened as the cost of attendance increases annually. To add insult to injury, because a Bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma, America is not only seeing an increase in undergraduate admissions but also enrollment in Masters and PHD programs. I'm one of them. If I finish my Masters program in time I will owe almost $80K in student loan debt. Ca-ching...for them, a life of indentured servitude for me! Or I could move to another country and get an education for a fraction of the price even while paying out of pocket. Hmmmmm.

The values that made us great have dwindled
I look back at what families were like in generations past and wonder what happened over the past 40 years in America. Not only did the American family structure completely disintegrate during this era, but also the values that made this nation great. This provokes a chicken vs. egg type of question in my mind. Family, honesty and hard work have been erased from our list of priorities. Everyone is out "to get theirs", completely ignoring the fact that it takes a collaborative effort to create anything worthwhile for our country and world. Americans are victims of the dominating "ghetto nation" mentality, glorifying mediocrity and being ever so impatient and selfish. Where did our values go and how do we get them back? Other cultures value the simple pleasures of life: spending time with family and friends, honoring God and having food on the table.  While some may enjoy those simple pleasures, the vast majority have become beasts of consumption and acquisition of tangibles and attention that are getting us nowhere quickly. We have sold our souls for the dollar bill and have become slaves to it, and our downfall is steeped in this truth.

I can't lie; at times I feel like fleeing this country. However, I realize the grass is always greener on the other side. Like I said earlier, there is no such thing as a perfect place to live, so I'm willing to water my lawn and make the best of life in America...for now, at least.

Nappy On and In My Head ...a stream of consciousness

Once upon a time I started a beauty blog to compile media for women who wanted to learn more techniques for managing their "napptural" (nappy, natural) hair but who didn't want to limit themselves to dreads  braids or weaves. I'm sorry but those seem like the only options for black women without a chemical relaxer. Sadly, I didn't do much with this blog. Here is an entry from that blog. The date above reflects the original post.

I know natural hair is versatile  So why are the only style options in magazines dreads  braids, or weaves? In the spring of 2006 I left go of my creamy crack habit to begin wearing my hair as God intended. This may not seem like a big deal, as most of you have worn your hair as it grows from your scalp all your lives. Wash, blow dry (maybe) and go. You may wonder why all this natural hair hooplah calls for such thought and attention. The answer is complicated, my dear. People direct documentaries and write dissertations trying to explain the politics of black hair. I'll try my best to explain.

In America, beauty standards were (and still, to a large extent) extremely one tracked. Since the majority of the country is of European descent and had a controlling interest in the media, it is only natural that beauty standards would be derived around what is beautiful to them. That pretty much left my dark skin and tightly coiled hair out of the picture.  You can only imagine what this can do to a young child's self-esteem. Society tells you "you're black, you're poor, you're ugly, you're a woman, you're nothing at all," as "Mister" so eloquently put it in the movie The Color Purple. Think I'm exaggerating, here are some recent stories that revolve around black hair.

• Malia O., President Obama's Daughter, Frees Her African Hair
• Chris Rock's Sundance Film Festival-Winning Documentary, "Good Hair"

Non-blacks look at nappy hair in either in disgust or with intrigue, but blacks, sometimes don't make it better. Blacks who are less phenotypically African often poke fun at darker or nappier folk for not having "good hair." Take a peek at this video from Spike Lee's School Daze.

There weren't many images black women could truly identify with in the media. Sure, by the time I came along there were a few positive images of blacks in the media, but the vast majority were black of lighter skin tones, a less threatening image, I guess, for a Eurocentric America. So I did what many others did or felt they had to do; I attempted to assimilate to the standard by burning my scalp (especially when you scratch before applying) with chemical relaxers to have the bone straight look become my norm. (If you've never seen the conk scene in Spike Lee's Malcolm X, you need to in order to understand the desperation one has to get a relaxer out of their hair.)  Once my hair started growing out and my natural texture began to show, I'd have to run and buy a box of "perm" (what us black women call hair relaxer) for a touch up to keep the look up and also to minimize breakage. (The point where the new growth and relaxed hair meet is very fragile. So keeping the entire head relaxed maintains the hair's consistency and is less likely to break.) I understand straightening one's hair for a short period of time, you know, working your hair like an accessory, alternating straight and coily as the mood hits you, but the problem black women face is our options for stylistic expression with our hair is always judged (for the worse) by society. Kinky hair is looked down upon so black women endure all of this torture to make an unnatural style look permanent. It blows my mind how my hair's natural state is radical, yet chemical alteration is seen as normal. Millions of people still do buy into this beauty standard. Madam C.J. Walker made a fortune transforming tightly coiled kinks into flowing tresses at the beginning of the 20th century. The Koreans have taken over the hair care industry now and boy, do black women keep them in the black! The bottom line: your hair is your glory and should not be a source of shame. And under no circumstance should anyone be brainwashed into detesting the natural state of their hair because others find it unacceptable or not beautiful.

