Jackson Free Press

At the A Nappy Hair Affair Web site, anyone can participate in a monthly Napfirmations contest where you can submit a writing that is a positive affirmation about people of African descent. It can be written by you or someone else, and it can be a quote, poem, or anything along those lines. I submitted my "Nappy-Headed" poem and won for the month of September. YES! They sent me a T-shirt and a "Love & Nappiness" CD with songs and poetry. I will also get a chance to have a phone conversation with the founder of A Nappy Hair Affair, Linda "Mosetta" Jones. I'm excited about that because I have wanted to meet her after reading her "Nappyisms" book. Hopefully, we'll get to chat this month.

This Month's Napfirmations Winner...

Latasha Willis, Jackson, Mississippi

I came to this world with nappy hair

And when I was too young to really care

I loved to twirl each curl in my hand

And appreciate the texture of every strand.

But when I got older I was told

That the straightest hair was just like gold.

My hair got ironed with a metal comb

And the smell of burning grease made me moan.

I got a relaxer to run from the smoke,

But the pain of my overcooked scalp was no joke.

I even tried a Jheri curl to give myself a break

But being a target of jokes made my heart ache.

Oh, the day I turned my back on chemicals and heat,

I felt so free - oh, what a treat!

I trimmed off what was left of the damaged mess

And saw in the mirror what I thought was success.

But society said I had lost my mind

And that I would run back to tradition in time.

I got the strangest looks everywhere

And even loved ones frowned at my nappy hair.

I can't get a black brother to take me out for a meal

Since my hair lacks European appeal.

But when I look at my origin,

The continent of Africa, where my ancestors had been

And the beauty of the people who live there,

I saw nothing wrong with my nappy hair.

God gave me this hair

So I should not be ashamed

It is part of who I am

Ain't nothin' wrong with it, I exclaimed.

So I will wear my Afro, my twists and my coils!

I will not allow my confidence to be soiled.

Even if my hair is locked and dreaded,

I am proud of being nappy-headed.

Latasha is an entrepreneurial spirit who designs t-shirts and other novelty items. She is founder of Wake Up Jackson Civic Association,a civic watchdog group that makes sure that the city government does not do anything that will infringe on the constitutional rights of its citizens. You can find out more at http://wakeupjackson.org.

She enjoys blogging, reading, art and making improvements to her home. She has a six-year-old cat named Sunshine who is good friends with her mother's dog. The dog's name? Midnight!

Latasha, who is an ANHA member in good standing, said she joined because she "wanted to continue to get support and advice that will help me along my nappy journey."

As winner of the Napfirmations contest Latasha receives a ANHA t-shirt and Love & Nappiness CD.

Congratulations Natasha!"

They had my name spelled right until they got to the end. Oh well, I'm used to it. :-)

Previous Comments

ID

114522

Comment

Congratulations, NatashaLatasha! ;o)

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-09-10T00:04:08-06:00

ID

114523

Comment

Congratulations, Latasha!

Author

lucdix

Date

2007-09-10T07:34:58-06:00

ID

114524

Comment

Napfirmation?!? How fabulous. Congrats, Latasha.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-09-10T09:11:46-06:00

ID

114525

Comment

Hercules, Hercules!

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-09-10T09:40:02-06:00

ID

114526

Comment

keep it up, LW - great poem... :-)

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-09-10T09:48:51-06:00

ID

114527

Comment

Yay! Congratulations!! :)

Author

music chick

Date

2007-09-10T09:54:22-06:00

ID

114528

Comment

Welcome back Tom. Latasha, Natasha, Ratasha, whoever you are, I like your poem. Don't worry about those brothers or others who would judge you by your hair. They're stupid. Some guys have no standards at all. My beloved son told me once that he liked only light-skinned and dumb women. What kind of standard is that? I soon learned that unless the girl was dumb she wouldn't be dating him anyway. He changed as he got older as I hoped he would.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-09-10T10:04:03-06:00

ID

114529

Comment

Congratulations Natasha! The rhyme scheme was simple but dynamic!

Author

justjess

Date

2007-09-10T10:27:34-06:00

ID

114530

Comment

Good poem and way to put yourself out there. I know it's not always easy.

Author

john leek

Date

2007-09-10T12:27:08-06:00

ID

114531

Comment

Thanks everyone! The poem was a way of venting at the time, and it looks like my ranting is starting to pay off. :-)

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-09-11T07:35:15-06:00

ID

114532

Comment

Congratulations nappy-headed lady.

Author

lilsoulja

Date

2007-09-11T14:36:42-06:00

ID

114533

Comment

Congratulations nappy-headed lady. Thank you, and proud of it! :-D

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-09-11T20:08:38-06:00