Rekea |
Virgo
Baltimore, MD 12 March 2016 |
Victoria Awkward: When I say the phrase “natural hair” what does it mean to you?
Rekea Williams: Natural hair means the hair you’re born with. I feel like there is an expectation that comes along with that. Like I am expected to be very ethnocentric, into social justice and anti-whiteness.
Rekea Williams: Natural hair means the hair you’re born with. I feel like there is an expectation that comes along with that. Like I am expected to be very ethnocentric, into social justice and anti-whiteness.
VA: Has someone said negative/hurtful commentary about your hair either purposely or mistakenly? What were they? Why did they hurt?
RW: Probably, it’s so difficult to remember the things people say. As a black women people are always saying things about me they always have an opinion.
RW: Probably, it’s so difficult to remember the things people say. As a black women people are always saying things about me they always have an opinion.
VA: Has someone said negative/hurtful commentary about your hair either purposely or mistakenly? What were they? Why did they hurt?
RW: Probably, it’s so difficult to remember the things people say. As a black women people are always saying things about me they always have an opinion.
VA: How long have you been wearing you hair natural?
RW: I didn’t really do the big chop, I transitioned and my hair has been natural for two years.
VA: How is hair important to you? Is it important to you?
RW: Yes, because I take a lot of pride in my physical appearance and I’m very vain. But I feel like my natural hair is apart of my identity now in a way that was true beforehand.
RW: Probably, it’s so difficult to remember the things people say. As a black women people are always saying things about me they always have an opinion.
VA: How long have you been wearing you hair natural?
RW: I didn’t really do the big chop, I transitioned and my hair has been natural for two years.
VA: How is hair important to you? Is it important to you?
RW: Yes, because I take a lot of pride in my physical appearance and I’m very vain. But I feel like my natural hair is apart of my identity now in a way that was true beforehand.
VA: How often do you see POC with curly hair or locs in the media?
RW: I’m starting to see it every day. Recently there is a push towards pro blackness and it’s a beautiful thing.
VA: Have you noticed altering POC to look like white people in the media? Does whitewashing/misrepresentation of POC in the media affect children of color and their perception of their natural features?
RW: In the media you will see a black women but she will be very racial ambiguous. She will have light skin and loose curls. And there is this expectation that when you go natural that that is how your hair is supposed to look. It’s a lot of pressure for black women. If you don’t look a certain way then you’re not the “ideal”.
When I was growing up many black girls had straight hair, especially in the media. So I tried to emulate that by straightening my hair and getting relaxers.
RW: I’m starting to see it every day. Recently there is a push towards pro blackness and it’s a beautiful thing.
VA: Have you noticed altering POC to look like white people in the media? Does whitewashing/misrepresentation of POC in the media affect children of color and their perception of their natural features?
RW: In the media you will see a black women but she will be very racial ambiguous. She will have light skin and loose curls. And there is this expectation that when you go natural that that is how your hair is supposed to look. It’s a lot of pressure for black women. If you don’t look a certain way then you’re not the “ideal”.
When I was growing up many black girls had straight hair, especially in the media. So I tried to emulate that by straightening my hair and getting relaxers.
VA: Do you feel that the problems people of color face with their hair reflect a bigger issue in society?
RW: Of course I feel like we are always trying to move away from the fact that anti-blackness is a really big thing and really prevalent. People say they aren’t attracted to black girls and their curly hair or certain features that are seen as “black”. Those same people might see a white girl with those same features and finds them attractive. What does that mean? It comes back to the fact that people don’t like black people, or people with darker skin.
RW: Of course I feel like we are always trying to move away from the fact that anti-blackness is a really big thing and really prevalent. People say they aren’t attracted to black girls and their curly hair or certain features that are seen as “black”. Those same people might see a white girl with those same features and finds them attractive. What does that mean? It comes back to the fact that people don’t like black people, or people with darker skin.
VA: If you had to give advice to a young person of color who was struggling with their natural beauty what would it be?
RW: Be proud of who you are. None of these people are paying your bills. Don’t let other people and their insecurities affect you. I wouldn’t tell you to be the bigger person. Like if you need to fight, fight, but don’t let what they say hurt you, because they don’t fucking matter.
RW: Be proud of who you are. None of these people are paying your bills. Don’t let other people and their insecurities affect you. I wouldn’t tell you to be the bigger person. Like if you need to fight, fight, but don’t let what they say hurt you, because they don’t fucking matter.
Photographer: Nathaniel Magloire
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward
Interviewer: Victoria Awkward