There are many women who relax their hair simply because it's a lot easier to care for. True, but the reality of this situation goes beyond ease of care; job security, housing selection, even finding a mate are opportunities that may be lost all because a boss, landlord, lender, or potential mate dislikes your hair and/or makes assumptions about your personality based upon it. I'm not talking about, "Oh, Suzy has wavy hair with sun bleached streaks. Uh-oh, we may have a beach bum on our hands." I'm talking, " Oh, God! Cheka has an afro, twisty thing going on. Reminds me of rebellious negroes of the 60s or she must be a diva with a 'tude" or  "It's not attractive/groomed." For those of you who know me personally, you know both opinions are far from the truth, but I realize how my hair can be misinterpreted. I remember back when I was an undergrad I talked about going natural to some older black women I respected, one with a relaxer and the other with a Jheri curl.  (Yes, one of the ladies thought her greasy, drippy Jheri curl was "superior" to my NATURAL hair. SMH. Cue the Soul Glo commercial from Coming to America.) They tried their hardest to talk me out of returning natural, thinking it would limit my opportunities for professional advancement. I wore wigs while I thought it out. They covered my head an entire year before my natural hair saw the light of day! To avoid all of this drama, some black women just say "pass the creamy crack" to get the straight look so approved by the majority. [I wanted to post a video clip from the 1990s urban sit-com "Living Single." It was a great show, one of my favorites. One episode in particular is so appropriate for this blog entry. It's called "A Hair Razing Experience (episode description link)." One of the protagonists believes his opportunity to excel in his firm is threatened because a co-worker makes him feel his hair isn't corporate enough.)]

The whole good hair/bad hair toxic way of thinking of not unique to the USA; I experienced it when I lived in El Valle del Chota, an AfroEcuadorian community located in the northern Andes of the country. There was extreme diversity among skin tone, hair type, physical build, all of which were beautiful. With respect to beauty standards, the most fact about the region was that ten years prior the community knew nothing of relaxers. Now women who longed for ”better” hair could not only buy the magic fix for themselves, but also for their young children. When I arrived, people were fascinated with me because they either never met a black American or never knew "my kind" existed. People wanted to know about everything I did. Some of the women were shocked that I wore my hair naturally. "Alisese” (go straighten your hair) was a constant request, because I would be "prettier." "Gringas negras no les gustan peinar” (Black American girls don't like to do their hair,)  said a neighbor when she met a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer who was also black and natural. It was like they were drug dealers, trying to get me hooked. I kindly informed them that black Americans invented the poison, and we had been using it for decades before we became aware of the risks associated with using it. Sorry ya'll are so late! The fear of fibroids, chemical burns and balding did not sway them. Vanity is one hell of a sin and we pay its price right here on Earth. Women with no access to (hot) running water in their homes would perm their hair, some getting the results they wanted, others winding up with breakage or permanent damage (worn off edges.)

Now, as I'm readjusting to American life (I just finished 2 years abroad with the United States Peace Corps, happy and nappy) I was and still am faced with the dilemma whether to relax or stay natural. I am unemployed at the moment  and wonder how the politics of hair will play out in me getting hired. Over this last month I have been turned down for employment opportunities due to a little something called "overqualification." I don't need any other factors making it more difficult for me; I already have an extraordinary resume and this recession working against me.

I tried my best to begin explaining this concept in this short rant of a blog. Like I said earlier, this is a very in-depth topic that requires more attention than is given. For those who want to go more in depth with this I've included a few links to catch you up on this topic.

• Tyra Banks had an episode conveniently titled "Good Hair." Here are the video clips.

• CNN's Black in America featured a segment on black hair.
• Oprah also aired an episode on Wednesday, September  30, 2009 about this topic as well. Unfortunately, Miss Oprah does not post complete episodes. Here is the link to the snippets and summaries of the show.

I am pleased to see black hair politics being brought to the forefront. Unfortunately, I haven't even broken the ice with  this topic. In the meantime, I look forward to continuing the conversation below. Your questions and comments are welcome, as always.

UPDATE: Also see "The Politics of Black Hair" by Melissa Harris-Perry (MSNBC)